Thin-ish Hi-Hats...Too Breakable?

[SpinaDude]

I'm shopping for a second pair of hi-hats. 15 or 16 inch. I'll be moving my 14's onto a remote hi-hat mount to give me an extra voice and some physical versatility.

Right now I'm pretty taken with a pair of Bosphorous 15" Masters hi-hats. The weights are only 968/1196. Bottom hat isn't an issue. More concerned with the top since I hit pretty hard.

So, the question is, do you guys think that upper hat, which is moderately thin for a 15", will hold up to a beating, or am I going to do some damage?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Moonman]

I don't think you'd have any trouble with that weight... I guess it could be problematic if you play them completely open, with the top hat tightened down, AND placed pretty high on the stand. I could be wrong, but I just don't think it should be an issue. Only my two cents.

 

[paul]

Having broken a few cymbals in my younger days, I can attest that one has to hit pretty hard to damage cymbals. If you're not breaking crash cymbals some 15" hats should survive nicely.

That said, if your technique makes you worry that you'll break cymbals, you might want to consider modifying said technique. Mine changed when I realized that I was playing harder in order to hear myself better over guitar amps, and that much of the extra effort I put into playing did not result in more volume from the cymbals.

 

[Seb77]

There are some thin hi-hats I would heistate to have hard-hitters play. It's not just about overall weight, but about thinnes of the edge/taper as well.
Mounting the top cymbal loosely should help keeping the cymbals intact for longer. make sure there is no threading on the clitch that damages the mounting hole of the top cymbal.
Note how some heavy-sounding drummers don't play the hi-hats that hard. This helps balancing the sound of the kit as well.

 

[1988fxlr]

If you are really listening to your hi hats you’ll be fine. I’ve got an old set of thin zilco hats and find there is a point at which hitting them harder chokes out the sound instead of making it louder. If you play them so they respond at their loudest it will be the pressure that lets them vibrate. I do have to consciously keep a little less pressure on the pedal with them too but keep your ears open and you’ll know when you’re giving them more than they can take

 

[lossforgain]

I have a set of Agop Xist 15” hats that are just phenomenal, and I was surprised they weigh as much as they do. You might want to take a listen to those, they are easily the best sounding hats in the line.

 

[toddbishop]

In the 90s destroyed my set of Paiste Sig Dark Crisp hats, so it can definitely be done. I wouldn't get Bos Masters if you're going to bash on them. I think you'll destroy them, and not get any kind of good musical result-- they're not made for high volume playing. Normal light hihats will at least return some volume when you play them loud. I'd look at Bos Traditional, maybe. I find their other lines to be generally pretty quiet.

Of course I like Cymbal & Gong, or Agop, or Mehmet-- I think their thinner cymbals would handle heavier playing better.

 

[multijd]

Thinner cymbals are made for softer lighter playing. If you are hitting hard use heavier cymbals. You will break them because you are using the wrong tool for the job.

 

[Gunnellett]

It is interesting that DCP had a cymbal pack they put together a few years ago of larger Zildjian A cymbals and one of the main points in the video was using thin cymbals because they held up better than thicker ones. This statement was made in regards to thin crashes picked for the set.

 

[Seb77]

It is interesting that DCP had a cymbal pack they put together a few years ago of larger Zildjian A cymbals and one of the main points in the video was using thin cymbals because they held up better than thicker ones. This statement was made in regards to thin crashes picked for the set.

I heard this before, I think it was part adspeak when Z came out with thinner crashes (A Customs) in the 90s.

 

[Drumbumcrumb]

From a physics standpoint I think you’ll crack a heavier cymbal before you crack a thin one. A thin cymbal has more flex, you can take a paper thin cymbal and taco it with no harm done. You can take a thin splash and pop it inside out (like a cheap umbrella) and back, no problems. When you crash on a really thin cymbal, you can see it wobbling like a tossed pizza dough - again, no harm done. When a cymbal is too heavy to wobble, the energy has nowhere to go and can’t be ‘released’ out into the ether. Something’s gotta give.

I’d go for it and not worry about it. The hats are going to be buttery and flexible, and they’ll last you a good long time. I’m not sure how large, thin hats musically pair with high volume bashing… but that’s a personal thing I guess. 15” or 16” thin Turkish hats seem like a mismatch for your flavor, I think they shine in a more subtle setting where the smooth, smoky, woody tone comes through.

Bosphorus goes thin to heavy - Dark, Crisp, Bright. For more cut and volume (but still dark and dry) a pair of Crisp weight Turk or Black Pearl or Antique might fit the bill nicely. (The sandwashed Syncopation hats look lovely too)

Bosphorus Master Vintage 15" HiHats 1060/1429g. (Video Demo) | Reverb

Bosphorus Master Vintage 15" HiHats 1060/1429g.

reverb.com

Bosphorus Antique 15" Crisp Hi-Hat | Reverb

Antique Series combine the brilliance of classic, lathed Traditional Series and the dryness of raw, unlathed Turk Series. The varied playing surfaces provide a wide range of sonic textures. Crashes produce a slightly mellowed tone with quick decay. Rides express themselves with strong definition ...

reverb.com

Bosphorus 15-inch Turk Crisp Hi-Hat | Reverb

Brand: Bosphorus Cymbals Features: Hand crafted in Istanbul,Turkey Weights include Dark, Crisp and Bright, from lightest to heaviest. Dark weights are very responsive with a low fundamental pitch. Crisp weights are more penetrating while the Bright weights are better for high volume applications...

reverb.com

 

[Tama CW]

I agree with the thinner cymbals being less likely to crack. And 968 is hardly "thin" for a 15" cymbal. I'd call that a lighter medium to upper end medium thin. It's equivalent to a 16 at 1137 gm or an 18 at 1533 gm.
I have 15 hi hat pairs from 600 to 900 gms and never an issue with edge cracks. In fact I don't think I've ever seen an early thin Zildjian 16" or smaller that was cracked at the edge.
It's usually on the inner grooves or bell hole where cracks might usually appear on thin weights. On the other hand, the "thins" are certainly more likely to dent or warp with hard hits.

 

[Tarkus]

There are some thin hi-hats I would heistate to have hard-hitters play. It's not just about overall weight, but about thinnes of the edge/taper as well.
Mounting the top cymbal loosely should help keeping the cymbals intact for longer. make sure there is no threading on the clitch that damages the mounting hole of the top cymbal.
....

This is the trick.

Only once, I had my hi-hat top mounted too stiff at a loud live setting. Afterwards I had multiple cracks at the edge of my beloved 15" 602. I was very ashamed of that, but it happened.

Later, I got it repaired (laser beam welding), and now its fine. But I didn't play it for about 10 years, until I learned that laser beam welding works out on cymbals.

 

[Seb77]

This is the trick.

Only once, I had my hi-hat top mounted too stiff at a loud live setting. Afterwards I had multiple cracks at the edge of my beloved 15" 602.

I have seen hats mounted with only one, or completely without felts on the clutch! Talk about stress exerted on the cymbal. A cymbal needs to be free to give way to the stroke. With loud playing, even just too much foot pressure might limit the movement too much.

 

[Steech]

I have a set of Agop Xist 15” hats that are just phenomenal, and I was surprised they weigh as much as they do. You might want to take a listen to those, they are easily the best sounding hats in the line.

Those are awesome hats. I love the whole Xist line, and they’re a bargain too.