I have a 14” Quick Beat bottom sitting around...I’m thinking 70’s/80’s era...and I’m looking for suggestions for a top to pair with it that might create something noteworthy. I’ve tried A Custom Mastersound and 80’s era New Beat with it with the latter producing a nice result, but lacking a bit in shimmery wash. I’m not a fan of dark hi hats, but conversely don’t like too much emphasis in the upper frequencies which is what I got with the A Custom Mastersound. For those of you who have played around with combinations using QB bottom, what have been your findings (both good and bad)?
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Has anyone stumbled across a magical pairing to go with Quick Beat bottom?
- Thread starter spctomlin
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Frank Godiva
DFO Master
I use a Dream Bliss 14 on top of mine with good results, for a change I might throw a 2002 black label under there
tillerva
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Quick Beat top? Sorry, had to .
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LOL!
I was about to say the same thing!
What is the weight of the QB bottom? Probably 1300g+, like the two I have. I think it depends.
Also, it is the design issue - you will get the sizzle shimmery sound with the edges of the 2 normal cymbals touching/hitting each other, but the design of the QB won't allow that.
Also, it is the design issue - you will get the sizzle shimmery sound with the edges of the 2 normal cymbals touching/hitting each other, but the design of the QB won't allow that.
JDA
DFO Star
How much does it weigh; / put / a top 200g lighter
that's usually as good as it's going to get or a good base starting point
that's usually as good as it's going to get or a good base starting point
I should probably at least try it, right? Lol
I'm inclined to agree that something on the thin side might be a better match. The A custom top and QB bottom is highly articulate with emphasis in the upper frequencies, but really doesn't have much tonality.
I'd say something like a K Custom Hybrid or a sabian HHX. Those should give a darker shimmer and be slightly thinner than using anything A or A Custom.
jtpaistegeist
Very well Known Member
If money is not an issue, I would get a single 14" Paiste 602 Medium Reissue Top. If you are looking for a top on the cheap, I would grab a Soultone 14" Top in the Vintage or Extreme series.
If you want to stay Zil, I would suggest looking at the regular K top.
If you want to stay Zil, I would suggest looking at the regular K top.
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The QB bottom weighed in at 1382g. For comparison, the A Custom Mastersound bottom I have weighed in at 1266g and a K Mastersound bottom weighed in at 1346g. The K Mastersound top weighed in at 1078g and the A Custom Mastersound weighs 1028g. Despite the heavier weights, the K Mastersound hats definitely don’t have the high frequency emphasis that the A Custom Mastersounds possess. I tried the K Mastersound top with QB bottom and liked what I heard, but the real surprise came when I tried the A Custom Mastersound top with the K Mastersound bottom. That’s a very nice sounding set of hats with good midrange, a meaty chick, luscious wash and great articulation without sounding as thin as the A Custom Mastersound top and bottom combination and had more high frequency cut than the K Mastersound top and bottom combination.
My intent is to create a set of hats for gigging and I prefer to not gig with expensive or high value cymbals if it can be avoided. I came into the QB bottom for not a lot of coin and it has some flea bites already so I was hoping to find a top that fits a similar value/condition profile.
JDA
DFO Star
--any brand -any make- even any alloy --200 grams lighter --will get you a--- fair to good sound.
Know the weight of that bottom so you won't be shooting in the dark..
Know the weight of that bottom so you won't be shooting in the dark..
funkypoodle
DFO Master
(If possible) I'd find a drum shop with a good assortment of Sabian SR2's and try Thin & Medium ones over the QB until you find "the one". I find that the top hat is responsible for a big part of the overall nature of the pair (when paired within "reasonable" weight relativity) & you may find two different tops that you like that cause the pair to sound surprisingly different.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard any model from the SR2 line. What’s the story on those?
If I can add some clarity here, I have 2 sets of QB's (and many other sets of HH's). For some reason, for my current gigging HH's, I use one of the QB tops as the bottom, and a 90's K on top that weighs slightly more than the "bottom." It's a very odd pairing, but the K has very dark patina almost like an Istanbul K (it's just a regular USA K - I think pre-serial #), so I dig the look, and has a crisp stick sound, great foot chick, and a nice sizzle.....just what I need for that gig. Sometimes we play un-miked so it has enough volume for that, too.
Also, I have used both QB bottoms together as a set - it's an overly crisp metallic sound because the bottoms are not flexible - I don't recommend it unless you want a heavy cutting sound! I would think any A or K (top or bottom based on your bottom's weight) will work for your purposes. My rule of thumb is the top is 300g give or take less than the bottom.
Also, I have used both QB bottoms together as a set - it's an overly crisp metallic sound because the bottoms are not flexible - I don't recommend it unless you want a heavy cutting sound! I would think any A or K (top or bottom based on your bottom's weight) will work for your purposes. My rule of thumb is the top is 300g give or take less than the bottom.
funkypoodle
DFO Master
(broken link removed) These have been a godsend for me & are always fun to dig through. I'm a little too young (edging on 50) to have known buying blanks from the Azco factory, so I consider SR2s to be my generation's equivalent (and a smart business practice on Sabian's part).
I've played SR2's at Bentley's. I don't know how to tell them apart (ie: which are HH, HHX, or AA models). Some have sounded good and some just okay. I wish I knew which were the better prior cymbals, though.
Extremely interesting and damn, Sabian certainly has come up with some clever marketing ideas.
Where are you able to dig through a bunch of SR2’s?
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Not a fan of the metallic clank of heavy plates and I know what your saying about the highs, but I do like the sizzle and slosh that I get from the QB's, nothing else plays quite like it.
I have a new beat top just over 900g and another just over 1000 that do the job nicely with the QB bottom just over 1400g's . I would just keep trying vintage A's of the same era until you find the right one. Its out there
I have a new beat top just over 900g and another just over 1000 that do the job nicely with the QB bottom just over 1400g's . I would just keep trying vintage A's of the same era until you find the right one. Its out there
