K Hi Hats v. A Hi Hats

[furbeedog@gmail.com]

Hi, I was just wondering what people think about whether I should get a set of 14" Zildjian K Hi Hats or a set of 14" Zildjian A Hi Hats and what people think of the 15" Hi hats.

[furbeedog@gmail.com]

also, what do people think about the Mastersounds Hats?

[ahum]

Well, I own a pair of 14" A Custom hi-hats. I really like them, but if I could have afforded the K's I would have got them instead. They both sound good, but the K's are better in my opinion.

I've seen drummers play 15" hats and they're great for rock; a really fat and warm sound.

I don't really have much experience with the mastersounds, they sound higher in pitch to me.

If you can afford the K's, get them...that's my advice. But both are good.

[Cymbalrider]

Well I own a pair of 2005 14" New Beats and they are really bright and really heavy and loud. Probably best for rock and not the jazz stuff I do mostly. The 15" versions are much better sounding but I've never played on any. The Ks are much the same just lower in pitch. The 15" Mastersounds are interesting me most at this point to replace my New Beats. The weights run heavier in the A series than the other series for example a Medium A is heavier than a Medium K Custom. Go for the 15's! Guys like Brian Blade use them in jazz and lots of guys use them for rock as well. I think the 15" A Custom Mastersounds would offer a nice blend of brightness/warmth/crispness/sizzle. The best sounding hi-hat Zildjian makes I think is the 14" Vintage hi-hat in the A series but it's pretty light and not as articulate though. If you want versatility in sound and pitch go A Custom. If you get regular As get the 15"!

[caprisun3484]

i have a pair of Master Sound Hi Hats and i love them so much. They're good for any genre of music but they shine in like fast music and Funk

[d.c.drummer]

K Mastersounds (like what i have) are at home in any situation from rock to jazz. I highly suggest the K's.

[macmarkus]

also, what do people think about the Mastersounds Hats?


i love my 14" k mastersound hats ... very nice and very versatile.
i'd buy them again. definitely. and they match either to my cons ride and my k ride ...

just my paiste traditionals sound better, but that's another theme ... ;-)

[MadJazz]

If K's are too dark for you, get thme in brilliant finish. Puts them a bit closer to A customs.
I have 14" brilliant K's and they're sweet. Not too dry, neither bright.

[drumbandit]

If K's are too dark for you, get thme in brilliant finish. Puts them a bit closer to A customs.
I have 14" brilliant K's and they're sweet. Not too dry, neither bright.

im looking around a lot before i get new hats. i narrowed down to the A or the K mastersounds and for rock/indie music would you say that K mastersounds don't really cut? im obviously going to try both before i decide but i want to get a lot of opinions on them. some say that the Ks are perfect and others say they're good just for jazz? anyones opinions will help
thanks
Tom

[Cymbalrider]

The K's have a drier sound, they still are heavy enough in weight to have a big sound but the muted tone makes them not as good in big situations. I've heard guys play Ks in concert halls and from the back you can barely hear them..well actually you just dont hear anything other than the attack

[MadJazz]

im looking around a lot before i get new hats. i narrowed down to the A or the K mastersounds and for rock/indie music would you say that K mastersounds don't really cut? im obviously going to try both before i decide but i want to get a lot of opinions on them. some say that the Ks are perfect and others say they're good just for jazz? anyones opinions will help
thanks
Tom

K hats are pretty heavy and they are versatile for all music, save the loudest bashers. Large venues are miced anyway. I cannot imagine anything on a drum being soft. It's either loud or very loud :-p

Seriously, if you have trouble hearing them, ask your bandmates to turn their amps down. Or check the K/Z combo. I had A newbeats before and can tell you that A's are much lower in quality. They're very bright, heavy and loud. I wouldn't spend a pile of money for something so little musical.

Conclusion: K's are good for jazz-latin-funk-pop-rock... anything save punk-hardcore-metal.

[drumbandit]

K hats are pretty heavy and they are versatile for all music, save the loudest bashers. Large venues are miced anyway. I cannot imagine anything on a drum being soft. It's either loud or very loud :-p

Seriously, if you have trouble hearing them, ask your bandmates to turn their amps down. Or check the K/Z combo. I had A newbeats before and can tell you that A's are much lower in quality. They're very bright, heavy and loud. I wouldn't spend a pile of money for something so little musical.

Conclusion: K's are good for jazz-latin-funk-pop-rock... anything save punk-hardcore-metal.

cheers, that post helps so much. K looks nicer than A as well :)

[evans_69]

K Mastersounds i vote for on the zildjian front .. but for brighter purposes 2002 or signature soundedge are the muts nuts... :D

[Class A Drummer]

My two favorite hi hats are the K hats, and the A Quick Beats. In my opinion you cant go wrong with either. Each have completley different sounds, yet incredibly versitile.

[CQXLCQX]

I have 14" new beat hihat. I love it, It can used for music of different style.

[Skitch]

The K Mastersounds are great Hi Hats but do a disappearing act when used with amplified guitars. They are probably the choice if you are buying Mastersounds. However, being totally honest in what style you will be playing predominantly, if you are playing rock, you may want to go with the 13" or 14" New Beats or the 13" K/Z combination. New Beats are great hi hats regardless of what some people say and are probably the most recorded hi hat cymbals ever. I personally don't dig the 15" size as I used play on a pair in high school, but John Fogerty loves 'em!

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=drummermikemccraw
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=7856459

[pearldjian0711]

im looking around a lot before i get new hats. i narrowed down to the A or the K mastersounds and for rock/indie music would you say that K mastersounds don't really cut? im obviously going to try both before i decide but i want to get a lot of opinions on them. some say that the Ks are perfect and others say they're good just for jazz? anyones opinions will help
thanks
Tom

i have the 14" k/z dynobeat hats and use them in my indie/rock band. my band sounds kinda like the yeah yeah yeahs so what i did was just check out the type of hats the drummer uses and get them. hehehe.. so i guess you could try what i did and get the type of hats from the band that sound closest to yours.