14" vs 15" Hats.. Which do you prefer?

Iristone said:
I don't understand this, either. To fit into a mix, the least thing I'd like is the low-mid mud of large, dark hi-hats (and cymbals in general) that washes over electric guitars and strings.
And I also like the midrange "vocal"-ness of 14" hi-hats. Dark cymbals are gratifying on their own, but I find myself preferring brighter ones as soon as even my other drums start playing.
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My 15s fit nice in a mix. Though I only 4 mic the kit.

They also cut fine live, tighten up nicely for articulation, and slosh nicely when needed.
 
Liaztraht said:
My 15s fit nice in a mix. Though I only 4 mic the kit.

They also cut fine live, tighten up nicely for articulation, and slosh nicely when needed.
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My former 15" 2002 SE's is also like that. TBH it even cuts a bit too much for me, so I understand why a pair of large, bright hi-hats work, and why Paiste only makes 17" hi-hats under their bright 2002 line.
 
I have a couple pair of 15 hi hats and one pair of 14s. All Sabian. I love them all for different reasons but my most favorite is my 15 inch AAX-celerators. They sit in the mix perfectly but still cut through and have great presence.
 
steverok said:
14" all day. Why anyone would want big sloppy hi hats is a mystery to me.
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Iristone said:
I don't understand this, either. To fit into a mix, the least thing I'd like is the low-mid mud of large, dark hi-hats (and cymbals in general) that washes over electric guitars and strings.
And I also like the midrange "vocal"-ness of 14" hi-hats. Dark cymbals are gratifying on their own, but I find myself preferring brighter ones as soon as even my other drums start playing.
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i have been using 15's for 20 years now, and no engineer has ever had a problem with my HH sound. Not saying that I always have perfect live mixes, but the HH's are usually not the real issue there (it is usually amplified people who are too loud with a crappy sound....)

I definitely use smaller crashes in the studio, but always my 15's (Zildjian Quick Beats)...again, never sany complaints
 
15” for sure. But it’s not a huge issue for me either way. I’ll play both
 
Is it true that 15" hats tend to do a better of job of staying out the guitarists lane, of the guitar sound is loud and crunchy?

I use 14" Bosphorus "Antique" hats. To me, they seem lower pitched than most hats, and I can lay into them without getting complaints about stepping on the guitar sound. I've heard that 15" hats like New Beats make guitarists happier.
 
Xstr8edgtnrdrmrX said:
I definitely use smaller crashes in the studio, but always my 15's (Zildjian Quick Beats)...again, never sany complaints
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Quick Beats are very tight for their sizes. No mud at all. I was referring to the 17", Dark Energy hi-hats.
MrPockets said:
My 15 inch new beats are pretty high pitched.
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There's a reason New Beats are the gold standard of hi-hats. My first pro pair of hi-hats were the 15" Avedis (propaganded as re-created vintage A Zildjians), that were unfortunately nothing like yours: mine were clangy, clunky, disastrous.
 
Iristone said:
Quick Beats are very tight for their sizes. No mud at all. I was referring to the 17", Dark Energy hi-hats.
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yeah...anything bigger than 15 does not fit any of the music I like to play. At that point, I am going to just "ride" on my 18" crash

I also like the warmer "tight" sound of the Quick Beats. It allows for a more "filling" sound if I am doing intricate stuff on the HH. I can make them big and sloshy or small and tight; great "chic" sound; great splash sound....
 
PorkPieGuy said:
I have a set of 15" Heartbeat Studio hats and a set of 16" Heartbeat Epic hats. Both are thin and not overbearing. They sit in the mix perfectly, and they don't hurt anyone's years when they get sloshy.
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yeah I've really fallen in love with the 15s... even the feel is better which sounds weird to say.
 
I have 13"(1), 14"(3), and 15"(1)... certainly more than I need and my skill level is insufficient to make any meaningful comment here.

I can only say I like what I like, and that is different at different times. I will also say that it's my birthday in two weeks (send socks or neck ties) and my wish list includes these;

 
I love my 90's vintage 13" K/Z Dyno Beats - they do everything I need with aplomb. No wash, great chick and sizzle and not 'clangy' when tilted correctly. I've wondered about 15" New Beats, but the price tag always squashes the "wondering."
 
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Smoke said:
I love my 90's vintage 13" K/Z Dyno Beats - they do everything I need with aplomb. No wash, great chick and sizzle and not 'clangy' when tilted correctly. I've wondered about 15" New Beats, but the price tag always squashes the "wondering."
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the classic K/Z combo!!! Very 90's, but in the best way
 
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