Sabian XS20 20" Medium Ride

Group: Rides
Type: Medium Ride
Size: 20 Inch
Series: XS20
Weight: 2306g, 2345g, 2374g, 2463g, 2483g, 2540g, 2553g, 2619g, 2648g
Median Weight: 2483g (n=9)
Years of production: 2003 - 2016
Sound file: XS20 20" Medium Ride
XS20 20" Medium Ride
XS20 20" Medium Ride
XS20 20" Medium Ride
XS20 20" Medium Ride
XS20 20" Medium Ride
XS20 20" Medium Ride
XS20 20" Medium Ride
XS20 20" Medium Ride
Sabian's Description: <<< - >>>
Review: "What struck me most about the 20" medium ride was how well the bell projected when I hit it with the side—or even the very tip—of a stick. I’ve heard stronger and louder bells, but I was still impressed at the way this one cut through. It also seemed to have a self-controlling dampening mechanism, as if it had a “soft spot.” (That isn’t a bad thing.)"

Review written by Will Romano ("Sabian XS20 Series Cymbals - High Sonic Performance At Low-End Prices", Modern Drummer, July 2003, p.30)

Review: (NOTE: This is for the wide blade lathing version) "The 20" medium ride seemed to personify the characteristics that Sabian uses to describe the Xs20 series: bright and cutting. As such, it’s fairly one-dimensional, producing a basic ride sound that’s clear, loud, a little clangy, and fairly high-pitched, with no under-tones to speak of. (I could get a darker, deeper sound by playing the cymbal less than 1" in from the edge, but this quickly built up a roar as the edge started to vibrate.) I was impressed with how well the stick attack sat clearly atop the rest of the cymbal’s sound, at any impact or volume level. That sound was dryer with a wood-tip stick, and much clangier and more penetrating with any long-tipped model. So you could take your pick according to your need at the time. I was also impressed with the bell sound, which was bright and clean—especially considering that the bell seemed a little small for the size of the cymbal. Good sound...small target."

Review written by Rick Van Horn ("Sabian “New Look” Xs20 Cymbals", Modern Drummer, March 2008, p.37)

Review: "The 20" Medium ride ($282) could easily double as a crash/ride. But as a primary ride it was very smooth in its articulation, with a full wash of steady overtones. The medium-size bell cut through well enough but felt more like the bell of a crash. A slightly larger bell would help distinguish the cymbal more as a ride. When I played steady upbeat patterns, the overtones overtook the stick articulation. I thought this model actually performed better as a crash and for quarter-note riding with a lot of crash accents."

Review written by Michael Dawson ("Sabian Xs20 Brilliant Series Cymbals", Modern Drummer, May 2010, p.24)

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