Meinl Byzance Brilliant 14" Fast Hihat

Group: Hi-Hats
Type: Fast Hihat
Size: 14 Inch
Series: Byzance Brilliant
Weight: Top: 1168g / Bottom: 1416g

Top: 1184g / Bottom: 1372g

Top: 1185g / Bottom: 1362g

Top: 1196g / Bottom: 1426g

Years of production: 2005 - Present
Sound file: Byzance 14" Fast Hihat
Byzance 14" Fast Hihat
Byzance 14" Fast Hihat
Byzance 14" Fast Hihat
Byzance 14" Fast Hihat
Byzance 14" Fast Hihat
Byzance 14" Fast Hihat
Meinl's Description: <<< - >>>
Review: "I tried the 14" size first, playing an open/closed swing jazz pattern. The cymbals responded with a smooth wash. It was easy to control the amount of contact between the upper and lower cymbals, resulting in a really nice blend between them. They were very articulate and clean. In a side-by-side comparison between the Byzance and my traditional hi-hats, the Byzance cymbals yielded a wider range of overtones.

When I closed the hi-hats with my foot, there was substantially greater presence to the "chick" sound than one would expect from cymbals of this weight. This can be attributed to the holes in each cymbal. Even when the cymbals were held together tightly, they didn't have the choked sound I would have expected. (For those that have varied the tone of closed hats by pressing down with your foot while rolling on the cymbals, you would still get that sound - but with increased brightness.)

I judged that the Fast hi-hats would work in a variety of applications, as long as I remembered that they possess more of an up-front sound than the standard hi-hats that I've worked with. This came from using them in a show, then later in a rock setting where I could really play out. The cutting quality remained consistent through all styles."

Review written by Chap Ostrander ("Product Close-Up - Meinl Byzance Fast Hats - from Thomas to You", Modern Drummer, August 2005, p.39)
Artist/song where it can be heard: unknown