Various Event and Personal blogs http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/index.cfm?forumid=10 en-US FuseTalk Standard Edition 3.2 Build 80405 Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4829 2009-11-19T13:21:27 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4829#comments 0
Below are some shots taken by Chris Stankee (Artist Relations Manager) and Stacey Montgomery-Clark (VP Marketing) while they attended PASIC. Enjoy!


Jack DeJohnette and the new Vault 3-Point Ride that he inspired


Chris Pennie rocks out at his clinic




Ed Shaughnessy master class


Jack DeJohnette clinic - a full house!




Jack DeJohnette shows Vic Firth the 3-Point Ride


Jack's set-up and the audience patiently waiting


SABIAN's Paul Celucci and Chris Stankee, along with Chester Thompson, Lennie DeMuzio and Stacey Montgomery-Clark


SABIAN's Stacey Montgomery-Clark, with Jack DeJohnette and Chris Stankee


Virgil Donati clinic




Zoro clinic




Neil Peart's kit on the Guitar Center booth!


Diane Downs and her amazing Louisville Leopard Percussionists]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4818 2009-11-17T14:52:41 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4818#comments 0
With the Band of America finals also taking place in Indianapolis this weekend the start of the day was a little slower than the previous two. However, the day was still jam-packed with stuff to do and see and it wasn't long until the exhibition hall was back up to full volume!


The booth, as busy as ever, later in the day

A regular feature of PASIC are the 'FUNdamental' sessions. Covering the basic techniques and ideas for all instruments, they are a great way for students and teachers to pick up tips from professional players and teachers.

Ed Shaughnessy started the day with his drumset fundamental clinic. Ed brilliantly covered his subject in front of a large and attentive audience.


Ed Shaughnessy explains his approach to drumset during his FUNdamentals session

Also presenting a FUNdamentals session was SABIAN's very own Nick Petrella. Covering hand cymbals, suspended cymbals and triangles, Nick expertly covered the technical aspects of each of these instruments. A good number of volunteers were invited on stage by Nick and he soon demonstrated, through them, the basic techniques of all of these instruments.


Nick Petrella on stage during his FUNdamental session

One of the highly anticipated clinics of the convention was Jack DeJohnette's drumset clinic. Needless to say, he didn't disappoint. Immediately afterward, Jack joined us at the booth for an autograph session where his new signature 3-Point Ride garnered a lot of attention.


Jack DeJohnette signing autographs with fans at the SABIAN booth

Almost the last clinic of the convention was given by Virgil Donati. This hugely talented and seemingly multi-limbed drummer completely wowed the audience with his eclectic style of playing.

And then it was all over! Well, there was the small matter of packing down the booth but we got through that quick enough and soon we were leaving the exhibition hall for a well deserved drink!

If you've never been to a PASIC then it's well worth considering and it would be great to see you next year, again in Indianapolis.

We hope you've enjoyed reading our coverage of this year's PASIC. If you weren't able to get there in person, log onto www.sabian.com to hear about all the new products we launched, as well as exploring the forums, artist pages and much, much more.

Written by: Bruce Parry]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4817 2009-11-17T14:42:45 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4817#comments 0
Bringing more international flare to the convention were percussion quartet, Badaboum. All students from the Conservatoire National de Region de Paris, where they study with SABIAN endorser, Frederic Macarez, kicked off the day with an impressive display of quartet repertoire.


Badaboum get Friday off to a great start with there recital performance

While interest on the booth remained at a high pitch, yet more clinics kicked off. For some crazy reason, Chris Deviney's and Nick Ormrod's clinics were programmed at exactly the same time! Go figure?

Both Chris & Nick played to very attentive audiences: the focus of Christopher Deviney's clinic covered playing those rarer instruments that inevitably end up in the hands of percussionists in the orchestra - the hammer, the glass harmonica and the ratchet are just a few examples of the instruments he talked about. Both an amusing and very informative clinic.


Chris Deviney in the middle of his presentation

Nick Ormrod brought his experience from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to his clinic covering orchestral snare drum. With his typical dry sense of humour he lead the audience and the participating students through some less well known yet very revealing excerpts.


Nick Ormrod leads a student through some less well known excerpts

Next up were the Louisville Leopard Percussionists lead by Diane Downs. With performances all over the US and with great performers such as Zoro under their belt, they took performing at PASIC easily in their stride. This infectious bunch of youngsters impressed everybody that heard them. Well done, Guys!

The day wound up with the PAS Hall of Fame reception. With some entertaining Latin big-band music to get the room jumping the evening started well. PAS president, Steve Houghton then quietened the room for more serious matters and Micky Hart and Jacques Delecluse were both inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame. While Jacques Delecluse was not present to receive his accolade, Micky Hart was and he gave a very thoughtful and entertaining speech.

Written by: Bruce Parry]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4481 2009-11-13T08:18:07 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4481#comments 0
The booth has been busy, constantly, all day. The Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic Suspendeds have been of huge interest and admired by all. The table full of triangles has been swamped by people trying them out (and buying!). The prototypes have garnered everything from a subtle nod through gasps to out-loud 'Wow's.


A table full of triangles just waiting to be tried out

Quite often, the first day is quiet(ish - everything's relevant at these kind of events!) as people take stock and try and work out how far they can make their money stretch as they take in all the goodies on offer! It's the next day that we expect things to hot up a bit: not this time - the dial seemed to be stuck on 10 from the start and with no sign of any let-up at all.

As ever we've had many people pop by to say 'Hi' and check out all the new instruments. This year's winner of the SABIAN PASIC scholarship, Sanja Brankovic, was an early visitor to the booth before taking in the sights and sounds of the rest of the convention.


Nick Petrella, Sanja Brankovic & Stacey Montgomery-Clarke early on this morning at the booth

I managed to catch a little bit of Maraca2's performance - it was good to see these two guys from the UK bring some credibility to the 'International' in 'PASIC'. They packed out their venue with at least 350+ people and standing room only. Letting their playing do the talking they 'brought the house down' and were very well received. Well done, guys. Nice to see you flying the flag for Blighty [I'm a fellow Brit, too].

Zoro and Daniel Glass's joint clinic was fantastic as they brilliantly explained the roots of the shuffle and how it still plays a huge part in today's modern music. Zoro's cymbals sounded great and (with his ever-present hat not slipping an inch) he demonstrated his prowess at this style of music to a very attentive and appreciative audience.


Zoro (complete with hat) during his clinic

Well, that pretty much wraps up Day 1 here. If Day 2 & 3 match up to this one, we're in for a great and memorable time here at PASIC.

If you're here in Indy with us, do come by and say 'Hi' and also add your comments to the blog about all you're seeing, hearing and experiencing.


Written by: Bruce Parry]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4475 2009-11-12T08:12:45 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4475#comments 0
With the 'crew' arriving last night from various points in North America (and mostly avoiding delays caused by hurricane Ida) we started set-up shortly after 9. It always feels a little daunting when you walk into a huge exhibition hall and see all the booth components strapped to a large number of pallets; often the thought runs through your mind that there's no way all that will get set-up in time. However, the structure soon started to take place and everybody is busy setting up cymbal trees, gong stands, crotales and goose-neck stands (for the new Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic Suspended - more on these great new models later on).


The booth early on in the day - slowly but surely taking shape

It's not unusual for many friends from the industry to pop by during set-up and say 'Hi' and in some cases get some help with their mobile phone - SABIAN's Nick Petrella seen here helping Steve Weiss!


Nick Petrella helps get a number 'into' Steve Weiss's phone

We've got some great graphics for this year's show - here's one of the new displays for the Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic Suspended. I think we're going to have to reduce the Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic Suspended to the acronym 'VATSS' or you'll get bored reading it and my fingers will tire of typing it!


The photography of the Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic Suspendeds looks stunning on this display

More graphics go up, together with the cymbal-trees that will hold over 30+ prototype cymbals created in the Vault in Meductic especially for the show.


The large arches at each end of the booth look great with the large graphics

Inevitably, something gets forgotten and this year it was some rope to suspend the Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic Suspendeds on the gooseneck stands. Thanks to Chris Stankee, who (heroically?) ventured out into deepest Indianapolis to find some, we now have everything ready at the Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic Suspendeds display.




The new Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic Suspendeds ready for Thursday morning

Finally, everything seems to be in place. We're all off to prepare for tomorrow. Pop back to catch all the news during the rest of the week and if you are planning on coming to the event make sure you come by the booth and check out all the cymbals on display and say 'Hi'.


All ready for the start of the show on Thursday

Written by: Bruce Parry]]> Chris DeLisa http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=453&threadid=4449 2009-11-05T18:56:59 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=453&threadid=4449#comments 0 Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4420 2009-10-30T09:56:38 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4420#comments 0
Check out the blogpost on vaulttour.com HERE!

Also, don't forget that you have until November 7, 2009 to rate prototypes for a chance to win your dream SABIAN cymbal set-up. Find out more HERE!]]> Bob Rupp http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=409&threadid=4355 2009-10-30T00:10:06 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=409&threadid=4355#comments 1 Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4404 2009-10-28T13:07:20 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4404#comments 0 Check out the full blog post on vaulttour.com HERE!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4389 2009-10-26T13:39:28 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4389#comments 0 HERE!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4348 2009-10-22T15:28:40 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4348#comments 1 Had a great time on 10/16 at Dale's. Katie and Lane were great in helping my daughter Delaney with all of her questions for the science project.
Thanks for everything, Sabian and the gang at Dale's.

Bob C.]]> Bob Rupp http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=409&threadid=4355 2009-10-20T20:10:18 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=409&threadid=4355#comments 1 The Drum Show this year was at Raleigh TV and Film Studios, located directly across from the famed Paramount Studios, on Melrose St., in Hollywood. The weather was a much given relief to the cold I have experiencing in my hometown of Denver.
We set up all day Friday, then the doors opened to an large, excited crowd on Sat. Sabian was the second booth in,,and we attracted lots of new fans, and some of my regular customers looking for that special cymbal!
Every year, our Canadian product specialists always select some fine proto types for this show.
I had about 50 'one of a kind' pies,,and they all sounded great!
I also showed our new Artisan crashes,,but these will not be avail until Jan. The Artisans are my personel cymbals from my drumkit, and the best sounding cymbals I have ever heard,,period!!! These are finely hammered crashes, with a raw bell. Clearly the 'buzz' of the show. All our artists who stopped by the booth will be ordering these when they are ready! Also, our new XS20 Brilliants were a big hit,,and I sold out of them on the second day.
I had HHX, AAX, AA, in many flavors. Also, my B8 Sandblasted Ozone were 'wowed' at.
Over the weekend, we had many local Sabian artists stop by the say hello and sign some autographs -
Ray Luzier, Todd Sucherman, Glen Sobule, Frankie Banelli, Tiny, Vinny Appice, Kevin Stevens, Ed Shaunessey, Carmine Appice, Dave Elich,Troy Zeilger,Mike Bennett, Bermuda Schwartz,Glenn Noyes, Cathy & Nick Rich, to name a few. (sorry if I left anyone out,, it was a long weekend!)
Also, my good friends Brian Levan from Remo, and snare drum engraving legend, and drum historian, John Aldridge graced us with their presence!!! hahahah!!

Todd S also did a spectaluar drum clinc at 2 pm on Saturday.
Sat night we all attended a bar b q at Chad Sexton's Drum City, and his mom, Linda, served up a mighty fine meal. We then went onward to see Sabian artist, Troy Zeilger, w Juliette Lewis at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles.
Troy is a monster! WOW!!!
Sunday was more cymbal fun all day. We sponsored a clinic with Nick Rich, Buddy Rich's grandson, who closed the show with a very cool drum/percussion clinic.
Cannot wait til next year - thanks to all who stopped by, and enjoy your new cymbals!
Big thanks to Sabian's Chris Delisa and Christian Stankee for helping out. Also, huge kudos to Glenn Noyes for help at the booth, and promoters Kerry Cruthfield and Ronn Dunnett for all their hard work! WOW!!!!]]> Terry Ryan http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=466&threadid=4354 2009-10-20T15:28:04 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=466&threadid=4354#comments 0
Hi Everyone!

Well, it's been a crazy couple of months! Here are a few of the highlights of my recent travels.

I had an opportunity to hang with Daniel Adair of Nickelback when their tour rolled into Toronto which also included Papa Roach, Saving Abel and Hinder. This was one of the biggest and most successful tours of the summer. Unfortunately, due to intense weather (lightening) Nickelback had to cancel their performance that evening at the Molson Amphitheatre!! This allowed extra time to hang with Daniel and check-out his practice kit, which is in the back lounge of his tour bus! "You know you made it when..." The boys will be touring Australia in November and the U.K in January 2010.






Papa Roach

A few weeks later I'm back in Toronto for the MIAC/PAL trade show. During the weekend many SABIAN artists dropped by to say hello and check out our cymbals. I also had an opportunity to have lunch with Neil Sanderson of Three Days Grace and his wife Janin. This was prior to the release of their new album "Life Starts Now", which Neil played some tracks for me in his car and it sounded amazing! The first single "Break" is a rocking tune! I now have the album and it's a favorite! During the weekend I played in a charity golf tournament with Chris Crippin of Hedley who was in Toronto shooting a video for their new single "Cha Ching". Their new album will be released in mid November and a tour in early 2010.


Adam Dowling (George Canyon)


Emmanuelle Caplette (IMA)


Eric Paul (Thornley), Terry Ryan, Neil Sanderson (Three Days Grace) and Al Webster (Jeff Healey Blues Band)


Sean Fitzsimons (Burton Cummings)


Josh Trager (Sam Roberts)


Chris Crippin (Hedley)

After MIAC is was home for a few days then back on the road for six stops on the Vault Tour in Canada. We drove from Meductic to Halifax for the first stop and ended in Toronto eight days later with additional stops in Moncton, Quebec City, Montreal and Oshawa! During the events we had many SABIAN artists attend, especially in Toronto. Mike Peters of the Cancer Bats was there on route to the studio where the band was putting the finishing touches on their new album. The Cancer Bats are currently touring the U.K.


Mike Peters (Cancer Bats)

When the Canadian leg of the Vault Tour ended I stayed in Toronto to hook-up with Chris McHugh who was performing at the Air Canada Center with Keith Urban. I saw the show a couple of years ago and was blown-away, so my expectations were high as I walked into the ACC. Chris arranged excellent seats, tenth row center! The show was amazing, the band was great and Keith is an awesome performer with an extensive catalogue of hits! Chris had a phenomenal drum sound, one of the best I've ever heard in an arena! After the show I had an opportunity to hang with the band and chat as they celebrated the conclusion of their Canadian tour!


Chris McHugh (Keith Urban)
















Back in the office for a few days and then to Fredericton, to deliver cymbals to Ian Casselman of Marianas Trench who was performing at the university. The guys are touring in support of their second album "Masterpiece Theatre". Ian was trying some of our new AAX X-plosion Fast crashes, and loving them!



"Just another day at the office...."

Rock on,

Terry]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4348 2009-10-19T15:44:22 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4348#comments 1
Check out my full blog post on vaulttour.com HERE!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4338 2009-10-16T23:58:50 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4338#comments 0
We had a great time - thanks to everyone who came out to support SABIAN!

Check out the full blogpost HERE!]]> Stephen Lawson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4322 2009-10-15T20:22:10 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4322#comments 1
Thank you guys so much!!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4323 2009-10-14T12:30:45 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4323#comments 0
Here are some shots from the Vault Tour stop at Indoor Storm. We had a great day and met a lot of interesting people. Check out the full blog from Greg Zeller on VaultTour.com

-Katie]]> Stephen Lawson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4322 2009-10-14T00:28:14 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4322#comments 1
Here are some shots from today's Vault Tour stop at Richmond Music Center. We had a great day and met a lot of interesting folks. Check out the blog on VAULTTOUR.com tomorrow!

-Katie]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4319 2009-10-13T11:16:06 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4319#comments 0
Here are some great shots from Sunday's Vault Tour stop at Campbell's Morrell Music in Johnson City, TN.

Check out a blog post from Greg Zeller about the day's event HERE!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4318 2009-10-13T10:46:10 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4318#comments 0
Here are some great shots from Saturday's Vault Tour stop at Fork's Drum Closet in Nashville, TN.

Check out a blog post from Chris DeLisa about the day's event HERE!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4317 2009-10-13T09:48:44 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4317#comments 0
Here are a lot of great shots from Friday's Vault Tour stop at Memphis Drum Shop in Memphis, TN.

Check out a blog post from Chris DeLisa about the day's event HERE!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=430&threadid=4296 2009-10-09T15:45:34 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=430&threadid=4296#comments 0
13" HHX Stage Hats - These cymbals really changed my view on how 13" hi-hats can sound. Most people think of the 13" pairing as quick, funky, and better suited for funk and fusion, however, these cymbals are dark and full bodied. When played open, they sound great and really work well in a rock/metal setting. I found a lot of volume in these as well, something rarely seen in smaller hi-hats. Overall, these cymbals defined what a hi-hat should sound like. If I were to play a hi-hat to a non-drummer, these would be the ones.

18" HHX Studio Crash - I loved playing this cymbal! It produces a very punchy, dark sound and opens very easily for an 18". I used this as a main and a secondary crash, and in both applications, it worked perfectly. It was great to ride on and never felt overpowering. I was expecting a louder deeper bell sound because of its raw design, and instead I got a higher pitched bell tone. I could use this multi-application cymbal in any style of music. Don't be scared away by its "Studio" name, this crash could work in metal and of course, progressive rock.

18" AA Medium Thin Crash - The AA series' tonal characteristics change drastically when hit soft or hard and do not respond as quickly as the AAX or HHX series. I think this crash would work well in a rock setting; however, this cymbal might not possess the volume needed to cut through loud metal guitarists and bassists.

20" HHX Chinese - Wow!!! This is one of the loudest china cymbals I have ever played. It is dark, trashy, and explosive, and sounded phenomenal when played softer as well. It is one of the few cymbals I've played that can be described as in your face and beautiful all at once. After playing it for a few days, I can see why Portnoy uses this model so often.

22" HH Rock Ride - This is a real rock ride. It's loud, pingy, and has an amazing bell. It was bright for Hand Hammered, but nowhere near as bright as the AA version. This cymbal is perfect for rock, progressive rock, metal, and higher volume situations. So, if you bring this to a jazz trio gig as your main ride, the sound guy might look at you like you have two heads.

-Bob Sommer (SABIAN Intern)]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4290 2009-10-08T14:16:50 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4290#comments 0
Here are a lot of great shots from yesterday's Vault Tour stop at Mom's Music in Louisville, KY.

Check out a blog post from Terri Shaw about the day's event HERE!

Photo credits: Terri Shaw and Myron Koch 2009]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4289 2009-10-08T11:49:48 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4289#comments 0
Please check out the pics below from Tuesday's stop at Stebal Drums in Willowick, OH.

Go to VaultTour.com for a blog from the event from Terri Shaw!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4281 2009-10-07T22:08:26 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4281#comments 1
Nick Gajewski
Pulaski, WIsconsin]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4281 2009-10-06T15:07:03 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4281#comments 1
Yesterday we were in Lansing, MI for our 8th Vault Tour stop at Marshall Music. Enjoy the pictures below!

Check out Mark Love's blog post HERE!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4271 2009-10-05T08:36:35 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4271#comments 0
Here are some pics from the first US Vault Tour stop in Detroit, MI!
Enjoy

Read Mark Love's full blog post HERE!

Next up ... Marshall Music in Lansing, MI...]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4270 2009-10-05T08:11:08 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4270#comments 0
Here are some pics from the last stop on the Canadian leg of the Vault Tour! Check out Terry Ryan's full blog post HERE!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4247 2009-10-01T10:31:17 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4247#comments 0
Below are some pics from the most recent Vault Tour stop at Long & McQuade in Oshawa, ON. Check out Terry Ryan's full blog post HERE!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4246 2009-10-01T07:55:20 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4246#comments 0 HERE!!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4231 2009-09-29T08:02:16 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4231#comments 0 HERE!!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4217 2009-09-27T00:12:32 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4217#comments 1
Brian]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4217 2009-09-26T22:45:18 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4217#comments 1
Since I'm having slight technical difficulties with the blog on vaulttour.com, today's wrap-up is here! I also accidentally deleted my blog post just a few minutes ago - so here I go again for a second time...

It was a chilly, but sunny day in Moncton, NB, on our second 2009 Vault Tour stop at Long & McQuade. We were busy with customers, even before we were finished setting up - which is a great start!

The first customer of the day - Brian Vienneau (check out his Moncton based metal band Cold Shadow here: coldshadows.tk) - walked away with some great finds - including a cymbal that he hand-hammered himself!

Next up was Luke Anderson who is a Twitter contest giveaway winner - he came in to test some prototypes, and pick up his prize - an 8" Chopper - we hope you enjoy it!

Many people had the rare opportunity to have crafsman Allie Cougle lathe and/or hand hammer a one-of-a-kind cymbal - this included Brian Vienneau, brothers Dakota and Justin Pauley, and Mike Mallais.

The day ended as Scott Dincorn was picked to receive the $100 coupon towards a SABIAN purchase - he got the phone call and came back to the store to pick up an awesome prototype.

Thanks to everyone in the Moncton area who supported today's stop - and a special thanks to Randy Clarke and his staff at Long & McQuade for hosting us.

I'll be heading home tomorrow, but I'll be meeting back up with the team in Richmond, Virginia on October 12th. The rest of the Vault Team continues on to Quebec tomorrow... check out Gagne&Frere in Quebec City on Monday!


-Katie]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4212 2009-09-25T21:51:08 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=408&threadid=4212#comments 0
We have just finished our first stop on the 2009 SABIAN Vault Tour at Long & McQuade in Halifax, NS. Check out the official blog here: www.vaulttour.com, but take a look at some pics from the day below Enjoy!

-Katie]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=466&threadid=4201 2009-09-23T22:18:36 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=466&threadid=4201#comments 2

Multiple posts unintended!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=466&threadid=4201 2009-09-23T22:17:23 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=466&threadid=4201#comments 2
Cheers! Have a great tour!]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=466&threadid=4201 2009-09-23T14:44:08 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=466&threadid=4201#comments 2
-Terry Ryan]]> Luis Cardoso http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=455&threadid=4186 2009-09-21T14:58:21 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=455&threadid=4186#comments 0
Harvest was a blast for me this year as well. I took the stage with dub reggae band Dub Antenna on Friday night, on a bill with Toronto roots reggae band House of David Gang. It was our second Harvest showcase in 3 years, and the PQA Barracks tent was filled to capacity for this reggae night event. Photos below of Dub Antenna drummer Mat Fitzgerald -- an HHX devotee -- and bass player Scott Culligan. It was definitely a killer night. More blogs from Harvest 2009 to come.]]> Christian Stankee http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=432&threadid=4184 2009-09-21T08:26:11 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=432&threadid=4184#comments 0
KORN rocked the main stage with all the hits including Blind, Got The Life and Freak On A Leash. Ray has so much prowess on the kit he's able to attack it at will just punishing the groove.

If you still haven't seen Ray perform check him out live at www.drumchannel.com with Yael on Tuesday 9/22 at 6pm PST.]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=430&threadid=4065 2009-09-20T13:45:22 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=430&threadid=4065#comments 1 Chris DeLisa http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=453&threadid=4162 2009-09-18T15:32:07 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=453&threadid=4162#comments 0 Christian Stankee http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=432&threadid=4158 2009-09-18T10:54:22 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=432&threadid=4158#comments 0


The mighty Dream Theater finished their Progressive Nation 2009 tour in L.A. Mike Portnoy hand picks the opening bands for this tour and we were lucky enough to see him sit in with Big Elf and Zappa Plays Zappa. The Greek was packed and Dream Theater greeted them with a song from their new album Black Clouds & Silver Linings. The crowd was in for even more treats when Mike shared his kit with each of the opening drummers and then all 4 together on his giant drum kit! THEN, Steve Vai and Dweezil Zappa joined Dream Theater on stage for one amazing jam! What a show and I'll never miss D.T. when they come to town.



Rx Bandits with the ferocious drumming of Chris Tsgakis and Cliff Sarcona with his ethereal band As Tall As Lions played the El Rey. These are two important up & coming drummers you'll want to check out. Something special there ya'll!



One of the biggest tours of the summer came through next with Nickelback, Hinder, Papa Roach and Saving Abel. That's right, Daniel Adair, Cody Hanson, Blake Dixon and now...drumroll please...you heard it here first- Tony Palermo with Papa Roach has joined the SABIAN family of artists and we're happy to have him. You want big rock and nothing but SABIAN on stage? This tour has got it!



-Chris]]> Christian Stankee http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=432&threadid=4110 2009-09-10T12:06:27 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=432&threadid=4110#comments 0


Tony Royster Jr. held a clinic at Musician's Institute and also a trio performance to mark the release of his new DVD Evolution. They showed some footage of him playing when he was 12 years old that you just can't believe. Tony is all grown up now and is just as impressive. Currently touring with Jay Z he's been playing to massive audiences all over the world. Drum Channel webcast the event at M.I. that also included a panel of Tony, Terry Bozzio and Ray Luzier who took questions from the students.



I stopped by KORN's studio in Hollywood to get a taste of their new record. They have a huge space to record in and I was surprised to find all four members set up in a tiny side room where they are recording the whole record as a band in the same room. Producer Ross Robinson is bringing them back to the garage for this one and the tracks are HEAVY!



With an hour to kill I stopped by my friend and photographer Neil Zlozower's studio who just happened to be shooting Orianthi and Steve Vai. Orianthi you might have seen playing guitar with Carrie Underwood at The Grammys this year. She had also been hired to perform with Michael Jackson in London. I hope now she'll go back to her solo career with Scott Reeder on drums!


... more to come!

-Chris]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=430&threadid=4087 2009-09-04T10:12:27 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=430&threadid=4087#comments 0
Since the new Artisan crashes and hats were released, I have been looking forward to trying them. The ride has always been a personal favorite and I wanted to see how the new stuff stacked up against it. Here's what I found:

13" Vault Artisan Hats - These cymbals are a mixed bag for me. They're quick and sharp and seem to suit funk or fusion playing quite well, but for jazz they didn't work for me. The 13" size is known for being faster and brighter than 14s or 15s, but I was expecting the 13s from Artisan to be as dark and warm as the others are. In my opinion, these cymbals don't fit with the other Artisan cymbals I played. I believe the 14s or the 15s would work better for jazz and be more compatible with its "brothers and sisters."

16" Vault Artisan Crash - This is by far one of the darkest 16" crashes I have ever played. Lots of people talk about how smaller crashes create a bright splashy sound, but this crash totally goes against that. When struck lightly is creates a dark, warm, somewhat trashy sound that seems like the ideal sound for a light jazz gig. When struck with force it opens up right away and then gets out of the way in a matter of seconds, which brings me to my only complaint: I wish it had more sustain. But overall, this is the perfect 16" crash for any jazz situation.

18" Vault Artisan - This cymbal is absolutely amazing. Even darker than the 16", with a beautiful sustain and light riding capability. I really can't say enough about this cymbal. It opens up with ease and is a lot of fun to play. I would use this cymbal for jazz as well fusion and light rock. I can really see a jazz player bringing this as his/her main crash a long with one of the four amazing Artisan Rides.

20" Vault Artisan Medium Ride - To me, the ride cymbal is the toughest cymbal to choose. Sometimes you want definition and sometimes you want wash. But there are certain models that are good enough to be used in any situation and the 20" Artisan Medium Ride was just like that. Because of its medium weight, this cymbal possesses a dark, warm, articulate stick definition with a great crash. I really enjoyed laying into this cymbal, something I don't do often. The bell wasn't my favorite, but the bow and edge of the Artisan Ride were perfect. I could see this cymbal fitting into jazz, fusion, funk, latin, and possibly rock.

-Bob Sommer (SABIAN Intern)]]> Luis Cardoso http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=407&threadid=4074 2009-09-01T13:09:05 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=407&threadid=4074#comments 0 Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=430&threadid=4065 2009-08-31T11:36:10 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=430&threadid=4065#comments 1
This week I was inspired by the great Dave Weckl to try out some of his Legacy and Evolution Series cymbals. I found both lines perfect for the type of music Dave plays, but as I got into heavier styles, the Legacy series didn't seem to fit as much as the Evolutions.

22" HHX Legacy Heavy Ride - This cymbal was a joy to play. Mike mentioned in an earlier post about a cymbal that he "wanted to play for hours" and that was exactly how I felt about this one. Although it's named the "Heavy Ride" this beautiful cymbal is only medium weight and has an excellent dark, smoky crash. The bell is clean and articulate, but not suited for rock or metal. For as long as I played, I was able to hear every stroke and it never washed out. This cymbal sounds like one you'd hear in a New York City jazz club and would work great in styles such as fusion, latin, and funk. I wouldn't recommend it for louder genres though, but as a big, dark, defined, trashy ride, it's awesome.

17" HHX Evolution Crash - At first, both of the Evolution Crashes I tried didn't grab me. Although, the more I played, the more I enjoyed the amazing response I got from these cymbals. The 17" makes for an excellent main crash. It opens up very easily and seemed right about in the middle as far as dark and bright. When I played along with Dave Matthews this cymbal fit right in. Overall, I could see using this crash in any style of music except for metal or other styles of heavy music.

18" HHX Evolution Crash - The 18" version was just a louder and darker version of the 17". Like the 17", it opens up with ease and doesn't seem too bright or too dark. This Evolution model would work great in all genres of music. Unlike the 17", this one would work in Metal and is the choice of Cryptopsy's Flo Mounier.

14" HHX Legacy Hi-Hats - From the moment I played these, I knew right away these were my favorite hi-hats I've ever played. Surprisingly quick and clean with great stick articulation, these hats worked perfectly for funk, jazz, and of course, fusion. One of my favorite things about these hi-hats was the warm foot chick I got from them. Most of all, I felt like these were cymbals with character and I would never tire of playing them.

14" HHX Evolution Mini-Chinese - This was no doubt a good mini-china cymbal, but it did not produce the sound I look for in my china. It was trashy and quick, yet wasn't very loud or present. I would recommend this china for jazz, fusion, funk, latin, and maybe a lighter style of rock.

-Bob Sommer (Intern, Marshfield)]]> Katie Robinson http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=407&threadid=4064 2009-08-31T11:26:04 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=407&threadid=4064#comments 0
My name is Bob Sommer, and I am an intern at Sabian here in Marshfield, Massachusetts. I am 14-years-old and have been playing drums for three years. As you may know, our other intern, Mike Foote, wrote a great blog about different cymbals he tried over the summer. I was sorry to see Mike go, but I am excited to take over the blogging duties and start playing some great cymbals.

I believe strongly that your cymbals are a huge part of your playing. They not only lay the foundation for your drumming, but dramatically change the way you play. In the next month or so, I hope to add to your knowledge of cymbals and help out drummers and percussionists looking for new sounds.

-Bob]]> Mike Foote http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=430&threadid=4063 2009-08-31T11:12:05 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=430&threadid=4063#comments 0
14" AAX Fast Hats: These are an absolute blast to play. Quick action, and pronounces every stick hit perfectly! These hats would fit perfectly on somebody's kit who plays like Chad Smith, John Bonham, or Mitch Mitchell. Perfect for the funk/rock drummer with a bit of a presence on stage!

19" AAX Metal Crash: It says "metal" but don't think just Heavy Metal folks. It's metal that you can hit many different ways. This cymbal, and this line for that matter, has so much diversity and can be used for so many musical styles that drummers and musicians shouldn't get too stuck on the name, but keep their ears open for a certain sound. This cymbal is bright, it breaks through, and drummers let me tell you it makes fellow musicians happy people! Oh, and you metal drummers out there, don't be afraid to try it out as well.

20" AAX Ozone Crash: I remember when I first started this internship and I came across this cymbal. I had no clue what this cymbal was. My first thought was, wow there has to be some huge rivets somewhere around here or maybe they forgot to finish the process up in the factory. So I got a straight answer and it kicked in my curiosity. So last night I tried it out and man was I amazed at what I got out of this cymbal! It was trashy but super flashy. In my head I would refer to this cymbal as the total package! It's bright like the AAX standard goes, but with a totally unique touch to it! It fluttered out so you can crash ride, but the trashiness of it gave you this extra control that allows you to go in different directions. I was really surprised by what I could do with this cymbal!

22" AA Raw Ride: Have you seen this cymbal? This cymbal is a character. Its un-lathed look is a stand out as is the unique sound you can get with it. Considering that the standard AA cymbal is for the more heavy duty, aggressive drummer I guess that makes this cymbal even more unique in its line. It's a very light, dry and warm cymbal. However, it's not your typical every day jazz cymbal. It has this really rough sound that makes you feel like you're hitting a cymbal with turf grass on it. That makes you put in the extra effort to really smack this bad boy! I wouldn't just use this for jazz I would rock out with this thing and smack it. The bell is smaller than my liking but it's got a lot of beef behind it that makes itself heard! This is a must for any drummer to check out.

***

As of today my internship with Sabian Cymbals, like any good thing must, has come to an end here in Marshfield. I would like to thank my family and friends for all their support. I also want to thank the folks from Sabian who are nothing but stand out individuals! I hope you readers have enjoyed my perception of the different cymbals Sabian makes. Please take my advice and keep playing what I feel are the best cymbals in the world. Thanks for reading and we'll talk in the future!

Cheers,
Mike Foote]]> Mike Foote http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=407&threadid=3655 2009-08-23T02:22:17 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=407&threadid=3655#comments 7 Mike Foote http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=430&threadid=4006 2009-08-20T09:44:06 -05.00 http://www.sabian.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?catid=430&threadid=4006#comments 0
So today I got a little bit from everywhere to talk about so let's get into it.

8" AA Rocktagon: I was expecting splashy, but what I got was kind of a trashy, china-like cymbal. I wasn't expecting that from this weird looking cymbal. I felt it served its purpose as an accent cymbal which is what, to me, makes a good all around splash.

14" HH Sizzle Hat: From the start I felt like I should have been sitting on the throne playing some eclectic jazz Miles- or Coltrane-style. These hats derive this rustic, dirty, vintage, raw sound that has the feel of those old cymbals that grandpa put away 40 years ago when he got a day gig. When I found these hats it was like finding a treasure in an attic chest. Why? Because of the rivets on the bottom hat that give it that old school touch. I love that old dusty jazz sound with washy rivets on it. It's so cool and sounds great! I found myself rockin' away on these hats as well.

18" Paragon Crash: This cymbal was bright and it felt like it was meant to be played hard. Its tonal characteristics were unique and it spoke its own sound. It definitely breaks through the music, and the bell is killer! If you're looking for a cymbal with bright, loud and heavy duty sounding characteristics, definitely check this one out.

19" AAX Stage Crash: Another bright and cutting crash. It's kind of a hard hit and the bell didn't get my attention like the Paragon. The edge fluttered some and it felt like I might lose control at any time. What does this all mean? Well for me, I love this cymbal. It's so raw and bitter! It's like waking up the beast and letting him out of the cage. Rock n' Rollers, Heavy Metal Heads, and those who play all too aggressively, this may just have your name written all over it!

19" AAX X-Plosion Crash: I have to admit of the two 19" AAX cymbals I tested last night, this is my favorite. This is probably my favorite crash of any line. So much so I got one for myself. It's very responsive. It responds right on impact. It's not as bright as the Stage, but it has its own unique characteristics. It has an un-lathed bell that's super raw and loud. It's easier to hit and more versatile at that. It felt a little lighter so that it allowed me to smash away on it and have fun while I go nuts! It's super powerful and looks beautiful in a Brilliant Finish!

20" HH Mini Bell Ride: I thought this cymbal was going to take me in a different direction than it did. Maybe it was my stick choice. I used the 2B Vater Rock Sticks. This might have been too much for this light cymbal, and it might not have suited my playing. I noticed this cymbal blended rather than cutting through. To me, it has a real smooth jazzy kind of sound. The bell wasn't too loud but it can be heard. I could see somebody with a light touch choosing this cymbal. I recommend this cymbal to the cool, calm, and collected Jazz kat!

-Mike]]>