5 Best Sabian Ride Cymbals – Jazz, Rock, Versatility, Overall

November 11, 2022

Sabian is one of the most famous brands in the cymbals business. As you probably know, it traces its roots back to Zildjian, and by default, old Constantinople. 

So, if someone knows cymbals, it’s Sabian.

The ride cymbal is an essential part of every drum kit, so it is important to choose which one will suit you best. 

Whether you like jazz, rock, metal, or whether you are a beginner or a professional, it is of uttermost importance to have a good ride cymbal.

In order to find the best Sabian ride cymbal, we took into consideration:

  • Build quality and durability
  • Sound quality
  • Versatility
  • Price

And finally, we listed them by several categories such as:

  • Best cymbal overall
  • Best ride cymbal for jazz
  • Best ride cymbal for rock and metal
  • The most versatile ride cymbal
  • Best value for money

So, here is the list:

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Things to know before buy

Brilliant Finish – gives you more of a glassy sound and tends to be lower on the pitch since the very thin layer shaved off during a buffing process.

Traditional Finish– these ones are a little bit heavier but have a more consistent resonance.

A Thin Sabian Ride – is perfect for lighter play, good for jazz and it’s thin enough to wash out a little bit. If you are a fan of crashy cymbals, you will love this one because of such a thin texture. Unfortunately due to its thinness, it doesn’t have that well a pronounced Bell.

A Medium Sabian Ride – this one is less crashy but it should be more pingy. Providing warm undertones with a strong ping.

A Medium-heavy Sabian Ride – has the thicker bell that is way more pronounced and more high-pitched. This Ride cymbal tends to be more gongey comparing to a thinner ride.

Best overall

Sabian HHX Evolution Ride

10

Best for jazz
sabian artisan ride review

Sabian Artisan Medium Ride

9.3

Best for Rock/Metal
best ride for metal

Sabian AAX Metal Ride

9.6

Most versatile
Best sabian ride cymbals

Sabian HH Raw Bell Dry Ride

9.7

Value for money
best sabian ride cymbal

Sabian SBR

7.1

Sabian HHX Evolution Ride

10Expert Score
Best Sabian ride cymbal overall

Sound quality
10
Value for money
10
Versatility
10
Pros
  • Sound perfection
  • Price
  • Versatility
Cons

    Many things make a cymbal an absolute best. The most expensive model is not always the best one. Every one of us has a cymbal that he considers the best, so this question is very subjective.

    Made in collaboration with Dave Weckl, the Evolution series strikes the perfect balance between price and quality that you get for your money.

    Out of the box, these cymbals look beautiful with their brilliant shiny finish.

    Sound-wise they offer a modern sound that is perfect for all genres of music, the cymbal has a very soft, bright tone, and the bell has an impressive rich sound.

    The drummers that are associated with this model are Jojo Mayer, Chris Pennie, and, obviously, Dave Weckl.

    The Artisan series may be considered a masterpiece, but they are too expensive for a semi-pro drummer, but the HHX series balances price and quality perfectly, and that is why they are, in my opinion, the perfect choice.

    Sabian Artisan Medium Ride

    9.3Expert Score
    Best for jazz

    Sound quality
    10
    Value for money
    9
    Versatility
    9
    Pros
    • Premium sound and build quality
    • Offers versatility
    Cons
    • High price

    Just by looking at this model, you know it is perfect for jazz. 

    It is a very beautiful hand-crafted cymbal that has a very distinct vintage look. Hammer marks always look very appealing to jazz
    musicians.

    Looks aside, this is a high-quality model that is premium in both build and sound quality categories. It is made of specific B20 Bronze that will guarantee years and years of usage.

     Sound-wise, this is an absolute blast of a cymbal, as it has a dark and moody tone perfect for jazz. Also, it has a very nice bell sound and solid attack that can be useful when you play other genres of music.

     The only thing I don’t like is the price.

    Artisan Medium Ride is worth its price for what it offers, but it is a bit too much for an average drummer.

    Sabian AAX Metal Ride

    9.6Expert Score
    Best for Rock and Metal

    Sound quality
    9.5
    Value for money
    10
    Versatility
    9.5
    Pros
    • Strong attack
    • Excellent Bell sound
    Cons
    • Not many game-changer cons

    For our rock cymbal, we chose one model from the Sabian AAX series. Products from this series are cheaper than Artisan and HHX but are not lacklustre in the sound department.

    This model is specifically designed for metal and its sub-genres, and it goes well with progressive metal music. 

    Many famous drummers such as Dave Abbruzzese(Pearl Jam), Christopher Schneider(Rammstein) use this series, and this specific model is the favorite of Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater.

    Sound-wise they have a very strong attack that cuts easily through guitar riffs, and the bell is fantastic. The strong, pingy sound makes it perfect for heavier music.

     

    Even though it’s a bit cheaper than your usual HHX, it is still great in terms of build quality and sound. 

    Sabian HH Raw Bell Dry Ride

    9.7Expert Score
    Most versatile

    Sound quality
    9.8
    Value for money
    9.7
    Versatility
    9.8
    Pros
    • Highly versatile
    • Craftsmanship
    • Clean sound
    Cons
    • Higher price

    The whole HH series has a very distinct vintage sound that goes well with any style of music. 

    That is one of the many reasons why it is one of the most popular Sabian series and why many famous drummers such as Phil Collins and Martin Axenrot use these cymbals.

    The build quality is one of the characteristics of every Sabian cymbal, and this one is no different. B20 Alloy, and is, as its name suggests, hand-hammered.

    This beautiful product has a very clean sound that mixes well with any band setup. Jazz, Rock, Pop- you name it, HH Raw Bell Dry can perform it.

    Considering the price, the HH Raw Bell Dry Ride belongs at the bottom of the Sabian’s premium models. 

    It is the cheapest premium model, but that doesn’t automatically mean cheap. This ride can be expensive for new drummers.

    Sabian SBR Ride cymbal

    7.1Expert Score
    Best value for money

    Sound quality
    4
    Value for money
    9.5
    Versatility
    8
    Pros
    • Incredible value for money
    • Excellent for beginners
    Cons
    • Not for an intermediate drummer

    When I looked at the value for money, I took into consideration the beginner drummers, and this one fits them perfectly.  

    SBR Ride is far away from the best model of Sabian in terms of sound or quality, but it is crazy how much stuff they managed to get into this sub 100 dollars model.

    This ride is made of brass, unlike other, more expensive cymbals which are made of B20 alloy. 

    Naturally, the sound is worse than your average intermediate or professional cymbal, but for a beginner drummer, this cymbal is perfection.

    Build quality is more than nice at this price range and Sabian even offers a 2-year warranty for all its models, including SBR.

    If you consider entering the world of drums, this is a perfect choice for you

    Denis Loncaric
    Denis Loncaric

    My name is Denis. I am a drummer, percussionist, music enthusiast, and blogger. Drums have been my passion for 15 years now. My idea is to write about the things I like and I am interested in. I want to share my drum passion with fellow musicians who walk, talk, and breathe drums.

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