Sabian Bells and Choppers
NOVEMBER 2008 RHYTHM 103
S
abian’s latest additions to its Vault
series are two original percussive
instruments. The new models – the
Alu Bells and the suggestively titled
Choppers – have been designed for
percussionists and kit players alike.
Build
A clue to the construction material of the Alu
Bells is in the name, and each Bell is cast
individually from aluminium. Unlike cymbal
manufacture, the Alu Bells are cast in their
completed shape using sand moulds.
Available in 7" and 9" diameters, both models
feature a raised dome, which leads down to a
fl at striking edge. The bells are quite thick
but, being made from aluminium, they’re
slightly. What they lack in attack they make up
for in intensity. Their tone is incredibly pure
and as the volume fades, the strength of the
note lingers on, reminiscent of the running-a-
fi nger-around-a-wine-glass trick.
By contrast, the Choppers produce blasts of
brilliant metallic crunch. We were struck by
how many nuances and subtleties could be
pulled out of them. A gentle tap brings forth a
crisp ‘tsk’, while increasing the velocity
hardens up the sound. The speedy decay,
which Sabian has worked hard on, makes it
easy to distinguish between regular notes and
accents. Their response remains clean
throughout all dynamic levels and we found it
near impossible to over-hit them. Also, unlike
many effects, their sound didn’t become
wearing over time.
Verdict
Sabian has clearly let some of its most fertile
imaginations loose to create these
instruments. Though the designs are
completely different, they represent a
company on a creative roll. The Alu Bells are
extraordinarily sweet-sounding alternatives to
bronze variants while the Choppers’ seemingly
complicated design delivers an aggressive yet
controllable instrument capable of many
shades of expression. All the metal required
for each Chopper means that they’re more
expensive than the Alu Bells, but of the two,
the Choppers are more likely to fi nd everyday
use as add-ons.
Rating ✪✪✪✪✪
From £72 and £153 Sabian gets seriously innovative in its
quest for new sounds. Adam Jones explores further
light. An absence of any kind of lathing or
polishing means the surfaces are pitted and
marked, but the naturally bright hue of
aluminium largely masks these details from all
but close-up inspection.
The Choppers, which come in three sizes –
8", 10" and 12" – are a little closer to regular
cymbals, being cut from sheets of B8 bronze.
There any resemblance ends though, as the
Choppers feature an intricate three-layer
design that has taken Sabian some time to
arrive at. At the bottom of each Chopper lies a
solid disc of bronze, which features swirls of
textured lathing for friction-creating purposes.
The next layer is a similarly textured disc,
which has been cut into a seven-bladed fan
shape. Above this, the fi nal layer is also cut
into a fan shape, but it’s offset so that its
blades overlap those of the layer below. Unlike
the other two layers it’s also buffed to a shine.
All the fan blades are cut in a way that leaves
a sharp edge pointing below each
incision, again to encourage
friction. This sandwich of metal
is held together by three
rivets that allow a few
millimetres of movement,
but no more.
Hands on
The Alu Bells open with a
soft, dry note that oscillates
SABIAN BELLS AND CHOPPERS
PRICES
7" Alu Bell £72
9" Alu Bell £84
8" Chopper £153
10" Chopper £173
12" Chopper £187
CAST OR
PRESSED
Alu Bells: cast
Choppers: pressed
ALLOY USED
Alu Bells: aluminium
Choppers: B8
FINISH
Alu Bells: raw;
Choppers: polished/
textured lathing
HAND OR
MACHINE
HAMMERED
n/a
COUNTRY OF
MANUFACTURE
Canada
DIAMETERS
AVAILABLE
Alu Bells: 7" and 9"
Choppers: 8" to 12"
MODELS
AVAILABLE
n/a
SUITABLE FOR
You name it!
CONTACT
Arbiter Group Ltd
Unit 3
Atlantic Business
Centre
Stirling Way
Borehamwood
Hertfordshire
WD6 2FQ
Telephone
020 8207 7860
www.sabian.com
ESSENTIAL SPEC
ORIGINAL BUILD
The choppers feature an
intricate three-layer design
E
SS
EN
T
RE
COMME
NDS
EXCLUSIVE
RHY157.gear_sab 103 9/10/08 6:33:48 pm