Reviews
"The 21" AA Raw Bell Dry Ride has been devised to address the demand from rock players with a brighter, more cutting edge. The cymbal has the sort of brightness you would associate with the AA range, but is also on the dry side. Sticking is clear and well defined, while the bell is solid and commanding. It's a powerful cymbal that generates enough volume to deal with all but the most extreme of musical situations." - Team
"The Sabian 21" AA Raw Bell Dry Ride is a medium-heavy weight, allowing for a nice controlled wash that doesn't overpower the ride when playing, but creates just enough sustain to give the area around the drums a nice, warm foundation. Although it is a natural finish, the ping is bright and clear, but can also be made a little darker with wood sticks. The stick definition is great, allowing you to hear every hit you make, while only allowing a minor buildup of wash. The bell is easily the best bell I have heard. Because of its raw surface, the bell is incredibly loud and piercing, with a somewhat bright tone. Striking the bell generates a small response from the rest of the cymbal, and the bell's low profile makes finding the "sweet spot" very easy. The AA Raw Bell Dry Ride cuts through the music, and the HH blends right in. When I tried out the HH Raw Bell Dry Ride, I played it behind a drum set, and it was somewhat audible, but when I stood further back and let someone else play it with the drums, all I could hear was the wash and a little bit of the bell. The ping on the AA Raw Bell Dry Ride had no problems cutting through, the wash was just enough to engulf the set in a warm tone, but didn't stick out on its own, and the bell just shot right through anything. I would recommend the AA Raw Bell Dry Ride to anyone, since it's versatility covers such a weird range, and depending on where you strike it and what sticks you use, the sound options are fully customizable." - Alex May
"This heavy ride is rich with possibilities and sound variations. With un-paralleled sticking qualities, the body of this cymbal can be used for the hardest rock, and the smoothest jazz. A rich overtone (not wash) encompasses the overall sound of this cymbal when hit multiple times that, instead of decreasing stick definition, more rather fills in gaps that any drum strokes may have anywhere else on the set. And lets not forget the bell. The full range of tones achievable from this monster of a bell can be felt with the head of the stick alone, but the explosive DING this bell can produce when struck with the shaft can shatter glass (or ear drums)." - Only Serious Choice
"Overall, this is a great cymbal that is very versatile and will last you a long time. Crashable, dynamic and responsive bell, defined bow. Bell is piercing but dynamic. Can be used for everything from pop to metal, but not recommended for jazz. Great for latin and world music actually too. Has a nice dark semi-dry crash - very crashable for big choruses or even gentle wash riding, but defined up top as well." - Micah Whitney
"Playing the four Raw BellI Dry rides side by side, I could really appreciate the subtle distinctions of each, which were mostly found in their pitch and their bells. The HH and HHX models had lower fundamental pitches than the AA or AAX model. The HHX was the darkest and funkiest of all the Raw Bell Dry rides, and the AA was most similar to the other cymbals in its line. I found the HH to be the most versatile, which explains why it has been so popular among drum- ners of many types. The AA and AAX models would be appropriate in a loud rock or pop situation, where everything is amplified and you want your ride to come through with clarity and not as a wall of sound. They'd function better, for example, in Neal Peart's setup with Rush than in Brad Wilk's kit with Rage Against The Machine, as Wilk often bashes his ride for a washy wave. Each of Sabian's Raw Bell Dry rides served its intended purpose well. Don't expect them to open up and scream, but do expect them to project your bow and bell sticking patterns to the last seat in the house, with a slightly different color from each series. If you favor the AA line of crashes and hi-hats, you'll probably like the AA Raw Bell Dry ride best. If you're an HHX drummer, you'll most likely prefer that one, and so on. This speaks volumes about Sabian's ability to create cohesive families of cymbals while still allowing each model to have its own voice." - Ben Meyer
