Your advice/opinion on Sabian selection.

[Drum-Head]

Hi all!


I wish to change my crash cymbals (two 18" AAs ) for smaller sizes and I am hesitating with what models to go for. So you have some information: I play in a modern rock band (Rock 'N Roll spirit but with modern heavy sounds) and we incorporate Funk, Metal, Blues etc. in our songs. So it ranges from moderate volumes to quite loud.

My initial choice was to go for an AA 16" medium thin crash and an AA 16" medium crash. But a person is proposing me to sell me his 15" and 16" AAX stage crashes. I haven't had many experiences with AAXs so I was wondering what you might have to say about them considering the style of music I play? I am interested by his offer because I will save a lot of money if I buy them second hand from him (approx. 200 euros), as opposed to buying new cymbals (approx. 360€)

I will be meeting him and traveling back to the drum store next week to make my final choice. But I wanted to have some of your input first.


Thank you,
Christopher.

[BertTheDrummer]

AAXs are good cymbals, the Stage Crashes are really good in my opinion. The main difference between the AAXs and the AAs is that the AAXs are designed so that they basically sound the same no matter how hard or soft you play them. Now since you play a lot of varied styles it actually can be to your advantage. I'd suggest trying them out seeing if you like them.

[Drum-Head]

Thank you for your input. I think I have made up my mind and I will go for a 15" and 16" AAXplosion crashes. If I still have enough money left, which should be the case, I'll put it into a 12" AAX mini china.

[ross--]

Wait- what you need is an HHX 16'' Evolution Crash. You will fall in love with it's warm tones I gaurantee it. I want one but need to save.

[DamoSyzygy]

Personally I think its a bad idea using 15" crashes as main crashes for rock music. Youll be beating the living bajeezus out of them to get them to be heard = cracking.

when you are live onstage, and particularly if you arent using o/head mics, youll appreciate the large diamater (sustain) of your AA 18" crashes.

At the end of the day, its all about sound. Smaller cymbals will have less sustain, so choose the one that sustains for the right amount of time, regardless of what that size may end up being.

...And remember! You wont notice the sustain nearly as much onstage as to what youll hear on its own, so aim for a cymbal that perhaps has a little TOO much sustain when youre hearing it by itself.

[Skitch]

Personally I think its a bad idea using 15" crashes as main crashes for rock music. Youll be beating the living bajeezus out of them to get them to be heard = cracking.

when you are live onstage, and particularly if you arent using o/head mics, youll appreciate the large diamater (sustain) of your AA 18" crashes.

At the end of the day, its all about sound. Smaller cymbals will have less sustain, so choose the one that sustains for the right amount of time, regardless of what that size may end up being.

...And remember! You wont notice the sustain nearly as much onstage as to what youll hear on its own, so aim for a cymbal that perhaps has a little TOO much sustain when youre hearing it by itself.

Excellent advice! A fifteen inch cymbal isn't going to be good for your application and you are going to be cracking the cymbal very soon!

Mike

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

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[Drum-Head]

Sorry I haven't been reading much with my recent problem mentioned in another thread. I need to think about drums drums drums to not have thoughts about the separation...

When you are live on stage, and particularly if you aren't using o/head mics, you'll appreciate the large diameter (sustain) of your AA 18" crashes.

That is the point - I gig mostly in un-miced situations and my 18" AA crashes are TOO loud.

I chose the 15" model to go with the 16" because I thought that the fact that AAXplosion crashes are designed to cut through the music would slightly compensate for the size. But If you think it is a bad idea to get a 15" crash, what would you recommend to go with the 16" AAXplosion crash (no bigger that 16")? I have a preference for medium-thin weight cymbals but I also don't mind medium weight models (no thicker!) Also I would prefer something in the AA or AAX range because on one hand I like them, on the other they are much cheaper that HH, HHX Sigs etc.

I do hit quite hard, but I consider myself to play the cymbals correctly striking across the cymbal etc. In 7 years of playing I have only cracked one cymbal: my 10" AA Splash. And it only has a small crack at the base of the bell that has not budged for 2 years now.

Thank you for your input.

EDIT: I won't be going back to the store until this week-end so for the moment I've been messing around with the virtual sound check on the Sabian website.

Although it is a bit heavier that what I would tend to use, from the sounds on their site, the 16' AAX Metal crash seems to blend well with the AAXplosion crash. I will have to see for it myself at the store though (I don't trust these online sounds that much.) I am a bit afraid this cymbal might be to much on the heavy side - I like the explosiveness and the way medium-thin models react to dynamics. Unlike the heavy crashes that you have to play hard to get a nice sound out of them. My other option would be a 16" AA Bright crash with a 16" AA Medium-Thin crash...

Ever felt like you were in a candy shop? Ugh!

[Jay.B.]

I would highly recommend the AAX stage crashes, but I wouldn't drop below a 16" for your current situation, and contrary to what somebody else said, they DO sound different depending upon how hard and where you hit them, I find them very articulate, but at the same time have the edge to cut through. I'm running a 16" and 17" stage crash, the second best change in cymbal I have made (had an AA bright crash and a Zildjian A custom before) the best change being moving from a Paiste 2000 power ride to my Sabian HH heavy ride.
I would recommend going for the 16" & 18" stage crash

[d.c.drummer]

I would recommend going for the 16" & 18" stage crash
Me too, those are good sizes and awesome sounding cymbals.

[hurders]

Yeah the AAX cymbals are great. I have a 16" stage crash and a 17" Xplosion Crash, I played without mics for quite a while and now I play with overheads, they are great for either situation. My Xplosion crash came with a natural grubby/dirty unworked finish on the bell which looks cool too. (not sure if it was meant to because I don't see any pictures of them like that!)

[Drum-Head]

My Xplosion crash came with a natural grubby/dirty unworked finish on the bell which looks cool too. (not sure if it was meant to because I don't see any pictures of them like that!)

Yes the AAXplosion crashes' bells are supposed to look like that.

I'm going to the store tomorrow, I'm going off with the idea of getting a 16" Stage crash and a 16" explosion crash. We shall see what comes out of the cymbal testing...

Thank you again for all your opinions and input guys.