Sabian special effect cymbals
There have been many times in their production history when Sabian engineers had to ask themselves, “What if we did this?” No science. No predictions. Just pure curiosity. The result is some of the best, most unique, and most innovative special effect cymbals on the market today.
What happens if you drill a bunch of big holes into a cymbal? Sabian tried it, and the O-Zone was born! It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, so find out for yourself what kind of tones it can add to your kit.
Sabian also makes all the other special effect cymbals you’d expect, like China cymbals (some with holes), chopper cymbals, and even thunder sheets to produce just about any kind of percussive sound you can imagine.
Sabian splash cymbals
Want to make a splash at your next show? Okay, that joke is almost too obvious… But Sabian does make a variety of splash cymbals that’ll add plenty of depth to your playing and that distinct sound every percussionist knows and loves.
Choose from a wide mix of Sabian splash cymbals to find your perfect sound. They come in all sorts of diameters and finishes. You can also get some with the eye-catching drill holes like the Aero and O-Zone series of splash cymbals.
Sabian hi-hat cymbals
Sabian offers ten distinct series of hi-hat cymbals to suit any time-keeping need. Whether you like the innovative and forward-thinking HHX click hats to the more dark and vintage sound of the Artisan models, there’s a Sabian hi-hat to suit any need. The only way to really tell which one you like best is to try them out for yourself!
Sabian ride cymbals
Keep the rhythm moving with a smooth Sabian ride cymbal. Just like all the rest of their high-quality cymbals, Sabian makes a wide variety of rides in multiple diameters and styles. Grab a hand-hammered ride for soft, smooth jazz sounds. Or if you prefer a fiercer tone, the HHX series might be in your wheelhouse.
No matter what style, skill level, or budget, there’s a Sabian ride cymbal that’ll keep you riding the beat with ease.
Sabian percussion accessories
Whether you want to carry your cymbals to your next gig, upgrade your snare sound, or keep your kit clean, Sabian offers plenty of percussion accessories with the same level of quality and attention to detail they give to their amazing cymbals.
History of Sabian cymbals
Sabian cymbals were first made in 1981 led by a man named Robert Zildjian. Now, that last name probably looks familiar to any percussionist. Robert is a member of the Zildjian family. Yes, that Zildjian. One of Sabian’s main cymbal competitors.
Since 1623, the Zildjian family tradition was to pass the cymbal-making secrets to only the eldest son. Robert’s father, Avedis Zildjian III, instead taught both of his sons to make the iconic cymbals. Once it was time to pass everything down to the next generation, there was a family dispute over who should run the company. Armand Zildjian, Robert’s brother, eventually won out. Armand took control of Zildjian, and Robert went off to start his own cymbal company. Sabian was born!
In the first year of production, Sabian created a whopping 45,000 cymbals! Using his secret family knowledge (and a little of his own innovation thrown in), Robert also created the legendary Hand Hammered (HH) and Automatic Anvil (AA) series of cymbals that helped put Sabian on the map.
By 1989, Sabian started to produce their first artist signature models for Jack DeJohnette and Carmine Appice. In the following years and decades, Sabian has worked with countless percussionists to develop better and better cymbals. Legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart once drove his motorcycle through a rain storm just to talk to the Sabian engineers about a new cymbal design!
Today, Sabian still makes all their cymbals by hand to ensure the highest quality and that they maintain their iconic sound. They have even started to use innovative (crazy) manufacturing processes like drilling holes in their O-Zone series or even burying the cymbals in the ground for a year to oxidize the metal faster.
Sabian’s goal is to create cymbals and percussion equipment that help musicians create their sound and find their own unique voice. If you’re ready to find your voice, check out the wide variety of high-quality Sabian cymbals and play your way!
