Jazz hi hats? What are you playing currently?

[bbshams]

Hey all!

Wondering what everyone's preferences are for hats, specifically for playing in the jazz idiom. I'm playing on some 60's A's currently, but thinking about grabbing another pair. Perhaps some 14" Paiste Masters Dark hats, or 14" K Cons. What does everyone else play? 14 vs 15? Etc, etc...

 

[Rick]

I play K Custom Dark 13" hats for jazz (and pretty much everything else). Love them!

 

[JDA]

in order of preference and likelihood

old K type III 1950s 14" 797g on top of a
old K Con 14" from the 30s 1200g

would be one

Bosphorus near new dark traditional 14s
910/1110
would be another

New Stamp old K 14" 773g on top of either
a New Stamp old K 14" at 979g or New Stamp old K at 1050g

~~~~

after that I'd have to look around
but those are for all and any music for me.

14s. been thru 15s and 13s...have put 16s together and liked that

i have about 4 or 5 older A possible combinations and 2 or 3 old 602 possible combos
those are presently dormant* bottom shelf backwater youthful indiscretion in case of nuclear emergency interplanetary (long distance) use only
so never. but never say never.

* had to get the word dormant in there

 

[toddbishop]

14" Cymbal & Gong Holy Grail. My set is relatively heavy-- 1030/1233-- but they're still great jazz cymbals-- they make me think of a very well used set of 70s New Beats.

 

[multijd]

14” Bosphorus Masters
14” vintage Paiste 602
14” vintage K Zildjian

 

[TPC]

15" old A's - 60's New Beat top (975 g) over a late 50's BAND cymbal (1150 g). I use these 99.9% of the time and they work for virtually any style of music.

 

[Jonnymac]

I have a set of 15 new beats from the 70s (hollow logo). The top is like 950g so they’re lighter than most NB of their size. I like them for pretty much everything.

 

[bbshams]

15" old A's - 60's New Beat top (975 g) over a late 50's BAND cymbal (1150 g). I use these 99.9% of the time and they work for virtually any style of music.

Brian Blade frequently uses old 50s/60s 15" A's, so I would agree they're pretty versatile!

 

[bbshams]

14” Bosphorus Masters
14” vintage Paiste 602
14” vintage K Zildjian

Love Bos Masters. Gotta get me some...

 

[Seb77]

I prefer 14" and don't like overly thin hats, the top should be somewhat splashy, but the bottom should add a bit of bite. My favorite top hat cymbal at the moment is a Dream Bliss at 825g, with lots of character. I pair it with an Agop trad. medium top around 1000g as bottom. The two Agops paired are nice too, but a bit chunky for lower volume.
I also have some A hats, a sweeter, cleaner sound. I once played a set of Agop Sigs that were very nice, maybe in abetween the rawness of the Bliss and the politness of the A. Should have bought them...

 

[kdgrissom]

K Zildjian very thin old stamp IIA on top and an Intermediate stamp on bottom, all supported by a near perfect Rogers (#4401) "Swiv-o-matic", which I got about 6 years ago.
Obviously not new stuff, but it suits the small group sound I'm after.
Aaaannd I'm thinking of finding more Swivo hi-hats because they are amazing!

 

[lossforgain]

I have a set of old As like you. They would be my go-to for a jazz gig. I also have a set of K Cons that are nice. I used to have a set of Bos Masters and miss them terribly, but they were 13s so I sold them. I wish I had bought the 14s.

 

[dustjacket]

15" Paiste Traditional Med Light Hats

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

Downstairs kit - IAK 13" K's. Upstairs kit - 15" Keropes.....

 

[Soulfinger]

Depending on the acoustics and how much volume I can get away with:

14" Paiste Masters Thin
13" Sabian HHX Evolution
14" Paiste Formula 602 Sound Edge

 

[EvEnStEvEn]

15" Masterwork Custom Pointer
14" Soultone Vintage 1964

 

[Pedal_Pusher]

I have some 15" old K's but would recommend some 14" high hats from Matt Nolan in Bath, England. All of the folks at the local jazz jam (pre-Covid of course) called them "Buttah" which I think is a compliment. They sound very nice and compare favorably with any old K's I have heard. Matt makes an amazing flat ride by the way. Good luck.

 

[edhr]

13" K "hi hats" from probably 30 years ago? I think they were made in the copeland era... They are SLICK I tell ya. Very expressive. Also kinda quiet, but I have a strong foot.

 

[JimmySticks]

14" Kashians, very nice for jazz to me.

I was using 13" Agop Xist dry/dark that were really pretty cool, but of course I got rid of them!

 

[JFBL]

14 K. Istanbul Old Stamp thin top
14 K. Istanbul New Stamp medium bottom

And I really love these hats for Jazz that I’ve had since 91: 14 Sabian Hand Hammered Thin Dark.

Plus 1 to @kdgrissom on the Rogers Swivomatic Hi Hat Stand. The best!