Sabian 20" Heavy Ride AAX
Description
Sabian 20" Heavy Ride AAX
The 20" AAX Heavy Ride redefines what a heavy ride can do in the hands of a working drummer. Its larger, raw bell gives you genuine crash-ability rarely found in this weight class, while the distinctive larger, rounder peen hammering—highly visible across the cymbal's surface—creates a cymbal that plays thinner and darker than standard heavy rides. This combination makes it equally at home functioning as a secondary crash or as a complex, versatile ride voice.
Tone & Acoustic Character
The expanded bell design and unique hammering pattern deliver brighter highs alongside complex, darker lows, generating a wider frequency band than conventional heavy rides. This tonal complexity gives you both cutting articulation and deep resonance, allowing crash-like responsiveness without sacrificing the definition needed in a ride context—essential for cutting through a live mix.
Design & Construction
B20 bronze alloy (copper, tin, and silver) forms the core material, engineered with a reduced-size bell and that signature larger, rounder peen work visible across the surface. The construction reflects SABIAN's commitment to answering modern musical demands through innovative manufacturing techniques.
Key Features
- 20" diameter
- Heavy weight classification
- B20 bronze alloy construction
- Reduced-size bell with larger raw surface area
- Larger, rounder peen hammering (visible on surface)
- Thinner profile than traditional heavy rides
- Bright highs with complex low-end character
- Crash-capable design
- Versatile ride/crash hybrid voice
- Available in Brilliant Finish
- SABIAN Two-Year Warranty coverage
The 20" AAX Heavy Ride is built for the drummer who needs real versatility on stage. One cymbal that handles rides, crashes, and everything in between—reliable, articulate, and sonically complex enough to anchor your kit.
More Information
| Condition | New |
|---|---|
| Cymbal Size | 20" |
| Cymbal Type | Ride |
| Country of Manufacture | Canada |
Reviews
At a Glance
The Sabian 20" AAX Heavy Ride delivers crash-capable responsiveness with complex tonal depth—bright highs and dark lows in one cymbal. Built from B20 bronze with a distinctive larger, rounder peen hammering and reduced bell, it plays thinner and darker than standard heavy rides, making it equally effective as a secondary crash or ride voice. Choose it for rock, metal, and progressive live setups where you need one cymbal to do the work of two without sacrificing cutting articulation or definition.
Who This Is For
Great for
- ✓ Rock
- ✓ Metal
- ✓ Progressive
- ✓ Hard Rock
- ✓ Live Performance
Not the best pick for
- – Jazz
- – Traditional orchestral
Skill level: Intermediate · Advanced · Professional
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this Heavy Ride different from a standard heavy ride?
The AAX Heavy Ride features a larger, raw bell and distinctive larger, rounder peen hammering that makes it play thinner and darker than conventional heavy rides. This design creates crash-capable responsiveness and a wider frequency band of bright highs and complex dark lows, giving it hybrid ride-crash functionality.
What genres and playing styles is this cymbal best suited for?
The 20" AAX Heavy Ride is engineered for rock, metal, progressive, and hard rock styles, as well as live performance contexts. Its cutting articulation and crash-like responsiveness make it less suited for jazz or traditional orchestral applications.
Is this cymbal only for advanced drummers?
The AAX Heavy Ride is rated for intermediate, advanced, and professional players. Its versatile ride-crash hybrid voice and complex tonal character reward a developed touch, though intermediate players exploring rock and metal can grow into its full potential.
Can this cymbal really function as a crash?
Yes. The expanded bell design and thinner profile than traditional heavy rides give it crash-capable responsiveness atypical of its weight class, making it equally at home as a secondary crash or complex ride voice without switching cymbals.
What material and finish does it come in?
The cymbal is constructed from B20 bronze alloy (copper, tin, and silver) and is available in Brilliant Finish. It includes SABIAN's Two-Year Warranty coverage.
Do I pay sales tax on this order?
We collect sales tax only on orders shipped to California. Orders shipped to any other US state are charged $0 sales tax at checkout when you buy direct from our website. Marketplaces such as eBay, Reverb and Amazon collect sales tax in nearly every state as marketplace facilitators no matter who the seller is, so the same item at the same price costs less bought direct. Free US shipping and 30-day returns are included. Some states ask buyers to self-report use tax on out-of-state purchases.
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