Big Drum Thump

If you got the skin-beatin’ skillz, then you can win Sabian’s Most Warped Drummer Contest.

Why should you care? The contest gives aspiring musicians the chance to upload a video to showcase their talents and be judged by Sabian artists on the Warped Tour, which is cool because maybe one of those Sabian artists will take you on the road and let you spit shine his/her sticks.

But why should you really care? One grand-prize winner will get airfare and accommodations for one to Boston, two all-access passes to the Boston Warped Tour stop, a meet and greet with Sabian’s big-time artists, a Sabian Performance Pack of cymbals, and a Sabian Bacpac cymbal bag set. That’s like, um, 8 billion dollars worth of stuff.

Visit www.mostwarped.com to upload your video. Voting ends June 14, 2010.

Finally. Band geeks have now got sweet, hot cymbals to fantasize about too.

[Press Release]

The first orchestral cymbals from Sabian to be included in its premium Vault Collection of cymbals and sounds see the innovative company flex its traditional craftsmanship roots and innovative design capability with the Artisan Traditional Symphonic pairing. Created in response to calls from top percussionists for cymbals that would equal or outperform those currently employed by some of the world’s leading orchestras, the Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic pairings are crafted from pure Sabian B20 bronze, feature high-density hand hammering, and are available in sizes 16″ through 20″.

“Percussionists from the famed Philadelphia Orchestra and Vienna Philharmonic were among those requesting Sabian replicate their current cymbals, the sounds of which have faded due to the wear and tear of years of use,” said Sabian director of education Nick Petrella. “They recognized Sabian’s world-leading ability to craft hand-hammered cymbals in the traditional style and worked with us to ensure our designs and the sounds they produced met or exceeded their performance criteria.”

Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic cymbals are individually hand crafted by master Sabian artisans. They are quality protected by Sabian’s two-year warranty.

[Press Release]

Following the recent introduction of 16″ and 18″ Artisan crashes to its Vault Collection, Sabian is pleased to debut Artisan hi-hats in 13″, 14″, and 15″ sizes. Consisting of a medium top and heavy bottom, these pairings feature high-density hand hammering with a touch of innovation to deliver a dry, dark, and complex traditional tone with a touch more character and great sticking response. The 14″ pairing delivers a combination of soft, warm sticking and pedal response; the 13″ set is tighter, more defined; and the 15″ produces a bigger, deeper, slushier sound that makes it ideal for players seeking a fatter, funkier sound.

“Artisan Hats are traditional in every sense of the word, but we’ve enhanced their response with a touch of innovation,” said Sabian master product specialist Mark Love. “The result is—like the Artisan ride and crashes—a soft sticking feel and a response that is deep, dark, and funky, but with an edgy ‘bite.’ Funk, blues, jazz, and groove drummers in general will find these have great tone and feel.”

Vault Artisan Hats consist of a medium top and heavy bottom. They are hand crafted from pure Sabian B20 bronze, available in a natural or brilliant finish, and quality-protected by Sabian’s two-year warranty.

[Press Release]

Sabian has added a crash model to its Vault Artisan range of premium, professional cymbals. The Artisan crash, a thin/extra-thin model in 16″ and 18″ sizes, was designed in the Sabian Vault to produce a dark, traditional tone enhanced with the benefit of modern projection. Featuring high-density hand hammering by Sabian master artisans and a touch of innovation, the Artisan crash offers traditional tonal darkness and complexity.

“Artisan crashes have been the single most requested Sabian model since the introduction of the Artisan ride,” noted Sabian product specialist David Williams. “The Artisan ride reminded drummers of the real value of traditional hand-hammered cymbal craftsmanship. As a result we had so many requests for similar hats and crashes that we researched early cymbal designs and then designed what we feel is a better traditional crash. This Artisan model has that soft, warm, deeply musical tone drummers have been asking for.”

Hand crafted from Sabian B20 bronze, the Artisan crash features high-density hand hammering for maximum tonal complexity. This is augmented with jumbo-peen dimpling to increase tonal quality and projection. All Artisan models are quality-protected by Sabian’s two-year warranty.

Hey look, another drumming product with a logo.

[Press Release]

The Gig Shirt is a totally new shirt design for the Sabian range of SoftWear clothing. Designed to deliver high-tech performance for players onstage and off, this stylish design features a 2″ glossy gel-print Sabian logo in the center upper-chest position. Gig shirts are available exclusively in black, with a choice of black, gold, or red logo colors.

Said Sabian senior marketing manager Wayne Blanchard: “With its slim, athletic design and moisture wicking anti-microbial micro-fiber fabric, the Sabian Gig Shirt is designed to perform better than the rest. It doesn’t shrink, it doesn’t wrinkle, it is fade-resistant, packs easily, and it looks great onstage and off. Because this is a high-quality shirt with a tasteful logo design, prototypes have proven exceptionally popular with virtually everyone. For players, especially those on tour, this shirt is the ideal wash ‘n’ wear choice. It’s a shirt you can live in!”

Top players including Dave Weckl, Terry Bozzio, Seven Antonopoulos, Ray Luzier, and Jojo Mayer are already into the Gig Shirt.

The Gig Shirt is slim-cut, so many wearers find the next size up from their norm to be the most suitable.

[Press Release]

Responding to popular demand, Sabian has introduced the 21″ HHX Raw Bell Dry ride. The company’s Raw Bell Dry ride design is now available in all four primary Sabian series—the vintage-sounding AA and HH lines as well as the modern AAX and HHX lines. With its hot, simmering sound and innovative “Tone Projection” design, the HHX Raw Bell Dry ride offers consistently solid stick response and a loud bell, making this modern, dark-sounding model suitable for a full range of music—from jazz, latin, and blues to rock and beyond.

“Because it delivers consistently crisp stroke articulation wherever the drumstick lands, the Raw Bell Dry ride design is considered by many to offer the ultimate in performance versatility,” said Sabian product specialist Lorenzo Wright. “This HHX version has a large, unlathed bell and a surface heavily textured by jumbo-peen hammering. This HHX version has ‘Tone Projection,’ so its dark, simmering sound projects through the music around it. For a modern dark sound and great versatility, the Raw Bell Dry ride is the answer.”

Crafted from pure Sabian B20 bronze, the 21″ HHX Raw Bell Dry ride is quality-protected by Sabian’s two-year warranty.