Sabian, or j_kay, can you elaborate as to the difference in sound from a 12 to 13 or 14" hats? What sound should each produce? what is better for a church environment? and I like the K/Z Zildjians, what do you guys think?
God Bless.
12"s cut. They are always crisp .They are good for recording. Great for busy, intricate hat patterns funk and drum-n-bass.
13"s are the new all-around. They have more body than 12s yet retain that crsip cut to get through electric music. fats response.
14"s tend to lend that big easy going sound if they are thin and a meaty sound if they are thicker. You hear 14s all the time because they are condisered the standard hihat size you they are necessarily unique unless you just got that pair. 14"s and even 15"s are a definite for most heavier rock music because they have a big voice. Also for ole skool funk. *** Steve Jordan uses some proto type 17" hats in his latest Modern Drummer interview. Maybe even on the Alicia Keys track, "You Don't Know My Name" which he produced.
In today's church I recommend 13"s as your main hats and maybe running a set of 10"s or 12"s on an X-hat. If you do more up tempo funky stuff. If you have a fair shair of ballad worship songs then maybe runa set of 13" Fast Hat/Quick Beat/Master Sound/Edge type against another set of 13" Regular /New Beat type hat.
The other thing is brilliant versus natural/satin finish. THis affects the sound as well. Experiment as your ears mature you will/should add to your palette. The first step is to leave the B8s and such alone and invest in your sound... don't wait on the church to. I'll bet the feedback that you get from people will be positive.