Sabian AA
AA
Introduction: 1982 (1983 for USA)
Background: AA, or "Automatic Anvil" is the company's machine-hammered flagship series. This series, along with the HH Series, are the longest-running Sabian cymbal lines.
Some AA cymbals can be found that do not have the "AA" on them. These were from the early years, and are often referred to by drummers as "Pre-AA":
("Pre-AA" cymbals are included in the AA section. Aside from the inking, they are of the same design and production.)
Pre-AA Top (had model only)
Top font
Pre-AA Bottom (had Sabian logo and size - cm & inches)
Size on bottom
Innovation: Machine hammering
Alloy: B20
Quality: Professional
Offered as: AA - AA Sound Control
Production: Hybrid manufacturing with hand hammering and lathing, some with brilliant finish
Applications: All volume settings • Live playing and recording • Entire range of music styles
Users:
Sound: From classic rock to old school punk rock and hip-hop — that’s AA. Tight, controlled, but LOUD AF when you hit it hard. If that’s your sound, start with 14″ Rock Hats and a 20″ Rock Ride and build from there.
Notes: One of the two series, along with HH, initially offered. Due to a legal agreement with Zildjian, Sabian could not sell cymbals in the USA until 1983.
More models and sizes to be added later
Rides
- Bash Ride - 21" 24"
- Crash Ride - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
- Cupless Studio Ride - 22"
- Dry Ride - 20" 21" 22"
- El Sabor Ride - 20"
- Extra Heavy Ride - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
- Flat Bell - 18" 20" 22"
- Heavy Ride - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
- Light Ride - 20"
- Marching Ride - 16"
- Medium Ride - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
- Medium Flange Ride - 20" 22"
- Medium Heavy Ride - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
- Medium Heavy Flange Ride - 20" 22"
- Metal-X Ride - 20" 21" 22" 24"
- Mini Bell Ride - 18" 20" 22"
- Raw Bell Dry Ride - 21"
- Raw Ride - 20" 22"
- Rock Ride - 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24" 28"
- Thin Ride - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20"
- Tight Ride - 20"
Crashes
- Bright Crash - 16" 18"
- El Sabor Crash - 16"
- El Sabor - 18"
- Extra Thin Crash - 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20"
- Fast Crash - 17"
- Heavy Crash - 16" 19"
- Marching Crash - 15"
- Medium Crash - 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22"
- Medium Thin Crash - 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 26"
- Metal-X Crash - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20"
- Raw Bell Crash - 16" 18" 20"
- Rock Crash - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21"
- Rocktagon - 14" 16" 18" 20"
- Star Crash - 18"
- Thin Crash - 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22"
Multi-Application
Hi-Hats
- Apollo Hats - 14" 16"
- El Sabor Hats - 14"
- Flat Hats - 13" 14" 15"
- Fusion Hats - 13" 14"
- Light Hats - 12" 13" 14" 15"
- Marching Hats - 13"
- Mini Hats - 10" 12"
- Mini Fusion Hats - 10"
- Medium Hats - 12" 13" 14" 15"
- Metal-X Hats - 14" 15"
- Regular Hats - 12" 13" 14" 15" 16"
- Rock Hats - 14" 15" 16"
- Rock Sizzle Hats - 14" 15"
- Sick Hats - 10" 18"
- Sizzle Hats - 14" 15" 16"
- Triple Hi-Hats - 10"/14"/14"
Chinas
- Chinese - 14" 15" 16" 18" 19" 20" 22"
- Fast Chinese - 18" 22"
- Flat Chinese - 14" 15" 16" 18" 20" 22"
- Holy China - 17" 19" 21"
- Metal-X Chinese - 18" 20"
- Mini Chinese - 12" 14"
- Mini Holy China - 8" 10" 12"
Splashes
- Splash - 6" 8" 10" 12"
- Metal-X Splash - 10" 12"
- Rock Splash - 12"
- China Splash - 8" 10"
- Rocktagon - 6" 7" 8" 9" 10"
- El Sabor Salsa Splash - 13"
Other
Concert Band
- Concert - 20"
- Concert Band - 12" 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
- French - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22"
- Germanic - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22"
- Molto Suspended - 14" 16" 18" 20"
- Molto Symphonic Suspended - 16" 17" 18" 20"
- Orchestral French - 22"
- Orchestral Suspended - 18" 20"
- Orchestral Viennese - 17" 18"
- Suspended - 12" 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22"
- Viennese - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22"
Marching & Field
- Drum Corps - 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
- Marching Band (has also been known simply as "Marching") - 12" 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
- Marching Crash - 15"
- Marching Hats - 13"
- Marching Ride - 16"
AA Sound Control
Introduction: 1987 (NAMM Winter Show)
Background: The genesis of the idea for the series started with the Medium Flange Ride.
Innovation: The series features a flanged edge on all cymbals. This attenuates the sound, "controlling" overtones, sustain, and volume.
Alloy:B20
Quality: Professional
Offered as: AA - AA Sound Control
Production:
Applications:
Users:
Sound:
Rides
Crashes
Information from the sabian.com site(1)
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