SABIAN 11" AAX X-Plosion Splash Cymbal

Like you, I searched for something like this and bought it "sight-unheard". For a 11 inch, this "minimalist" cymbal for a hybrid cajon kit sounds GREAT when struck with nylon brushes and/or rods. I love it! There is a reason why SABIAN does a heck of a job with specialty cymbals like these because their beginnings INCLUDE Zildjian family members. Zildjian brothers had a fall out in the late 70's after their father, Avedis Zildjian II died leaving who should control the company in doubt. The youngest son, Robert Zildjian was forced out, but as part of the settlement, Robert took full control of their existing Canadian operation. The Canadian facility is where Zildjian specialty cymbals were already being produced while the Massachusetts HQ/Factory were knocking out the the main A and K Zildjian lines. As part of the family breakup, Robert Zildjian could not use "Zildjian" so his wife came up with the name Sabian which where the first 2 letters of each of their children's name. Sandy, Billy and Andy. Seriously...look it up. The one thing that Robert Zildjian (who died in 2013) took with him was his technical know how which was how his family named cymbals were casted using the B20 alloy (80% copper, 20% tin with "some" silver"). In essence, he took with him the "secret sauce" that was unique only to Zildjian and applied and IMPROVED this know how to his SABIAN cymbals. I am a still Zildjian fan, no doubt, as my Dad played with them and made it clear there were no other cymbals, but only Zildjian. I remember telling my Dad that one of the Zildjian brothers started SABIAN but he still would have no part of it. We drummers are pretty stubborn and picky. Simply out of curiosity (and the fact that Robert Zildjian was running the company), I bought some Sabian cymbals in the mid-80s and really was impressed!) So go ahead and get a Sabian. There are Zildjian family members running Sabian today and they have the "secret sauce" to produce some of the best cymbals in the world!

Any cymbal in this model and product line is excellent. I have a ride, two crashes and this splash. They’re all beautiful and sound magnificent.

I use this cymbal with my various cajons and as simple as a splash is, there are many different ones with all sorts of different tonal characteristics. This is a safe cymbal to start with, imo to add to your cajon setup.

These hats are by far the best that I have ever played! They are well worth the money. Sound is crisp and solid. You won't have trouble being heard, and the sound is fantastic! Sabian has created outstanding musical instruments in their X-plosion cymbals. The high hats, (AAX); ride (AAX); and crashes (AA, AAX, HHX) are all awesome! You can't go wrong with these cymbals. They are just that good... Sabian is becoming the standard by which all cymbals are measured. Few other companies can keep up. I salute you Sabian! Check out reviews of x-plosion hats on you-tube...I think you'll be convinced to try a pair. You won't be disappointed!

I recently did an overhaul on my cymbal setup. I've been playing Sabian cymbals for over 20 years. I've had almost every line on my kit. AA, AAX, HH, HHX, Portnoy, Bozzio, & Paragon Signature lines, Virgil Donati's Saturation Crash...even a "Vault". Playing in various Prog Metal Instrumetnal bands, I needed a vast variety of colours. I scaled down, from 23 to 13 cymbals, while in a Rush tribute. Now, playing in a UFO/MSG tribute, I scaled back to a John Bonham setup, with 8 cymbals. Still playing Sabian, here is the current setup: 21" AA Rock Ride 15" AAX Xcelorator Hi-Hats 11" AAXplosion Splash 14" AA Mini China 19" Paragon China 16" AAXplosion Crash 18" AAXplosion Crash 20" AAXplosion Crash I used to have 5 splashes on my kit. Because the music I play now, does not warrant quick colourful fills, I wanted a larger splash, to fill the void - but still have something that "cuts". The odd size 11" AAXplosion Splash does just that. It has the quick, glassy - cutting accent I need. I just sold my 16", 18", & 20" AA med-thin natural finish cymbals, for the same sizes in AAX...but brilliant. The AAX line has the punch to cut through any volume.

These sound so crisp and are perfect.

Takes a bit to "break in". Up close it sounds kinda like a cheap China gong for the first week or two of use. (I perform and practice at least every other day). After the breaking it in the sound still sounds like a gong up close but not as much and it sounds much better behind your band (or other instruments).

Perfect. what more need I say. Bright sound. Even distribution. Sustain just right for how I play. Love it

Suenan muy bien, valieron la pena

Great cymbals

Me llegaron los platillos Hi Hat sabian AAX Xplosion pero lamentablemente me llegaron dañados, presentan abolladuras en las orillas, se ven golpeados como si se hubieran caído o talvez con defecto de fábrica.