Meinl Byzance Extra Dry Medium Hi-Hats 13in

Rated 5.00 out of 5

09/5/2017

Meinl have really caught my ear over the past year and these hi hats come as my third acquisition from the Byzance line. The relationship between stick definition, pitch and tone is extremely well balanced and warm, unlike many pairs of 13's I've tried in the past; which tend to have piercing high frequencies that dominate the overall spectrum. Pitch-wise they are lower than one would expect from 13's, which was a deciding factor in me purchasing these hi-hats. On the subject of balance, the volume between open and closed is such that they don't become much louder when opened, rather the tone opens up with the sustain to provide a lovely colour to the overall sound. When closed the tip and shoulder sounds are well defined with plenty of articulation available for accent patterns. The feel of the stick on cymbal contact has enough rigidity to allow one to accurately feel what they are playing, while being soft enough to absorb any excessive shock that would travel through the stick and into the hand. Again, balance is the word; not too solid and not too flimsy. A final word, these cymbals look incredible! Truly a work of art in and of themselves, with each set having its own unique splashes and patterns of colour from the casting and hammering process. A solid 10 out of 10.

Casey