Sabian Drums — Metal Drummers Who Use Sabian | MetalForge

About Sabian

Sabian was founded in 1981 by Robert Zildjian after a family dispute led to the division of the Zildjian company. Based in New Brunswick, Canada, Sabian has grown into one of the world's largest cymbal manufacturers, earning a strong reputation in the metal community.

Why Metal Drummers Choose Sabian:
- AAX Series – Bright, modern sound with excellent projection
- HHX Series – Dark, complex tones for progressive styles
- B8X Series – Affordable entry point with metal-appropriate sounds
- XSR Series – Budget-friendly professional sounds

The Sabian Sound:
Sabian cymbals are known for their consistency and versatility. The AAX series delivers the bright, cutting tones needed for traditional metal, while HHX provides the dark complexity favored by progressive drummers.

Value Proposition:
Sabian offers excellent value at various price points, making professional-quality cymbals accessible to more drummers. Their manufacturing consistency ensures reliable sound across their product range.

Sabian History

Sabian exists because of a rift inside the centuries-old Zildjian cymbal dynasty. By the late 1970s, brothers Robert and Armand Zildjian could not agree on the direction of the family's Avedis Zildjian Company, and in 1979 the business split between the two branches of the family.

In 1981, Robert Zildjian took his share of the family's cymbal-making expertise across the border and founded a new company in Meductic, a small town in rural New Brunswick, Canada.

Rather than position the new company as a discount alternative to Zildjian, Sabian invested in its own foundry and alloy research from the outset. Its first full year of production in 1982 turned out roughly 45,000 cymbals, including the debut of the AA and HH series that would become the foundation of its catalog.

Over the following decades Sabian built out AAX — a bright, fast-responding line — and HHX, a hand-hammered, darker counterpart introduced in 2001, giving the company two flagship series that speak directly to metal drummers who need either cutting projection or complex, dark overtones.

Sabian has since grown into one of the world's largest cymbal manufacturers, expanding into hand percussion through its 2010 acquisition of Gon Bops while remaining headquartered at its original Meductic site.

Sabian Milestones

• 1979: The Zildjian family cymbal business splits between Robert and Armand Zildjian's branches of the family.
• 1981: Robert Zildjian founds Sabian in Meductic, New Brunswick, Canada.
• 1982: Sabian's first full production year turns out roughly 45,000 cymbals, including the debut AA and HH series.
• 2001: The HHX series launches, giving Sabian a hand-hammered, darker flagship line alongside AAX.
• 2010: Sabian acquires hand-percussion maker Gon Bops.

Sabian in Metal

Sabian's AAX and HHX series became mainstays of modern metal within a generation of the company's founding. Ray Luzier (Korn) and Tomas Haake (Meshuggah) are official Sabian artists, both known for AAX and HHX cymbal setups — the bright cut of AAX and the darker complexity of HHX cover everything from thrash to progressive metal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Sabian cymbals do metal drummers use?

Metal drummers typically use the AAX series for its bright, cutting sound and excellent projection. Progressive drummers often prefer HHX for darker, more complex tones. The AAX X-Plosion crashes are particularly popular in metal.

AAX vs HHX for metal?

AAX cymbals are brighter and louder, ideal for thrash, death, and traditional metal. HHX cymbals are darker and more complex, suited for progressive metal. Many drummers mix both series based on the sound they need.

Sabian vs Zildjian for metal?

Both offer excellent metal cymbals. Sabian often provides better value, while Zildjian has more prestige and artist support. Sound-wise, Sabian AAX is similar to Zildjian A Custom, and Sabian HHX compares to Zildjian K. Try both and choose what sounds best to you.