Zildjian A Custom Mastersound 14" Hi-Hat Cymbals, Pair

• Complete pair: medium thin top, medium bottom
• Bolder, fuller sound than the standard A Custom hi-hat
• Hammered grooves on the bottom edge for a clean chick
• Brilliant finish, matched to the rest of the line

Zildjian describes the A Custom Mastersound as a bolder take on its A Custom hi-hat: you keep the crisp, rich colours of the series, but the pair sounds fuller. The regular A Custom hi-hat is described as light, subtle and delicate; this one goes for presence instead.

When you close the hi-hat with your foot, air gets trapped between the two cymbals and can smother the sound. Here, the bottom edge carries hammered grooves that let the air out fast. The result is a quick, well-cut chick, even when played hard and at high tempos.

• Rock, pop and gospel where the hi-hat has to cut through
• Drummers who play a lot with the foot, chick on the offbeats
• An A Custom kit whose hi-hat lacked body

These 14" hi-hats from other makers also rely on a specially worked bottom:

Mastersound or New Beat?

Both have a solid chick, but not the same colour. The A Custom Mastersound has the brilliant finish and glassy sound of the A Custom line; the New Beat belongs to the A series, with a traditional finish.

A Custom hi-hat or A Custom Mastersound?

The standard A Custom is light and delicate, ideal for studio work and dynamics. The Mastersound sounds fuller and bolder: the better pick when you have to play loud.

Open or closed hi-hat: what is the difference?

Closed, the two cymbals touch and give a short, dry note under the stick. Open, the top vibrates freely and the sound spreads out. The Mastersound keeps its body in both positions.