Sabian HH

HH

1991 Ad

Introduction: 1982 (1983 for USA). The name "HH" was used from this time until 1996, when the name changed to "Hand Hammered". In 2007 or 2008 the name was changed back to "HH".
Background: In receiving the K. Zildjian factory after the passing of Armand Zildjian, the cymbalsmiths that had been involved with the K. series of Zildjians then began crafting the HH line of cymbals.
Innovation: Hand hammered
Alloy: B20
Quality: Professional
Offered as: HH - HH Sound Control - HH Vanguard
Production: Hand hammered
Applications: All volume settings • Live playing and recording • Entire range of music styles
Users:
Sound: HH are dark, moody and complex. Heavily hand hammered, they’re very traditional, but still love to get dirty. HH Vanguard are truly exceptional and a great introduction to the HH family.
Notes: One of the two series, along with AA, initially offered. Due to legal issues Sabian could not sell cymbals in the USA until 1983.

The HH series commonly has a signature on the underside of the bell. This signature is not of the cymbalsmith but is "Sabian" rendered in Armenian (Սաբիան) (per Sabian).

The Manhattan Jazz models were initially apart of the HH series before being moved to the HHX series. They came into production in 2000 and discontinued sometime in 2018/2019. Despite moving series "they were both the same design" (per Sabian).

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  1st Generation - no Sabian or size on top

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  1st Generation model font

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  1st Generation bottom logo - small HH

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Rides

• Bounce Ride - 20"
• Classic Ride - 20" 22"
• Billy Cobham Spectral Ride - 23"
• Crash Ride - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22"
• Crossover Ride - 21"
• Duo Ride - 18" 20"
• Flat Bell - 18" 20" 22"
• Garage Ride - 18" 20"
• Hammertone Ride - 20" 21" 22"
• Heavy Ride - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
• Hot Ride - 21"
• Jam Master Ride - 22"
• Jazz Ride - 20" 22"
• King - 22" 24"
• Leopard Ride - 20" 21" 22" 24"
• Light Ride - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22"
• Liquid Ride - 22"
• Manhattan Bridge Ride - 16"
• Manhattan Ride - 18" 20" 22"
• Medium Ride - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
• Medium Heavy Ride - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
• Mini Bell Ride - 18" 20" 22"
• Nova - 22" 24"
• Pandora - 22" 24"
• Power Bell Ride - 22"
• Raw Bell Dry Ride - 21"
• Raw Dry Ride - 20" 22"
• Ride - 22"
• Rock Ride - 20" 22"
• Sessions Ride - 22"
• Soul Side Ride - 21"
• Thin - 22"
• Vintage Ride - 21"

Crashes

• Crash - 13"
• Dark Crash - 16" 18" 21" 22"
• Duo Crash - 16"
• Extra Thin Crash - 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20"
• Fierce Crash - 16" 17" 18" 19"
• Leopard Crash - 16" 18"
• Medium - 20"
• Medium Crash - 12" 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20"
• Medium Thin Crash - 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21"
• Rock Crash - 16" 18" 19"
• Thin Crash - 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 22"
  

Hi-Hats

• Bright Hats - 13" 14"
• Dark Hats - 14"
• Duo Hats - 14"
• EQ Hats - 14"
• Fusion Hats - 13" 14"
• Hammertone Hats - 14" 15"
• Hi-Hat - 12" 13" 14" 15" 16"
• Leopard Hats - 10" 13" 14"
• Manhattan Groove Hats - 14"
• Medium Hats - 13" 14" 16"
• Regular Hats - 12" 13" 14" 15" 16"
• Rock Sizzle Hats - 14"
• Sizzle Hats - 13" 14" 15"

Chinas

• China Kang - 8" 10" 12"
• Chinese - 14" 15" 16" 18" 20" 22"
• Dark Chinese - 20"
• Leopard Chinese - 18" 20"
• Hammertone Chinese - 22"
• Mini Chinese - 12" 14"
• Thin Chinese - 16" 18" 20" 22"

Splashes

• Duo Splash - 10"
• Leopard Splash - 8" 10" 12"
• Splash - 8" 10" 12"

Other

• Alien Disc - 10"
• Max Stax - 8" 10" 12"/14"
• Heavy Bell - 13"

Orchestra

• French - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 22"
• Germanic - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22"
• New Symphonic Medium Heavy - 18" 20"
• New Symphonic Medium Light - 18" 19" 20"
• Orchestral French - 20"
• Orchestral Germanic - 18" 19" 21"
• Orchestral Suspended - 17"
• Orchestral Viennese - 17" 19" 20"
• Suspended - 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
• Viennese - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22"

HH Sound Control

Introduction: November 1986 (P.A.S.I.C.)
Discontinued: At different times, with some models / sizes re-introduced.
Background: The genesis of the idea for the series started with the Medium Flange Ride and Medium Heavy Flange Ride.
Innovation: At last the elimination of excessive overtones have been achieved! Flanged-edge cymbals give less overtones, and fast response.¹
Alloy:B20
Quality: Professional
Offered as: HH - HH Sound Control
Production: Hand hammering
Applications: All volume settings • Live playing and recording • Entire range of music styles
Users:
Sound: Fast response and decay, clear notes with minimum spread.¹

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Rides

• Crash Ride - 18" 19"
  
• Hi-Bell Crash Ride - 18"
  
• Hi-Bell Ride - 20" 22"
• Ride - 20" 22"

Crashes

• Crash - 12" 13" 14" 15" 16"
  

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  Purple logo - 1987

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  1988 logo

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  1989 - 1995 Logo

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  1996 - 2007 or 2008 Logo

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  ?
  

HH Vanguard

Introduction: 2016
Background: Designed as a throwback to the original HH cymbals of the 1980s. Cymbals are thinner, with lower profiles, small bells, and extensive hammering. Some literature states these cymbals could be hammered over 2,000 times.
Innovation: Except for hi-hats, model designations are not used. This allows users to judge for themselves how they want to use each cymbal, based on its sound characteristsics.
Alloy: B20
Quality: Professional
Offered as: HH - HH Sound Control - HH Vanguard
Production: Extensively Hand hammered
Applications: All volume settings • Live playing and recording • Entire range of music styles
Users:
Sound: Vanguard "deliver clean, woody stick definition for such a thin cymbal."

Multi

• Vanguard - 16" 18" 20" 21" 22"

Hi-Hats

• Hats - 14"

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Source:
¹ 1987 Sabian catalog

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