Who here plays 13" hats?

[JesusMySavior]

For some reason (since I record a lot) I really prefer the higher pitch sound of 13" hats. I've played some great pairs of 14" hats but for me they're just not as articulate or clean as the 13's.

I just swiped up a pair of hhx groove hats and i'm swapping out from some hand hammered bright hats (both are 13's). The only issue with 13's is often they don't have an advantage when it comes to open trashing.

I generally will only buy hats in this size. Who else prefers 13's?

[zambizzi]

I would generally agree. I played Jojo "Fierce" hats for about a year and loved the size. 13" hats can really "bark" and seem a little bit more articulate. You outlined a problem though - for louder music they don't sound as good, played open.

Another (small and picky) issue I had is; I don't like the extra distance away from my right hand. I've got disproportionately long legs, compared to my arms...so I sit with a wide stance. I could never get *as* comfortable w/ 13" hats as I do w/ 14". I might even invest in some 15"-ers for this reason.

[TTNW]

I play a set of 13s with an A QuickBeat bottom and a K top. I love how they're lighter than my 14s and have a great sticking sound they sound ok when played hard open but not as good as my bigger hats.

I like the 13s for funkier styles and low to medium volume playing.

[MikeM]

I had two pairs 13" New Beats during my first 10 years of drumming and couldn't understand how anyone would like anything bigger. I loved the way Neil Peart's sounded and the way Stewart Copeland was able to articulate on his 13s. I friend of mine has a pair and they are still a gas to play on.

But once I I started playing in loud bands, those hats just couldn't be heard enough. I went to a pair of 13" Sabian Fusion hats because they were heavier, but they were too clunky. I've been using 14"hats ever since. Here's a partial list:
Signatures (3 years, then cracked)
New Beats (12 years)
AAXclellerators (1 week)
2oo2s SE (another week)
Signatures (about 3 months)
AA Regulars (1 week)
AAX Stage (less than a week)
Zildjian K (1 week)
and finally back to New Beats (for about the last year -whew!)

I have a buy, try, return, repeat as necessary strategy to selecting hats, as you can tell. But I'm done experimenting now! New Beats are all I need.

[TTNW]

But I'm done experimenting now! New Beats are all I need.

Mike, since you've been through the mill with finding the right hats, I have a question for you.

I have A Mastersounds and the Zildjian site says that both A Mastersounds and A New Beat hi-hats are medium top and heavy bottom. I was wondering if you or anyone knows as whether they're really just the same cymbals but with the bottom being crimped on the Mastersounds?

Everytime I've played a pair of New Beats, I've always thought they sound almost the same as my Mastersounds.

[MikeM]

I have A Mastersounds and the Zildjian site says that both A Mastersounds and A New Beat hi-hats are medium top and heavy bottom. I was wondering if you or anyone knows as whether they're really just the same cymbals but with the bottom being crimped on the Mastersounds?

Everytime I've played a pair of New Beats, I've always thought they sound almost the same as my Mastersounds.Seems to me that they are really similar. One of the pairs of 14" New Beats that I forgot to list was actually a Mastersound Top over a New Beat Bottom (and yet another was a New Beat Top over a Quick Beat Bottom). That MS top was just a little bit heavier that two other New Beat Tops I compared it to, but that could have been within normal variation since the top of my current NB seems about as heavy as that one was. But it wouldn't surprise me if Zildjian selected medium tops on the heavier side to pair with the Mastersound Bottoms, since that rippled bottom might be hard on a medium top that happened to be on the thin side - just a durability consideration. Of course, that is nothing more than speculation on my part.

I've played Mastersounds on a couple of occasions (but never owned them) and my impression was that they have a fatter stick sound, which makes them a little less sensitive, or just harder to control when pretending to be Stewart Copeland. Other than that, they seem very similar to me.

[mind_drummer]

13" is what I play and to me it's a very versatile size and I get the best of both world.

[Adam8]

I have a set 13" K mastersounds and they're great for everything.

[thechief7676]

I have a pair of early 90's 13" K/Z's mounted on an X hat to my right. Good stuff.

[DrumEatDrum]

Mike, since you've been through the mill with finding the right hats, I have a question for you.

I have A Mastersounds and the Zildjian site says that both A Mastersounds and A New Beat hi-hats are medium top and heavy bottom. I was wondering if you or anyone knows as whether they're really just the same cymbals but with the bottom being crimped on the Mastersounds?

Everytime I've played a pair of New Beats, I've always thought they sound almost the same as my Mastersounds.

The tops are indeed the same.

My 13" New Beats actually say "Master Sound" on the top cymbal (I was mixing and matching in the store until I had the perfect pair).

I like 14's, used them for years and years. Then a few years ago, I realized some 13" would better suite some recording I was going to be doing, and I had some extra money at the time, so I bought 13" New Beats. And I now used them more often than not.

[JesusMySavior]

I had two pairs 13" New Beats during my first 10 years of drumming and couldn't understand how anyone would like anything bigger. I loved the way Neil Peart's sounded and the way Stewart Copeland was able to articulate on his 13s. I friend of mine has a pair and they are still a gas to play on.

But once I I started playing in loud bands, those hats just couldn't be heard enough. I went to a pair of 13" Sabian Fusion hats because they were heavier, but they were too clunky. I've been using 14"hats ever since. Here's a partial list:
Signatures (3 years, then cracked)
New Beats (12 years)
AAXclellerators (1 week)
2oo2s SE (another week)
Signatures (about 3 months)
AA Regulars (1 week)
AAX Stage (less than a week)
Zildjian K (1 week)
and finally back to New Beats (for about the last year -whew!)

I have a buy, try, return, repeat as necessary strategy to selecting hats, as you can tell. But I'm done experimenting now! New Beats are all I need.

You were doing good there for the first 15 years and then it looks like you went on a midlife "hat" crisis and finally found yourself again!

New beats are good hats though, I won't lie.

[MikeM]

You were doing good there for the first 15 years and then it looks like you went on a midlife "hat" crisis and finally found yourself again!What happened is that the top NB cracked on the pair I had for 12 years, so I thought I'd look for something new and different. Surely New Beats aren't the end all, be all, right? They're probably not, but after getting through most of that list (and losing my ass on one particular trade) I got sick of looking and went for what I knew I liked.

I've played New Beats for so long now that their sound is burned into my brain, and to me, that's just what hats are supposed to sound like.

Back to your OP, if it was just me and my drums in my practice room (no band), I'd be back on the 13" NBs, no question.

[con struct]

I use 13" K hats. I like them very much. Anything I need to do with them they'll do, and they record very nicely.

[Pocket-full-of-gold]

Yep, played 13" K/Z hats since the early 90's. I love 'em and won't get rid of them, but can't help feeling I wouldn't mind searching for some used 14" New Beats or Mastersounds as well.

[Jessiah331]

I just got rid of my 13" ZBT for 14" HHX Evolutions. I'm still not sure about it. While I've gotten a TON of compliments on the new hats, they do seem a little sloshy and heavy.


Maybe they'll grow on me, who knows!?

[bobdadruma]

I can say enough good things about my 13 1/4 inch K Custom Hybrid hats.
I play them every day. They can stand up and be proud with the best of them.
They really like mics!

[jonutarr]

I play 13" AAXcelerators I love the pitch, (not a fan of the crinkle cut bottom though) I will never go back to 14", I may try a pair of 12"ers next

[groovy]

I play 13" K Custom Darks and I love them. They sound great closed or open, and they are can definitely cut through loud music if necessary. After playing 14" New Beats for years, I couldn't imagine going back.

[Fishbones]

i prefer the control, crispness, and cleanness of 13 inchers much more than any other size. they just make me feel more in control, unlike the unpredictability of larger ones. for the same reasons, i prefer thin to medium weight hats.

[Deathmetalconga]

i prefer the control, crispness, and cleanness of 13 inchers much more than any other size. they just make me feel more in control, unlike the unpredictability of larger ones. for the same reasons, i prefer thin to medium weight hats.

Agree. I play 13 A Customs and I like the responsiveness. I believe they are medium weight.

I guess 13s aren't as loud as 14s. But I've been playing 27 years and I've never, ever heard anyone say the drums need to be louder. I think if you need more than 13s, you need to be miked anyway.

[Fishbones]

Agree. I play 13 A Customs and I like the responsiveness. I believe they are medium weight.

I guess 13s aren't as loud as 14s. But I've been playing 27 years and I've never, ever heard anyone say the drums need to be louder. I think if you need more than 13s, you need to be miked anyway.

So true, so true. Actually i originally bought my first 13 inch hats because i wasnt able to afford bigger ones when i was younger. it was a pair of 13' avedis mastersounds. but when i tried out the 14 inch size, i much prefered the smaller size. and plus ergonomically it fits in right between my main snare and piccolo. love them 13's

[Fishgopop007]

I play a set of 14" hats on my kit, and on my teachers kit he used to play a set of 14" hhx evolution hats, he moved over to using a set of 13" k hats because of the crispness you get from them, i agree in every way :D They are beautiful hats to play, and though they dont get as much wash as 14" hats, 13"'s are my favorites for the meantime :)

George.

[Meat the beat]

I play 13" K Custom Darks and I love them. They sound great closed or open, and they are can definitely cut through loud music if necessary. After playing 14" New Beats for years, I couldn't imagine going back.

Second that... I bought my 13" dark K's way back when I started playing seriously, loved them then & love em still.
Got some 12"s for recording and always wanted some 15"s just to hear how huge they sound but not taken the plunge yet. Fancy some K Constantinoples.

[manderman]

I also like 13 hats, they sound really accurate and defined.
14 hats always seemed too low pitched and washy to me.

I use a Bosphorus Gold 13' as a main hat and a Zildjian 13' K/Z as a secondary hat, both sound really cool to me.

[builttogrind82]

Ive got a pair of 13" new beats that i've had for a bit over 15 years. was one of the first upgrades i made when i was starting to play drums. I also have a pair of Paiste 2002 13" hats that I'm not really fond of and wouldn't mind getting rid of.

[Thaard]

Gots me some 13' HHX groove hats. Best I've played so far.

[matthew]

13 K Constantinople Zildjians here.
At first got them because the 14"s weren't in... now I think I would find the 14" too low pitch... for me I just got used to it... I think I could get used to the 14's again.

[RickP]

I use 13 " Paiste Signature Dark Crisp hihats and really like them.They are exactly as they are named- crisp and dark.

My favourite 13" Hihats I have owned are 13 " Zildjian A Custom mastersounds - these are beautiful hihats- I stupidly sold them a few years back, the new ones aren't the same as these, the new ones seem thicker and don;t have as much shimmer.

[Brundlefly]

Only 13's seem to do for me as well and I find that some pairs can be perfectly capable for loud music.

Started with old pair of 13 A's when I was a kid. Later in life, moved to A and A Custom MasterSounds for a few years, but those are too sloppy and brash sounding for me. AAX Fusions were my faves for the past 5 years but have recently been replaced by a pair of Signature Dark Crisps that I stumbled over at NAMM (seriously, is there any other place this side of planet earth were you can actually find a full line up of Paiste's to try out?).

I picked up a pair of 14s Dark Energy's which sound great, but in practice, I can never get past their sluggishness. So, 13's it is.

[Pass.of.E.r.a.]

I have a set of 13" Zildjian K's and those are without a doubt the perfect sounding hihats. I don't have a problem with get the volume out of them I just don't like the wide open sound as much.

I also have a set of 13" A Custom Top/Z Custom Bottom Hihats that are perfect for open, sloshy playing. And their loud! But unfortunately also cracked, which actually dries out some of the shrieking highs.

Someone should make a social group about 13" Hihats :P

-Jonathan

[Chaos_Inferno]

Are there a pair of... I'm not sure if I'd like dry, but at least REALLY, really dark hats they make in a 13" size? I would love something like that I think...

I have some older (90s, I think) 14" New Beats that are darker than any other pair of New Beats I've ever played, and I like that lower end wash they give open and the articulation I get from having the bottom hat on top... and now I'm curious if I'd like some 13" hats that wouldn't be too bright for me just because of the smaller size.

The K/Z hats might do the trick from what I remember actually, but I'm just curious if anyone knows of or owns/plays something like what I described.

[Overg]

i prefer the control, crispness, and cleanness of 13 inchers much more than any other size. they just make me feel more in control, unlike the unpredictability of larger ones. for the same reasons, i prefer thin to medium weight hats.

me too, same here, I think that the 13" are more agile, and feel flexible. they respond faster, and can have much more variety sounding then the 14

[doctor_benway91]

HHX 13" X-celerator hats. So easy to control and the perforated edge on the bottom hat
gives it a very nice chick and splash with my left foot.

[aydee]

Play different sets of hats depending on circumstances, but A Custom 13"s are my favorite. Fast, agile, nice bark, nice bite.

[Florian]

13 and 14" Paragons. The 13s are the main HH the 14s are the remote HH


F

[Skitch]

13" K/Z


Mike

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[Bruce M. Thomson]

I alays used 14" but have been using13" for the last 5 years, Sabian AAX. They are darker sounding and sort have a clinky sound. I now know I Prefer 14". They do work well on foot work which was my main reason for purchasing. No complaints though as Sabian make good product and they do the job. They also record very well.

[jonutarr]

I guess 13s aren't as loud as 14s.


my 13" HH are louder than both my 14" HH

What makes a HH loud is weight and a large bell, not it's size, just like any other cymbal

[BillBachman]

I love 13" hats, I have a pair of A customs and a K custom special dry that I use over my A custom bottom.

Oh, and a pair of EAK 13's for you vintage guys out there.

[IL DUCE]

I have a pair of 13" Hi-hats that I use on my remote HH.

[willem36]

Speaking of EAKs, I paired an 13" EAK top with an A Custom bottom. A great match IMHO.

[Jazz+Ska!]

I also have the 13" K/Z hats. Love them, the weighty bottom gives great articulation and a nice "2" "4" chic.

[Fishgopop007]

I've been having my lessons recently on a set of standard 13" k hats and find then incredible to play on :) I much prefer the size to 14"+ hats.

George.

[larryace]

Thanks alot. (one word) I was perfectly happy with my 14's (never played 13's, ever). Now I have to go out and hear some. You guys....

[bobdadruma]

Thanks alot. (one word) I was perfectly happy with my 14's (never played 13's, ever). Now I have to go out and hear some. You guys....You won't be sorry Larry. You will have to install a few electrical outlets to pay for them. Thats all!
Make sure that you ground them properly!

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I have a set of 13" Masterwork Jazz series that I am using as my x-hat for now.

[hollowcreature]

I use the Paiste Signature 13" Dark Crisp hats and they work very well in any situation. Great articulation and tone, plenty of volume when needed.

That said, I like the sound of those two symphonic gongs that Steve Jordan is using as hats these days... :-)

[Mandala]

13" highhats are where it's at for sure. I find that they have amazing versatility, no matter what brand the hat.
I personally play Sabian 13" XS20s. I know they arn't top of the line cymbals but I'm perfectly happy with them, especially considering most XS20s don't really sound too hot.

My buddy has a pair of 14" XS20s, that he hates, but he loves my 13"s. Go figure.