SABIAN HHX Complex – 14" Medium Hi-Hats + 20" Medium Ride Combo

Pristine / Unplayed | Dark. Rich. Expressive.

Listed by Nick’s Drum Gear – Collector-Grade Cymbals, Professionally Curated

Collector's Overview

We're offering a premium SABIAN HHX Complex Hi-Hat and Ride combination, featuring the 14" HHX Complex Medium Hi-Hats and 20" HHX Complex Medium Ride.

Both cymbals are from SABIAN's flagship HHX Complex series, combining traditional HH and modern HHX hammering techniques to produce dark, rich, expressive tones with exceptional articulation and musical control.

This combination provides the foundation of a professional cymbal setup for drummers who value warmth, complexity, stick definition, and dynamic sensitivity.

Both are pristine and unplayed, originating from factory cymbal packs and removed only for photography and inspection.

Included Cymbals

14" SABIAN HHX Complex Medium Hi-Hats

• Size: 14"
• Weight: Medium top / Heavy bottom
• Material: B20 bronze
• Finish: Traditional lathed with raw, unlathed bells
• Hammering: Combined HH and HHX techniques
• Made in Canada
• Typical new price: $669.99

20" SABIAN HHX Complex Medium Ride

• Catalog ID: 12012XCN
• Size: 20"
• Weight: Medium
• Material: B20 bronze
• Finish: Traditional
• Bell: Raw, hand-hammered
• Hammering: Combined HH and HHX techniques
• Made in Canada
• Typical new price: $544.99

Combined typical retail value: $1,214.98

Condition: Pristine / Unplayed

NDG Unplayed Condition

At Nick's Drum Gear, unplayed means the cymbal has never been owned or played by an end user. Many of our cymbals originate from factory cymbal packs, giving them a known history from day one.

Because they do not include a manufacturer's warranty, they are represented as unplayed rather than new.

Both cymbals have been carefully handled, photographed, inspected, and stored. They have not been played and retain their original factory character.

14" HHX Complex Medium Hi-Hats

These professional hi-hats combine a medium-weight top with a heavier bottom for a crisp, articulate foot chick, dark stick definition, and a rich, controlled wash.

The combination of HH and HHX hammering produces a buttery feel and complex tonal character that responds beautifully across a wide dynamic range.

Sound Profile

• Foot Chick: Solid, crisp, and cutting with excellent articulation
• Closed Tone: Dark and dry with a fat, warm texture
• Open Sound: Lush, controlled wash with buttery sustain
• Stick Definition: Balanced and articulate, from light touches to aggressive playing
• Dynamic Response: Exceptionally expressive across soft and loud passages

These hats are especially well suited to jazz, fusion, funk, gospel, and studio applications where control and tonal detail matter.

20" HHX Complex Medium Ride

The HHX Complex Medium Ride combines dark, traditional musicality with the clarity and versatility required for modern playing.

Its medium-weight construction provides enhanced articulation and presence compared with the HHX Complex Thin Ride, while maintaining the warm, lush wash associated with the series.

Sound Profile

• Stick Definition: Clean, articulate, and responsive at low dynamics
• Wash: Smooth, dark, and musical without becoming overpowering
• Bell Tone: Strong and dry with complexity from the raw, hand-hammered bell
• Sustain: Moderate, balancing decay with musical presence
• Tonal Character: Dark, complex, and controlled
• Feel: Soft under the stick with expressive rebound and response

The Medium Ride is an excellent choice for drummers who want a balance of jazz-inspired warmth, modern clarity, and controlled wash.

NDG STR Rating — Style, Tonality & Response

Jazz: ★★★★★
Dark, smoky tones, excellent stick articulation, and expressive dynamic response.

Fusion: ★★★★★
A highly musical combination of articulate hats and a responsive, complex ride.

Studio / Session: ★★★★★
Controlled wash, refined articulation, and warm tonal character that sit naturally in recorded mixes.

Funk / R&B: ★★★★★
Crisp hi-hat definition and a responsive ride provide exceptional control for detailed grooves.

Gospel: ★★★★☆
Rich, warm tones with the dynamic range needed for expressive playing.

Pop / Worship: ★★★★☆
Smooth, musical presence with excellent control and articulation.

Rock: ★★★☆☆
Well suited to controlled and dynamic rock applications rather than aggressive, high-volume playing.

Metal: ★★☆☆☆
The darker, more nuanced response is less suited to extreme-volume applications.

Nick's Notes

This is a particularly well-matched combination from the HHX Complex family.

The 14" Medium Hi-Hats provide a dark, rich voice with an articulate chick and controlled wash. They're expressive enough for jazz and fusion but have the definition needed for funk, gospel, and modern studio work.

The 20" Medium Ride complements them with a similarly dark tonal foundation, excellent stick definition, and a musical wash that doesn't overpower the mix.

What makes this pairing attractive is the balance between articulation and complexity. Both cymbals respond beautifully to lighter playing but retain enough presence for more energetic applications.

For a drummer building an HHX Complex setup, this combination establishes the essential hi-hat and ride foundation while leaving the choice of crashes open.

A Note About SABIAN HHX Complex Hammering

SABIAN HHX Complex cymbals are individually crafted using a combination of HH and HHX hammering techniques.

Natural hammer impressions, irregular surface patterns, finish variation, tonal shaping marks, raw bell oxidation, and minor factory handling evidence are normal characteristics of the HHX Complex series.

The raw, heavily hammered bells are particularly distinctive. Their darker coloration, visible hammer marks, and surface variations are intentional elements of the manufacturing process.

These characteristics are not signs of previous playing or manufacturing defects. Individual cymbals naturally exhibit differences in their surface appearance.

Our photographs document the actual cymbals being offered so buyers can appreciate their individual factory character.

Shipping & Assurance

Both cymbals ship fast, securely packed and insured.

Every shipment uses NDG's Structural Immobilization Method, engineered to eliminate internal movement and reduce transit risk.

Buyers frequently comment on the meticulous care and stability of our packing process.

The actual cymbals pictured are the cymbals you will receive.

Questions are always welcome.

Nick's Drum Gear
Collector-Grade Cymbals, Professionally Curated
Littleton, Colorado

STR = Style, Tonality & Response — Nick's Drum Gear's exclusive system to help players match cymbals to real-world playing applications.