What genres and playing styles is the Paragon Hat Top best suited for?

The Paragon excels in rock, progressive, and hard-rock settings—both live and in the studio. Its bright, articulate tone and fast response reward precision playing and dynamic control, making it ideal for intermediate, advanced, and professional drummers. It is not designed for jazz or folk applications.

What makes the Paragon different from other SABIAN hi-hats?

The Paragon combines AA-style hammering with integrated sound-defining features from SABIAN's AA, AAX, and HH series, creating a unique balance of responsiveness and power. Designed by Neil Peart, it weighs 995 grams and delivers crisp, clean sticking with cutting articulation across a wide dynamic range.

Is this cymbal durable for heavy playing and touring?

Yes; the Paragon is handcrafted from pure B20 bronze and has been in production since 2004, proven across professional and live applications. It is protected by SABIAN's Two-Year Warranty and designed to handle the demands of gigging and studio work without sacrificing responsiveness.

What weight is the Paragon Hat Top, and how does that affect its sound?

The Paragon weighs 995 grams (medium weight), which delivers fast, crisp responses and clean articulation while maintaining the power needed to cut through a full mix. This weight ensures dynamic responsiveness without loss of presence in loud contexts.

SABIAN 14" Paragon Hat Top

The Paragon Hat Top delivers fast, crisp responses with clean, bright sticking that rewards both precision and dynamics. Handcrafted from pure B20 bronze by SABIAN and designed in collaboration with legendary RUSH drummer Neil Peart, this medium-weight cymbal combines subtle aesthetics with powerful, articulate sound. Built using AA-style hammering and an innovative blend of sound-defining features from the AA, AAX, and HH series, the Paragon redefines the relationship between power and musicality.

Construction & Design

Pure B20 bronze handcrafted construction gives this top cymbal the tonal foundation that working drummers depend on night after night. The AA-style hammering paired with integrated features drawn from three proven SABIAN lines—AA, AAX, and HH—creates a cymbal that stays responsive under your stick while holding up through demanding gigs and studio sessions across a wide range of playing styles and applications.

Sound Character & Response

The medium weight cuts through live mixes with fast, crisp responses and clean, bright, well-defined sticking that keeps every note articulate and controlled. This weight sits in the sweet spot—light enough for dynamic responsiveness and nuanced stick work, yet heavy enough to project the power you need when locking in with a full band.

Key Features

14" diameter top cymbal
Medium-weight cymbal for fast response and clean articulation
Handcrafted from pure B20 bronze
Median weight: 995 grams
AA-style hammering with integrated sound-defining features
Combines AA, AAX, and HH series characteristics
Designed by and for legendary RUSH drummer Neil Peart
In production since 2004
Dynamically responsive across a wide range of applications
Protected by SABIAN Two-Year Warranty

The Paragon Hat Top stands as the choice for working drummers who refuse to compromise—a cymbal that plays as musically as it performs, delivering the reliability and articulation that defines a great sounding kit night after night.

Condition	New
Cymbal Size	14"
Cymbal Type	Hi-Hats
Country of Manufacture	Canada