Sabian AAX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride

Group: Rides
Type: Raw Bell Dry Ride
Size: 21 Inch
Series: AAX
Weight: 2940g, 3055g, 3060g, 3078g, 3095g, 3114g, 3131g, 3149g, 3164g, 3169g, 3200g, 3208g, 3250g, 3262g, 3388g, 3446g, 3511g
Median Weight: 3164g (n=17)
Years of production: 2009¹ - Present
Sound file: AAX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride
AAX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride
AAX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride
AAX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride
AAX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride
Four Different 21" Raw Bell Dry Rides
AAX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride
AAX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride
AAX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride
AAX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride
AAX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride
AAX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride
Sabian's Description: <<< - >>>
Review: "Despite being a traditionally hand-hammered cymbal, the HHX Raw Bell Dry is the most aggressive of the three rides. It has the sharpest pitch and the shortest, clearest stick response.

Sabian describes the sound as 'modern dark'. Well, it's certainly modern and dry, but to be honest we don't get 'dark'. To us the sound is abrasive and energetic. For dark, see the Memphis ride.

You can certainly crash-ride it, preferably with a heavy stick, but the crash is painfully loud. As is the bell, which is piercing. Yikes! we'd recommend it for rock/ metal or industrial-hybrid playing.

While dry is a worthy term for the HHX we wouldn't use it for the AAX Raw Bell Dry. It's really not that dry - on the contrary, it has a warm, mid-pitched body and a lush spread. Perhaps the 'dry' applies just to the raw, unlathed bell? Although it's not as aggressive as the HHX it is still a lively cymbal which lifts the music.

The AAX definition of 'modern bright' is certainly appropriate. As a crash-ride it retains good stick definition and we can see it working in virtually any style, including jazz. We gigged it a couple of times and found it most amenable. Despite being a large ride it didn't intrude on soft passages and it held its own when the going got tough."

Review written by Geoff Nicholls ("Sabian Memphis and Raw Bell Rides and Solid Hi-Hats review", musicradar.com, November 25, 2009)

Review: "The unlathed bells of the four models contributed greatly to the cymbals' focused sound. But they weren't as thick and cutting as I would have expected, given their raw appearance. The bells on the HH and HHX models had a surprisingly mellow sound that might be more at home on a Motown record than on a blistering fusion or funk tune. Steve Ferrone's ride sound with Tom Petty is a good example of these models in action. If you're looking for a ride with a bell that will cut through anything and melt faces at twenty-five yards, I would suggest checking out the AA and AAX models over their hand-hammered brethren.

Playing the four Raw Bell Dry rides side by side, I could really appreciate the subtle distinctions of each, which were mostly found in their pitch and their bells. The HH and HHX models had lower fundamental pitches than the AA or AAX model.

The HHX was the darkest and funkiest of all the Raw Bell Dry rides, and the AA was most similar to the other cymbals in its line. I found the HH to be the most versatile, which explains why it has been so popular among drummers of many types. The AA and AAX models would be appropriate in a loud rock or pop situation, where everything is amplified and you want your ride to come through with clarity and not as a wall of sound. They'd function better, for example, in Neal Peart's setup with Rush than in Brad Wilk's kit with Rage Against The Machine, as Wilk often bashes his ride for a washy wave.

Each of Sabian's Raw Bell Dry rides served its intended purpose well. Don't expect them to open up and scream, but do expect them to project your bow and bell sticking patterns to the last seat in the house, with a slightly different color from each series. If you favor the AA line of crashes and hi-hats, you'll probably like the AA Raw Bell Dry ride best. If you're an HHX drummer, you'll most likely prefer that one, and so on. This speaks volumes about Sabian's ability to create cohesive families of cymbals while still allowing each model to have its own voice."

Review written by Ben Meyer ("Sabian Raw Bell Dry Rides", Modern Drummer, September 2009, p. 37)

Review: "The Raw Bell Dry Ride is heavy, full-bodied, imposing, warlike. The 21" diameter is perfect for this type of cymbal. Any wider and it would become unmanageable."

• From the original Italian text.

Review written by Silvio Angelini ("Sabian AAX Cymbal Series - il totale restyling della gamma", Music Club, June 2019, pg.78)

Artist/song where it can be heard:

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Source:
¹ Sabian Cymbal and Sound Guide 2009