Sabian FRX Series Cymbals

94
| JULY 2018 WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM
GEAR REVIEW
F
R X is an entirely new concept from
Sabian’s Vault. These are top-quality
professional level cymbals that have
numerous pin holes drilled into
them. They appear to be softer in volume, but
according to Sabian, they simply have certain
frequencies removed. FR stands for Frequency
Reduced. They are designed for use in
environments where other ‘normal’ cymbals
might be overbearing. It’s an intriguing
development and we have the fi rst bunch for
review – 20" and 21" rides, 16", 17" and 18"
crashes, and a pair of 14" hi-hats.
Build
The painstaking processes involved in creating
a top-quality cymbal include the individual
hand-poured casting of B20 ingots, removal of
impurities and rolling a dozen times under
intense heat. This is followed by shaping and
trimming, lathing and buffi ng, followed by
ageing, which allows time for the molecular
structure to stabilise.
In the case of FRX, the cymbals are
fi ne-lathed top and bottom, with the exception
of the bells, which are left raw. Subtle
hammering creates gentle dips. Then there are
the all-important holes, which create a
completely new look. The machine-accurate
holes are numerous, tiny and regular. Crashes
have a single band of them, clustered around
the edge of the bell and on top of the shoulder,
while rides have a second band towards the
perimeter. The hats have the fewest, with the
bottom cymbal intact and the top with a single
line of holes around the bell.
Hands On
The immediate impression is that the FRXs
are not so much delicate as restrained and
well-mannered. If that sounds a trifl e prissy
for a cymbal, it’s not that they are incapable
of driving robust music – you don’t sense the
lack of body you get with cheap cymbals. It’s a
tricky concept to convey and each cymbal
arrives adorned with a roundel bearing the
legend, ‘Don’t Hold Back’. Sabian is at pains to
explain the true nature of the instrument, you
see. The message is to go at them as you
From £247 Fed up of being asked to keep your cymbals down? Sabian’s
new Frequency Reduced FRX cymbals may be just the ticket
SABIAN FRX
SERIES CYMBALS
WORDS: GEOFF NICHOLLS
THE MESSAGE IS TO GO AT THEM
AS YOU WOULD YOUR NORMAL
SET AND THE CYMBALS WILL
TAKE CARE OF THE DYNAMICS
HI-HATS
The 14" hi-hat pair have the fewest
holes, just a sparse band around
the shoulder of the top cymbal and
none in the bottom cymbal
would your normal set and the cymbals will
take care of the dynamics.
And that is exactly what happens. You play
as normal and the sound is less obliterating
than with an everyday set. The clue is in the
title – Frequency Reduced Effects (FRX).
There’s a sort of EQ’ing effect going on,
although Sabian insists the moderated
volume is more of a perception than reality.
We’re used to holes in crash cymbals –
Sabian’s O-Zones have large holes resulting in
trashy lightning strikes. The FRX’s tiny holes
have a different effect. All three: 16", 17" and
18" – crash cymbals are lightweight and the
holes produce only the slightest of trashiness,
more of a hissiness that translates as swift,
smooth and clean. The three make a perfectly
balanced set, deliciously sweet.
Also try…
2
STAGG SENSA
OCEAN SERIES
We say: “These special
new additions to Stagg’s
Sensa range of B20
bronze cymbals are
fl exible and soft for
playing by hand. ”
1
PAISTE 602
SERIES FLAT RIDE
We say: “Flat rides are
softer due to the lack of
a bell. Paiste pioneered
this type of cymbal with
its crystal clear stick
enunciation.”
RHY282.gear_sabian.indd 94 18/05/2018 14:51