Name: Best HiHats & Hi Hat Cymbals [2023 Guide]
Brand: kickstartyourdrumming.com
SKU: kickstartyourdrumming-com-5
Availability: OnlineOnly

critic

Best HiHats & Hi Hat Cymbals [2023 Guide]

preview

HiHats are arguably the most important aspect of your cymbal setup as you play them more often than any other part of your drum set – except perhaps the snare drum or your kick. And because you hit them so often, your HiHat sound will determine the overall sound of your drum set to a pretty large extent. That means: buy a poor-quality pair of Hats and your expensive new drum kit might end up being judged as sounding creaky! So please: get the best HiHats you can afford!And this article will not only show you the best HiHats, but it also demonstrates that those don’t have to be the most expensive ones. I mean: sure, you get what you pay for, but we’ll show you 2 very good budget variants as well.You’re ready? Let’s dive in then…VIEW LATEST PRICEVIEW LATEST PRICEVIEW LATEST PRICEVIEW LATEST PRICEThe Meinl HCS can currently be had in 14” for the price of their smaller sister pair at 13”. I’ve seldom seen a quality 14” HiHat at such a price. (Spotted December 10th)HiHats, which are basically a pair of cymbals, range from about 12″ all the way up to 16″ or even 17″.Bigger is not always better in choosing the best HiHats. So, how do you know which size cymbals to get?&nbsp;That depends on the style of music that you want to play!A cymbal’s sound is determined by its size and weight.&nbsp;If the cymbal is small, the sound will be bright and crispy. This means that the sound you hear will be high-pitched and have a short sustain.&nbsp;Styles like punk, disco, and fusion will often utilize smaller HiHats for their crisp sounds.If the cymbal is big, the sound will be dark and warm. This means that the sound you hear will be low-pitched and have a bit of a longer sustain than a smaller cymbal.&nbsp;Styles like rock, metal and jazz will often utilize bigger HiHats for their bigger and more filling sounds.Cymbal companies use several different methods to produce their cymbals and each method has its own way of changing the sound of the cymbal.Some of the best HiHats I played on have been hand-hammered. This means that someone sat down with the cymbal and manually hammered it to create a unique pitch, sound, and look.If you buy HiHats that have been hand-hammered, you will be buying a unique pair of HiHats that sound different to any other pair. You will never get a pair of hand-hammered HiHats that sound exactly the same.Machine-hammered HiHats have a consistent sound with other HiHats of the same brand and model because they have been manufactured in the exact same way. If you break your current pair, you can easily buy a new pair that sounds the same!It is up to you to decide on which means of production you prefer for your HiHats.There are sheet HiHats and cast HiHats.Sheet HiHats are created through a process of combining certain metals which are then shaped and sized.&nbsp;They are brighter sounding. This means they are higher-pitched and work with styles such as rock and metal.Cast HiHats are created by melting down bell bronze and pouring it into a mould. The HiHat is put through a lathe to flatten and shape, and then hammered by hand.&nbsp;These HiHats are darker sounding and work in styles such as jazz and orchestral music. Cast HiHats are seen as higher quality because of the way they are manufactured.Again, it is still up to you to choose the best HiHats for your particular needs.&nbsp;Check For Current PriceProsConsThe Meinl HCS Series is one of Meinl’s more affordable lines of cymbals. They are catered towards beginners and anyone looking for low-priced, but durable cymbals. If you are looking for a beginner pair of HiHats that are great for rock, funk, jazz, and everything in between, then check out the Meinl HCS 13″ Traditional HiHats.Specifications:See them in action here:Check For Current PriceProsConsSimilar to Meinl’s HCS line, Zildjian’s ZBT line of cymbals aim to make Zildjian’s high quality instruments available to beginners and drummers with tight budgets. The 14″ ZBT HiHats give a sharp and focused sound, along with a bright “chick” sound that will cut through any mix. This means that in whatever band you’re playing, you will be able to hear the HiHat at all times. I personally use a pair of ZBT HiHats in my rehearsal space and I can confidently say that they work great with rock music!Specifications:&nbsp;Check For Current PriceProsConsThe Meinl Vintage Sand HiHats are dry and have a precise stick attack sound. They aren’t loud which means you can hit hard without being offensive. This makes these HiHats great for styles like jazz and funk!Specifications:&nbsp;Check For Current PriceProsConsThe X-Celerator HiHats from Sabian&nbsp;are heavy and have a sharp sound. The bottom hat has ripples in it which causes the sharpness. They are aggressive, especially when hitting the edge of the HiHats. The aggressive nature of these HiHats makes them great for rock and metal.Specifications:https://www.kickstartyourdrumming.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Meinl-Cymbals-HCS13H-1322-900×450-min.png&nbsp;Check For Current PriceProsConsThese HiHats are in the same line of Meinl Cymbals as the 13″ HCS Traditional HiHats. The difference is that these are 14″. The bigger size causes the sound to be deeper. They have the same crisp sound that the HCS series of cymbals is known for.Specifications:For all-around great sound, the Meinl Vintage Sand HiHats receive our “Best HiHat 2018” award. These HiHats were designed with the help of the great Benny Greb. His artistic expression shows through these HiHats and their hand-hammered production makes them a unique and all-around great sounding pair of HiHats. If you are looking to buy one of the best HiHats on the market, then these may just be what you are looking for!If you are looking for a great pair of HiHats without breaking the bank, then look to the Meinl HCS Traditional hats. Both the 13″ and 14″ models offer everything a drummer needs in a cymbal. They are bright, crisp and warm. That basically means they work with any style of music. This is why we have given these HiHats the “Best Bang For Your Buck Award”. If you are on a low budget, but want a fantastic pair of HiHats, then look to the Meinl HCS Traditional series.Any questions?&nbsp;Or do you recommend HiHats that are not covered here?Let me know in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!Am curious as to why you don’t have paiste Hi-hats in the mix?? Is it because of the sound or the price or one’s preference?? Best Bang for your Buck?? It was a brand New Paiste 2002 Cymbal Set 14″ sound edge hats 20″ crash 22″ ride free 18″ crash with Express shipping for the insane price of $950.00!! For my Daughter. Guys!! LOLReplyThis site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.Hey, I’m Ron, and I want to help you become the awesome drummer you can be!Throughout my 22 years of drumming, I’ve spent money on overpriced gear and time on ineffective lessons. Now I’ll help you avoid both!FYI: This website may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something we have recommended. Please check our full disclosure policy for more details.Privacy Policy – Terms of Service

HiHats are arguably the most important aspect of your cymbal setup as you play them more often than any other part of your drum set – except perhaps the snare drum or your kick. And because you hit them so often, your HiHat sound will determine the overall sound of your drum set to a pretty large extent. That means: buy a poor-quality pair of Hats and your expensive new drum kit might end up being judged as sounding creaky! So please: get the best HiHats you can afford!And this article will not only show you the best HiHats, but it also demonstrates that those don’t have to be the most...

Best HiHats & Hi Hat Cymbals [2023 Guide]

No article scores yet.

CRITIC REVIEWS

PUBLIC REVIEWS