Sabian AAX 18-inch OMNI cymbal

General

Sabian is one of the most famous cymbal manufacturers in the world. The company was founded in 1981 by Robert Zildjian, when his older brother became the head of the Zildjian company. Armed with a lifetime of knowledge and experience, he started over and created a company named after his three children, Sally, Bill and Andy (SaBiAn). Over time, Sabian grew into the respected company it is today, and now belongs to what has been dubbed 'the big four', along with Zildjian, Paiste and Meinl.

Sabian AAX series

Today, Sabian is known for their innovative cymbals, and the AAX line is what started it all. Like the AA-series, it consists of machine-made B20 bronze cymbals. The AAX series, however, receives very different hammering and lathing treatments, which results in a very different sound. It also has the exclusive Auto-Focus Response feature. Where other cymbals have a 'response threshold', meaning they sound best once they reach a certain volume, AAX cymbals respond with total accuracy at all dynamic levels, from low to high volumes.

Sabian AAX 18-inch Omni cymbal

This unique cymbal once again proves that Sabian is all about innovations. They worked together with world-renowned drumming legend Jojo Mayer and have breathed new life into the crash/ride concept with the Omni cymbals. While effectively a type of crash/ride, the Omni cymbal receives no such classification from Sabian itself.

The first thing you'll notice when you pick one up, is the extra-thin edge that contrasts with the weight of the cymbal as a whole. This thin edge allows the 18-inch Omni its lightning-quick attack and gives it a relatively high pitch when crashed. The thick, unlathed inner part of the cymbal is noticeably thicker, and as such, it has a much drier sound. It allows for excellent stick definition and a cutting bell, while also giving the cymbal as a whole more volume.