Are all New Beats created equal?

[JesusMySavior]

What do you think? Is the sound very equal or incredibly similar between all pairs of New Beats? Old New Beats? New New Beats?

I'd be interested to hear some responses.

[csnow]

Vintage New Beats are lighter than the newer ones. The vintage New Beats sound better to be my ears.

[Bull]

I have a pair from 79/80 and a pair from the late 90s. I like both but I much prefer the older pair. They are much lighter.

[Dre25]

Zildjians vary a bit.

[bermuda]

Cast cymbals can vary a lot. The original premise of New Beat hats was that the bottom be significantly heavier than the top. But that was the only criterion, there were no standards as to pitch or suitability for a particular purpose.

So no, New Beats, and most cymbals, are not created equal. Some say viva le difference (if their French is as bad as mine.) I have over 750 cymbals, and I don't think any two are exactly alike, not even my Paistes, or Sabian APX (their version of a Paiste-Sig-meets-2002.)

There is far better consistency in sheet cymbals, such as most of Paiste's lines. And therefore it's sometimes difficult to find Paistes that are close in pitch to each other without being too close, or too far apart.

Bermuda

[samdrum]

Vintage New Beats are lighter than the newer ones. The vintage New Beats sound better to be my ears. I agree 100%. I had an older pair and got rid of them. :( They were darker sounding than the newer ones. To me the newer models are more harsh and brighter sounding.

[AndyMC]

I have owned 13" late 90s new beats and 14" mid 60s new beats and played a few newer 14" new beats. The vintage ones are definitely thinner and meatier sounding (I much prefer them and they are my main hats) The new ones are a little cleaner sounding than the old but that is also due to bronze mellowing over time. Both are great just to my ears the vintage ones are greater.

[MikeM]

Am I the only one that prefers the newer New Beats? I've played some pretty old pairs that are thinner and sloshier. I'm guessing that this is what people prefer? I like the newer one's because they're slightly heavier. They have more teeth to them than the older ones but remain articulate. My New Beats are newer (as were the pair I had before these), and while not as thin as NBs of old, they're still thinner than either Quick Beats (new or old) and much thinner than Rock hats. Not being a fan of overly heavy cymbals, I wouldn't own QBs or Rocks.

Anyway, count me as one who doesn't think that thicker new somehow means not quite as good as thinner vintage. It's still a matter of preference.

[druid]

I still have my 13" New Beats ( yes...the "Neil" hats) that I got around 1981-82....


they sound great.

[Coldhardsteel]

I've played some later New Beats, probably from the 90's or even the last decade, and I can say that they're a bit weighty. Not as heavy as the Quick Beats, but weighty enough. What I can't speak for, however, is a pair of vintage New Beats, which I've never had the chance to get my hands on. Obviously the change in years will yield different cymbals per demand. I know I enjoyed the newer New Beats, they were pretty crisp without being jangly or clangy.

Bermuda is right, too, not even Paiste can clone cymbals.

... They have more teeth to them than the older ones but remain articulate.

And thank you Mike for the new adjective for describing hi-hats. 'Teeth' has never occurred to me before.

[Bull]

Am I the only one that prefers the newer New Beats? .

My '80 New Beats were my very first hats. It's probably just etched into my brain that they sound like hats are supposed to sound.

[caddywumpus]

New Beats made since the mid-90s are VERY bright. It's a matter of your own personal taste. They vary from pair to pair. I was never happy with any pair I bought, and eventually had to mix and match. I don't like too bright or too sloshy, and they tend to fall into those categories. Some of them are "cloppy" as well. There is SO much variety among them, you should search until you find some you like. They're workhorses and sound great...

[larryace]

I have a pair of 1977 New Beats, purchased new by me...I love the bottom, the top is just OK. Together they are above average but don't blow me away. The new ones sound clangy to me, I don't like them, but to be fair, I've only heard maybe 2 new pairs. I've always mixed hi hats. I am in hi hat nirvana right now with my lastest and greatest pair of mismatcheds, nary a NB to be found though.

A heavy Zildjian Mastersound under a thinner Masterworks on top, OMG genetic material just oozes out when I play them....I totally got lucky with that top hat, bought it unheard on faith, over the internet, from a semi famous drummer's own personal collection he was selling. I bought his whole collection.

[8Mile]

OMG genetic material just oozes out when I play them

larry, that can happen to us as we get older. I try to adjust my seat to a comfortable height and avoid drinking too many liquids before the gig.

Letting immaturity run amok,
8Mile

[larryace]

Maybe I should adjust my seat to an un comfortable position...or think of garbage ...

[KirbyM]

My latest New Beats are a pair that I just bought a few weeks ago. Before that pair, my newest set was about 3 years old. The top cymbal of the older set is heavy and clangy sounding. On the newer set, the top cymbal opens up like the New Beat Hats from the early 70's. The most recent hats were a real lucky find. I went back to that same store a week after my purchase, and the New Beats they had on display sounded like crap.

I think that finding a great sounding Zildjian is like a treasure hunt. When you do find that one cymbal that "cranks your tractor", it's like finding a pot of gold !! I've been fascinated with this hunt for 45 years and still going !!

[Kudzu Monroe]

I'm on my third set of 14" New Beats, these being the lightest and oldest set (of the hollow logo variety), they have a fat meaty sound while the newer ones I had just seemed clangy.

I have a 16" pair from the 60s that have the classic New Beat sound just more of it, and they have no equal IMO.

Added a picture of the 16" New Beats next to the 14" pair

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii570/Kudzumonroe/16and14NB2.jpg

[toddbishop]

I guess the older ones are thinner-- for a long time I played a set of my brother's late 60's/early 70's NBs which were much lighter than any others I've ever played. I just picked up an (I think) early 70's pair that sound great-- they're on the heavier side, but dark sounding. I haven't played many sets I've liked since about the 90's.

[larryace]

I've come to realize that a super heavy bottom with a pretty thin top is the sound that butters my biscuits. That'd make for an awkward looking woman lol.

[Mad About Drums]

I've come to realize that a super heavy bottom with a pretty thin top is the sound that butters my biscuits. That'd make for an awkward looking woman lol.

Yep, that's the recipe for me too, I have a heavy Z bottom and a thin K on top in 13" known as the K/Z hi-hats back in the mid 80's, a superb combination, an awkward looking woman it might be, but when she speaks and sing, it's the most beautiful woman :)

My secondary hi-hat is an early 80's 14" Quick beat, with the flat, bell less bottom cymbal with four holes.

Prior to these I had a 14" New beat, but I was never really hooked on them, and I never tried the new version, but as Bermuda stated they can vary widely between each other.

[KirbyM]

A friend recently gave me his oldest pair of A. Zildjian New Beat Hi-Hats from the 60's. I've always loved those cymbals !! They are much lighter weight than today's New Beats and sound like the ones Buddy Rich used. What a great gift !!

[kzdruma]

I know that this is very uncommon and opposite of what everyone is saying, but I have a new pair and vintage pair that sound very similar...

I can't imagine that the sound difference of mine could be more than a difference in patina. Who knows... I guess that when cymbals vary that much you are bound to get similarities as well.

[alparrott]

I use a mid-80's pair of Z-MACs, which is essentially two new Beat tops... very expressive and a bit dirty/dark. I've considered swapping them for something a bit newer, but I always end up coming back to them.