I'm debating on what I should do as far as an investment into all new cymbals for my kit. I've always played Zildjian models, and actually love their A Custom line and have also played Paiste for quite some time. I've played drums for nearly 15 years and have since open my eyes to the Sabian AAX line. They look, feel and play beautifully, espeically for the genre of music in which I will apply these guys too. So, what it has come too is either sticking with my guns and purchasing Zildjian A Customs or switching it up and purchasing Sabian AAX OR the HHX Evolutions.


Any thoughts or suggestions?

jerknut wrote:

You need to play them. I've never been a big fan of the A customs or the AAX cymbals, but I do like the A customs a bit more. They're both fairly thin, pretty quick, bright. I haven't played the HHX cymbals so I can't comment. I think you and I probably have polar opposite tastes. I've got a set of the Meinl Byzance Dark cymbals, as well as a few K customs. I like them dark, thick, and washy (like my women). I think the best advice would be to go and try them out at a store (if you can).

I feel ya! Meinl makes awesome, awesome cymbals aswell as hand percussion. I've played both the A Customs and AAX before, and your right in the sense that they produce a fast, bright and shimmering sound. I have played with the K line before aswell. I like the K Custom Hybrids. Oh, they are nice. If you have never tried to play Sabian's HH line, you totally should, or even their Paragon line (which is better). The Paragons are quite possibly the best line of Sabian's ever made, but very, very expensive. See, I work in the drum department of Guitar Center and I test out equipment all the time. It's a pretty cool little gig and it's really thrusted me back into the scene. I've been out for a couple years since my last band split ways, and now that I'm around musicians everyday, it really makes to want to get off my ass and start a new project already. It's such an incredible feeling being behind a drum kit. It really is.

jerknut wrote:

Those paragons are pretty darn nice. I've worked in a few music stores over the years too, its a killer job (at least it was for me) as a teen and through college. You get to try all sorts of new equipment out, and talk to some really interesting people, and its not like you have anything else to spend your money on. I did eventually tire of the retail thing and got a "grown up" job when I got my undergraduate degree. I sometimes miss it, but my buddies and I have lots of gear between us so there's still an outlet there. That's cool, man. Keep us updated if you pull the trigger. I guess I could start another thread for this, but does anyone here have recording gear? It might be fun to do some collabs online. On a side note, do you follow baseball much? Your cardinals are TTSU.

I totally follow baseball! Everyone here in St. Louis are humongous Cards fans. See, we are a baseball kind of town. Everyone pretty much gives up on the Rams, and are fair whether fans with football but aside baseball, STL is also big into hockey. Cardinal Nation grows!! The Cardinals are fuckin' awesome and so are the Blues! Aside that note, yeah I may just go with the AAX line. I'm still kind of on the fence with it though. I'm just weighing my options.