Sabian AAX 16" El Sabor Picante Hand Crash

Group: Crashes
Type: El Sabor Picante Hand Crash
Size: 16 Inch
Series: AAX
Weight: 1073g, 1104g, 1124g, 1183g
Median Weight: 1114g (n=4)
Years of production: ?
Sound file: AAX 16" El Sabor Picante Hand Crash
AAX 16" El Sabor Picante Hand Crash
AAX 16" El Sabor Picante Hand Crash
AAX 16" El Sabor Picante Hand Crash
AAX 16" El Sabor Picante Hand Crash
AAX 16" El Sabor Picante Hand Crash
Sabian's Description: <<< - >>>
Review: "The new AAX El Sabor Picante hand crashes are related to the existing AA El Sabor cymbals, but while the AA models are Latin-infused crossover cymbals, the AAX Picante hand crashes are specifically aimed at percussionists.

Each cymbal (16" or 18") sports three playing areas. The heavy, raw bell and centre area are suitable for clave stickings and ride patterns respectively, and the lathed, extra thin bow is hand crashable. It's quite a concept, and takes expert cymbalsmithery to take such a hefty slice of metal down to paper thin at the outer edge.

So, are they jacks of all trades and masters of none? Not at all. The 18" is proficient in all three disciplines. The deftest tap is enough to open the cymbal for crashing. It does so with a dark warmth that has more than a hint of trashiness, and a sweet decay follows.

Attacking the central band with sticks brings out very different characteristics. The unlathed shoulder is very dry and gives excellent stick definitionovera smouldering wash and the bell is strident and penetrating - perfect for clanging out fiery patterns.

The 16" Picante is a little higher in pitch across all the surfaces and so doesn't quite have the same authority as its bigger brother, but is still an intriguing and very convincing cymbal."

Review written by The MusicRadar Team ("Sabian Vault Artisan Ride 20" review", musicradar.com, December 11, 2007)

Artist/song where it can be heard: