If I only had one pair of HHs. . .

[Franklin Nigel Stein]

Count me in the camp of drummers who are constantly looking for that magical pair of Hi-Hats the sound great over their whole musical spectrum. I might have found them.

Presenting my addition to that conversation. My 1950s A Zildjian 14in New Beat hi-hats. 738g/1138g

Ok, Ok. I know they didn’t make NBs in the 50s. But if you get just the right weights for top and bottom (takes some experience, I admit) and put them together, you’ll get a lot more than just an older pair.

The much larger amount of hand work put into the earlier Zildjians really pays off if you’re looking for a mellow dark sound. But the moderately heavy bottom still makes sure they can still be heard in most situations.

If you could only have one pair of Hi-Hats, what would they be?

 

[AtlantaDrumGuy]

New beats, vintage or new. Although I think the regular K hats are nice as well.

 

[Seb77]

the moderately heavy bottom still makes sure they can still be heard in most situations.

If you could only have one pair of Hi-Hats, what would they be?

I have a similar bottom around 1120g that might be my favorite. I use different mix/match pairs; the top is usually not as light as yours; lately a 70s NB top right at 1000g has worked well for me. Depends on context; sometimes I might like the original 70s bottom which is rather heavy.

 

[mtarrani]

I have a 15 or so year old pair of Dream Bliss hats that are perfect for anything I play from jazz to swing to classic rock and blues.

 

[Sonorholic]

As much as I agree with the New Beats, I'd have to say that of what I own now the choice would be between 14" 602 ME's and SC Dark Mediums. The SC's are heavier but still play well at low volume. The ME's are rather like New Beats from Paiste.

 

[zenstat]

I've got my own pairing of 14" orphans. Two mid 1960s New Beat sounding A Zildjians 732g over 1120g. They would work in a variety of musical contexts. If I were really only allowed one pair I'd stick with them. Fortunately I'm allowed to have lots of hats, so I have pairs which are variously: warmer, darker, more sizzle part open, more complex.

 

[Tama CW]

I've got my own pairing of 14" orphans. Two mid 1960s New Beat sounding A Zildjians 732g over 1120g. They would work in a variety of musical contexts. If I were really only allowed one pair I'd stick with them. Fortunately I'm allowed to have lots of hats, so I have pairs which are variously: warmer, darker, more sizzle part open, more complex.

My mid-70's new beats are pretty sweet (826/1165 gm). But my favorite set is an orphaned pairing of 14" type 3 trans stamps at 713/765 gm.
Oddly, they have identical patina and wear pattern. You couldn't tell they were not a matched factory set. What I love about them is that they
have a lot of that "crunch" like a set of K Istanbuls and cut like heck despite their weights. They cut nearly as well as my new beats. These are the ONLY pairing
of trans stamp hi hats I've ever had that cut so crisp and sounded like old K's. In fact better than old K's. I have two pairs of old K's (one 14" int stamps
at 765/925 and set of 15" type 3b old stamps 760/985). The trans 14's cut better than both of the old K's, and more musical as well, with some of that
old A slosh and shimmer. I can't explain how these trans 14's seem to out-perform all the others.....but they do. I've had about 2 dozen sets of 13/14/15/16 trans stamp hats. And these orphaned 14's were better than all the others, matched sets included.

 

[ppfd]

One pair of hats?
Sabian Fusion 13” believe I had the AAX model and sold them like a dumb ass.
They just seemed to work for anything, heavy to an extent, yet light enough.
A nice tight “chick” which everyone wants .
A good closed stick sound.

Runner up would be my 13” 2002 sound edge. Similar to the Fusions, just a bright sound.

Id like to get a pair of quick beats to compare.

On a side note, I really like 13” hats.

 

[Skyrm]

Well, I only have one pair - 80's 13" K/Z's! Still love them. Even with my recent foray in Paiste rides.

 

[patrickwitherow]

One pair of hats?
Sabian Fusion 13” believe I had the AAX model and sold them like a dumb ass.
They just seemed to work for anything, heavy to an extent, yet light enough.
A nice tight “chick” which everyone wants .
A good closed stick sound.

Runner up would be my 13” 2002 sound edge. Similar to the Fusions, just a bright sound.

Id like to get a pair of quick beats to compare.

On a side note, I really like 13” hats.

I think Dave Abbruzzese used these as well back in the day. Because of his sound, I always got 13" hats and loved them. Mine are 13" Zildjian Quick Beats. I'd like to eventually get a pair of 15's - just not sure what - it's been years since I last bought a cymbal - too many options now!

 

[Sequimite]

I thought I had this covered with a 14" pair of Dark Bosphorus Turk hi hats (902 and 1110) to which I added a 666 gram. So I'd usually play 666 over 902 unless playing with higher volume (still moderate) for which I'd use 902 over 1110.

Then I picked up a 15" pair of Bosphorus 25th Anniversary (25 Prototype) hats and they magically work on everything, from pure acoustic with no PA to moderately loud electric instruments. I haven't touched the Turk hi hats for half a year.

 

[RyanLovesDrums]

I’ve been enjoying my 15” 50s A’s. They remind me of this mismatched 15” pair I had that a friend gave me. I finally found pics of the top cymbal(below). It was some kind of Paiste Dixie cymbal. The bottom cymbal was a K dark crash thin.

 

[Steech]

My favorite pair of hats is harsh, not too pretty sounding, loud, pretty cheap, not rare or hard to find, and not versatile. But I love them. 15” Istanbul Agop Ion dark.

 

[ninedeuce]

I actually have gone through this exercise, and I guess, since I suffer from major GAS coupled with a debiliating case of minimalism, will always be going through this exercise lol.

In my youth, things were blissfully uncomplicated. Neil Peart played 13" New Beats, so I did, too. No complaints, ever. Wonderful hats.

Since returning to drums in Mar 2023, but with an eye on jazz, went back to the 13" size, but went for something a little more refined. Did a ton of listening online and ended up with a pair of 13" Istanbul Mehmet Nostalgias. Great cymbals for jazz, but whenever I'd play rock, felt a little too refined (778g, 958g). And also, with a newfound focus on ergonomics, realized I preferred the extra real estate of a larger diameter than 13".

Next attempt, went the other direction, going back with vintage 15" New Beats. While I'd played lots of 14" hi hats before, had never played 15", and found that while the hats sounded great, the stick response was just too sluggish for me. 1000g/1450g.

Third attempt, Goldilocks! Bought a used pair of 14" Paiste Twentys (1090g, 1450g). Honestly, they sound very much like a set of 14" New Beats, which is fine by me. Realized that 14" is my preferred size.

That said, I'm fine with the Twentys but not in love with them lol. So I'm low key on the look out for a replacement, or replacements, if I want to keep a couple sets. Tried out some Paiste 2002 SoundEdges, and though I didn't have a great experience with the 15" New Beats, I really liked the sound and feel of the 15" SoundEdge, great for rock (maybe even for jazz in a loud setting). And also liked the Paiste Masters 14" Dark HHs, though I felt there wasn't quite enough difference between those and the Twentys to warrant a replacement. Also liked the sound of the 14" Zildjian K Custom Special Dry hats, but more as an alternate flavor.

 

[ThomasL]

3 cymbals qualify as only one pair of hats, right?

 

[5621]

15” 602 SE hats would be my choice. Perfect balance of everything I want AND don’t want in a pair of hats. Can’t see myself wanting to change anytime soon.

 

[drumsforme]

14" Pre Serial Paiste 602's - 812gr/1135gr- They have exactly what I'm looking for

 

[Cannons]

15” Paiste 2002 Heavy Hi Hats. I have a lot of other hats, but if you forced me to choose one pair, it’d be the 2002s.

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

14" IAK's or a tarnished pair of 80's NB's.

 

[Plaid Sabbath]