Are Zildjian ZHT Hi-hats good hats?

[gibeachhead]

Hey everyone,

I need to upgrade my hats, I have been playing drums for a year now and consider myself at least an intermediate player. The hats on the drum-set are still the original factory hats that came with the set (Pearl hi hats). To me the hats sound pretty damn good compared to what my other buddies have which are much more expensive than what I got.

Anyways I don't really feel like paying $300 for K hi hats, A Hi hats, etc.

I saw these the ZHT Zildjian hats and they sound good from what I have heard, and the price is right at $129.99 for the 13" which is what I want:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Zildjian-ZHT-HiHat-Pair?sku=445510

But I want to ask first if any of you here have personally owned these hats, and I would like to hear your comments about them.

Thanks in advance,

Brent

[Ozzy Biz]

I'd be leaning away from getting anything with Z_T (will in the blank with H, X, or B) prited on it.

Check out cymbalcellar.com for used bronze or cymbalsonly.com for new stuff. Cymbals only has some great sound files of the individual cymbals so you can get a good idea of what you're after, even if you can't buy from him.

I suggest you look at Bosphorus or Istanbul, as they sound nicer to my ears, are significanty cheaper (at least in Aus) and have this great feel to them. There's just something about real turkish hand-hammered cymbals, and I love that they have the master cymbal artisians signature under the bell from when they are individually checked before leaving the factory.

[Velimor]

It's best to buy high-end cymbals now so you won't want to upgrade in a few months. You can find good hats used for the same price as a new pair of ZBTs. Most of Saludas 13" hi-hats cost around $130 new as well. They make custom cymbals that are just as good as any Zildjian or Sabian in my opinion.

[aydee]

NO....................................not if you want to upgrade to something substantially better. There are lots of choices out there.

[drumbandit]

You can get top end hi-hats for low prices if you get used hi-hats. Still in good condition but with somoene else's stickmarks.

Tom

[gibeachhead]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I think I will go ahead and try my best to get some high end hats.

I was going to get the ZHT's and some other drum equipment for X-mas. But now I may have to scratch the extra equipment and just get good quality hats.

Thanks again!

[fourstringdrums]

Also check out Saluda www.saludacymbals.com. You can get a new pair of customized hi-hats for that much. But other than that I also suggest buying the best you can used. The ZHT's won't be much of an upgrade from what you have now.

[crazyhorse]

Ditto on the above.. Saluda's are great if you like that trashy warm sound that you get from most Turkish and Chinest hand hammered stuff. However, I've found a lot of people have to grow into that sound.

In the mean time.. you can usually get a great deal on some older Zildjian A's on ebay if you keep your eyes open. Any of the ZBT, ZHT, etc are going to be crap.

[glennj75052]

I would save your money and go with hihats you really want. I went the cheap way out and I regret it. The ZHT's are a hand hammered waste of money. I would recommend XS-20's if you want to stay under 200 bucks.

[crazyhorse]

Again.. forget XS20's... Keep an eye on ebay and pick up and old ratty looking set of A's and you will be happier and they'll sound great. Heck I think I saw some Paiste Signatures in Medium Heavy for 150 earlier today.

[gretsch223]

search for used hats....you can get a good pair of hats on ebay or cymbalcellar for an amazing price...

Look at new beats on ebay...They usually are cheap on ebay.

[gibeachhead]

Appreciate the even more info guys. Went to GC today and tried out a few high end hats. I really like the standard K 13" hi-hats.

So everything has already been confirmed. I am going to get just the 13" K hats for X-mas. I'm pretty excited about it!

Once again thanks for all the comments guys!

[Class A Drummer]

I personally think the ZHT's arent that bad. I recorded once with them, they sounded alright. It may be the fact that im so use to playing my B8's which is why they sounded good lol.

[crazyhorse]

Istanbul 13" Sultans: $165 http://cgi.ebay.com/ISTANBUL-AGOP-sultan-13-inch-hi-hatcymbal_W0QQitemZ150172815235QQihZ005QQcategoryZ 47083QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

15" Vintage A's.. 125 starting bid.. 175 BIN http://cgi.ebay.com/15-Avedis-Zildjian-Hi-Hat-Pair-Used-1960s_W0QQitemZ260172780365QQihZ016QQcategoryZ4144 7QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

etc... lots of choices out there

[crazyhorse]

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-ZILDJIAN-HI-HAT-CYMBALS-40S-50S-14_W0QQitemZ250179183271QQihZ015QQcategoryZ41447QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem 150 buy it now.. you'd be silly not to (only reason i'm not is because i'm getting married next week lol)

[Ozzy Biz]

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-ZILDJIAN-HI-HAT-CYMBALS-40S-50S-14_W0QQitemZ250179183271QQihZ015QQcategoryZ41447QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem 150 buy it now.. you'd be silly not to (only reason i'm not is because i'm getting married next week lol)

Congratulations man. Yeah, best to ease up on drum purchases for a little....

[Bossa Nova]

Did you try the 14" K's? The 14's are probably a little closer in volume to the ZHTs, if that's the volume level you are going for. I owned the ZHTs as starters and upgraded to 14" Ks, which have a similar volume, but are also cleaner and just more dynamic. That said, the ZHTs are good cymbals, but Ks are better, no question.

[DrunkenGarbageCan]

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-ZILDJIAN-HI-HAT-CYMBALS-40S-50S-14_W0QQitemZ250179183271QQihZ015QQcategoryZ41447QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem 150 buy it now.. you'd be silly not to (only reason i'm not is because i'm getting married next week lol)
Silly newbie question (not trying to upset anyone), but is a $150 plus shipping actually a good deal for a mis-matched pair of hi hats? (I apologize, I am not up on my Zildjian markings and not sure if these are some sort of rare markings).

At this point in my life, I now find it cheaper (and a lot less time consuming) just to finance (ie credit card) one or two good toys (for a couple hundred bucks) a year vs looking for deals and always flipping them trying to get something that I should have just bought in the first place.

I know everyone has different thoughts and values, but again was wondering if this particular set was actually a good deal at $150 Buy It Now vs biting the bullet and buying new?

tia - hope I did not divert off topic too much

[crazyhorse]

Not off topic at all... I'm a fan of aged cymbals as the metal does take a while to really get into it's own sound wise. Keep in mind that someone took the time to find a pair to use together, that typically means they were looking for a certain sound. I've got a 1940's-1950's 15" cymbal that I'm going to use as the bottom for a 15" pair and Jamie at Saluda is going to hand hammer a match from a turkish blank.

The seller lists the gram weight... heavy bottom and nice light top... the 50-60's Zildjian A's still had some cool hammering to them.. so yes, they probably sound great. It's not like you're going to lose money.

[crazyhorse]

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-ZILDJIAN-14-INCH-NEW-BEAT-HI-HATS_W0QQitemZ260174774732QQihZ016QQcategoryZ41447 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I rest my case. :D

[mofle]

How about these? They are even cheaper than the ZHT's

AA Regular Hats at Cymbalcellar.com (http://www.cymbalcellar.com/catalogdetail.php?cymbid=329)

[6and21]

I used ZXT's (the titanium ones) as my X HH's for a couple of years(14"s). From what I recall they are very close to the ZHT's. I think they sounded great I just recntly replaced them with a set of 12" Acust. mastersounds. More for size than sound.

[xopethx]

Nice choice on the 13" K hats, you'll LOVE them!

they're extremely versatile, and very fun to play. you can get a huge range of sounds out of em :)

[Just Drums]

I have to defend the ZHTs - they are excellent cymbals. FAR better than the ZBTs or the ZXTs. The 14" ZHTs sound almost identical to the classic Zildjian A New Beats - the best selling HHs of all time. As far as sheet cymbals go, it doesn't get any better. I'd have no problems gigging with a set of ZHTs. Of course I think the best HHs of all time are the K Custom Hybrids. But for the money, ZHTs are fantastic cymbals. People on a budget come in and smack B8s, B8 Pros, XS20s, ZBT, ZXTs, and ZHTs and 4 out 5 times, they always walk out with a ZHT. ;-)

[Just Drums]

I did this quick comparison video right after my post above and then meant to post it but got tied up with a customer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C3DBTLuufM

What do you think? Don't they sound a lot alike?

(poor quality video)

[gibeachhead]

I did this quick comparison video right after my post above and then meant to post it but got tied up with a customer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C3DBTLuufM

What do you think? Don't they sound a lot alike?

(poor quality video)

Wow, talk about being helpful! That was awesome dude, thanks for the video it really does help a lot and the similarities in sound are there. Especially when you consider the price difference.

But I do agree with people that I will eventually want to upgrade the hats with time and I figure I might as well get what I really want now. So I'm gonna go with the K hats! But dude that video is great!

[bonzolead]

ZHT,s don't. sound bad for the price but if your serious spend the money and get either a pair of A's or K's Zildjians I know there more but you will be way more satisfied i've had my 14" new beats for over 20 yrs. now and they sound better today then the first day I got them.

Bonzolead

[Just Drums]

I wasn't trying to discourage you from buying great cast cymbals. I was just sticking up for the unappreciated ZHTs. If they were any better, they'd replace the classic As. The crashes are very similar too.

[tamadrummer132]

I played a pair of ZHT rock hats and i loved them. This is saying alot, because I am VERRRY picky when it comes to hi-hats, and to me they had a nice chick to them.

But then again i hate almost every pair of hi-hats i hear... so my choices might be different to yours.

[pearlygates]

I have to defend the ZHTs - they are excellent cymbals. FAR better than the ZBTs or the ZXTs. The 14" ZHTs sound almost identical to the classic Zildjian A New Beats - the best selling HHs of all time. As far as sheet cymbals go, it doesn't get any better. I'd have no problems gigging with a set of ZHTs. Of course I think the best HHs of all time are the K Custom Hybrids. But for the money, ZHTs are fantastic cymbals. People on a budget come in and smack B8s, B8 Pros, XS20s, ZBT, ZXTs, and ZHTs and 4 out 5 times, they always walk out with a ZHT. ;-)

My set up consists of primarily Zildjian A customs. I also have a 18" K dark crash..and
(drum roll please) a 14" ZHT fast crash and 8" splash. Please DON'T underestimate ZHTs!
I have them mixed in with my pro cymbals and they totally compliment each other! Check them out at your local drum shop..you may be pleasently surprised!
btw..is was mis stated in a previous post that the "H" in ZHT stood for hand hammered.
It does not. The "HT" in ZHT stands for high tin ratio in the alloy. The ZBT, ZXT use 8 percent tin in their alloy and the ZHT uses 12percent, which give these great AFFORDABLE cymbals their musicality. The flat rides are fabulous as well!
I have been playing over 30years in touring and recording bands and find this series of Zildjian cymbals to be pro sounding IMO, without the pro prices...I say, go for 'em!