It's true what they say about New Beats.

[s1212z]

nothing beats a set of 70’s new beats

It's probably the least consistent era, lol! The weight spectrum differentials were almost up to 40%

 

[JimmyM]

AA regular sabians are pretty much the same thing, but nothing beats a set of 70’s new beats

I'm choosing to ignore the last half of your post in favor of the first half.

It's probably the least consistent era, lol! The weight spectrum differentials were almost up to 40%

I'm also choosing to listen to this My cymbals are what I like to hear out of cymbals, they're quality, they didn't bankrupt me, and I'd like to keep it that way.

 

[wraub]

I recently confirmed that my bottom high hat is a 60s model Zildjian, and likely a very early New Beat cymbal. I got it in a pawn shop for twenty bucks because I thought the logo looked 60s, and it turned out to be a good gamble. Really good sounding med heavy bottom that seems to work well with anything I've paired it with so far, currently it's paired with a Quick Beats top but I think I want something lighter, so I'm kinda looking for one from the same 60s era, in the 800-900 grams range.

 

[JoeVermont]

When I was a young lad, my parents bought me some KRUT hats. I always hated them. But I used them for many years until I could buy stuff for myself in the mid 1980s. I went to a local drum shop and left with a new pair of 14" New Beats. It felt like going from a tricycle to a Lincoln Continental. They are truly fantastic. I still have them and they are still in fantastic shape.

Wowza!! I had Krut cymbals, too. My first upgrade when I got enough cash was a pair of New Beats. Still have them 40+ years later and they are on every gig.

 

[s1212z]

I'm choosing to ignore the last half of your post in favor of the first half.


I'm also choosing to listen to this My cymbals are what I like to hear out of cymbals, they're quality, they didn't bankrupt me, and I'd like to keep it that way.

The treasure hunt. I sold a pair of QBs hollow last year, they had great patina but were too thick. It would be great pair some thinner NBs, any era would do as long as the gram zones are what I want.

 

[caddywumpus]

nothing beats a set of 70’s new beats

…except a set of 60s New Beats. Or, for that matter, a set of A hats from the 50s or 40s…

 

[Quai34]

I wholehearted agree with what everyone has said so far. Totally solid, distinctive, and dependable choice. Everyone should have a pair.

But let me add that, in my experience owning a number of them, there is a pretty big difference in the basic sound qualities (or characteristics, or whatever you'd call it) in the different generations over the decades that they've been around. I personally don't like ANY of them from the 90s on. Too friggin harsh, just like the sound of the rest of the modern A lineup. No doubt they sit really well with louder rock, but for quieter stuff they're too much. For me, the 70s New Beats (and all the 70s As) are the way to go. They have that classic New Beat sound, but are more musical to my ears.

I'm mostly using my Avedis hihats and cymbals these days, but I have two awesome pairs of 70s New Beats that I'll bring out when I'm in the mood.

Well, I agree with that, I had a pair of New beat, said being made in Canada but they were really too much "rocky-ish" for me, heavy, tough to play, harsh to hear. I was not a bit fan of them so, I sold them...Infact, I trade them back with the Heavy ride and two 16" crash, one heavy and one medium heavy, to the guy who sold them to me with the drums kit and bought form him nice Paiste, Dark Energy and Sound Factory. I largely prefers the Meinl Byzance sand Hats for Funk and the Foundry Reserve for Jazz and the Click Hats for dance stuff.... Well, maybe we don't play enough Rock to like them, one of my drummers in the last, who was the loudest drummer I ever met, liked them so p, maybe they are too "rock" for me...I learnt about them in the 70's "flavor" but the one that I encounter with were not my cup of tea.

 

[Quai34]

It's probably the least consistent era, lol! The weight spectrum differentials were almost up to 40%

Ok then, maybe I got a bad pair.

 

[TJK]

…except a set of 60s New Beats. Or, for that matter, a set of A hats from the 50s or 40s…

Had a 60’s set of 13 but they were way too thin. Beautiful sound but I was afraid to lay into them

 

[Larry]

I had a 14” pair of New Beats (hollow logo ) I bought in the mid 70’s when areas a teen . I used theirs hihats for over 20 years . Really great hihats , wish I had kept them . I had a pair from around 2015 and they were not in the same league as the 70’s model . Those older 70’s New Beats could cover any gig .

I still have a pair I bought new in Fall 1977 at Zaphs Music in downtown Philadelphia. The logo is long gone. They were Hollow logo, with New Beats in solid ink on the inside I think it was. I should weigh them.

 

[BrokenStick]

My first set of New Beats and I thought I'd arrived. There was no holding me back. No one can out.cool me now. Years go by and I just kept thinking I wish I could get Ian Paices hihat sound. Oh well..its just a recording technique. Many years pass and I found this orange Paiste profiles book...and to my surprise Ian was playing Paiste who?..what?..no wonder!..i couldn't get my new beats to sound like his. That's when I switched over and have been in love ever since.

I loved his hi-hats back in the '70s. Thinking here mostly of the Made in Japan and Machinehead records.

 

[s1212z]

It's probably the least consistent era, lol! The weight spectrum differentials were almost up to 40%

I'm laughing at this comment from a year ago because I just bought a 70s hollow 14" (top I think)...but it had extra beautiful patina and I couldn't pass it up for $60...weight wasn't even listed so it is a complete gamble ...will get next week likely.

 

[brady]

I'm not really a fan of most Zildjians, however, I remember playing my first pair of New Beats years ago and thinking, "Yup, clangy, brash...nah. Not something I'm looking for in my hats."

THEN...I heard someone else play them. I have to say within the context of group playing, I got it. They sounded just sloshy enough and quite articulate. I can totally see why they are the "Supraphonic of hi-hats".

That said, I'm sticking with my Paistes...

 

[DrumDoug]

My pair must be the dreaded 80s/90s version. While I like the sound playing them closed, and I love how much rebound I get, the partial/half open sound is just way too harsh and bright. I occasionally pair them up with my Ping ride, but they are not my go to hats. I have 12 pairs of hihats and don’t love any of them. They all have quality’s I like and qualities I don’t.

 

[IceMonster]

Sold mine years ago.....found them a little...vanilla.

I suppose that's their USP. They just sound like normal hi-hats.

 

[equipmentdork]

I have a pair from 1991 that is my favorite. Actually, it's the favorite of many others who have heard it. Grabbed them because someone nicked my mid-80s pair(grrrr), but almost right away, they said I should have thanked the guy who stole them! I have HHX Groove Hats, Paiste 2000 SEs, Sabian AA Rock and AAX Stage Hats, and while I enjoy those other flavors, none of them make me want to switch permanently.

They're the gold standard, and for a darn good reason.


Dan

 

[JimmyM]

Sold mine years ago.....found them a little...vanilla.

I suppose that's their USP. They just sound like normal hi-hats.

I get that, but vanilla cymbals are exactly what I want. I got AA’s instead of New Beats but I’m not looking for new horizons like some of you folks. I’m vanilla…what can I tell ya?

 

[Claude Abraham]

I still have my 14" New Beat pair from 1977. They sound fine! I use them on the left side as my main high hats. In 1990 I added a 2nd high hat complete with remote pedal & cable. The cymbals are the 13" K/Z special pair. When played together, the A New Beats plus K/Z Specials really blend well.

 

[Bozozoid]

As of late I've been on a hihat safari. The ones that get me after months of intense endless searching are the 14" Zildjian fat hats on youtube which are a build of A series and K's combined. No wonder I'm in love and I'm a Paiste guy to the bone!.

 

[s1212z]

I'm laughing at this comment from a year ago because I just bought a 70s hollow 14" (top I think)...but it had extra beautiful patina and I couldn't pass it up for $60...weight wasn't even listed so it is a complete gamble ...will get next week likely.

I found a sweet patina'd cheap bottom too, I think from the 70s; 933g (top)/ 1146g (bottom)...I got lucky, because the weights weren't listed for either and that is the exact zone I was hoping (thin New Beats w/ some patina character), a bit more meat than my Kcons.

A Brief History Of New Beats