HCS 14" Hihats

Let's face it. Drumming is an expensive hobby. Even if you get a basic 3 piece drum kit, it is costly as everything starts adding up. I recently got a new drum set after 30 years without one. I am not a serious drummer. I just drum for fun. the only thing my kit did not have was cymbals, including hi-hats. I was able to get a used crash and ride cymbal from a friend, so all I needed was hi-hats. After much research, and the fact my wife would not be happy if I spent a lot of money on a hobby, I decided to take a chance on these hi-hats. I am beyond happy that I did. I am no drummer as I said, but I have been around drummers since I am about 13 years, being on and off in various bands until my early 30's. These hi hats sound great to me. Sure, you can go out and spend $400 or more on hi-hats, but chances are if you are spending that type of money on hi-hats, these cymbals were not made for you to begin with. For everyone else, who may just play drums as a hobby, or who may just be getting into drums and does not have a huge budget, these are the hi hats to get. I will update this review if they crack before the 2 year warranty has expired, but I have put them through the ringer so far and they sound great, seem plenty sturdy, and are absolutely worth the price and then some. Thank you to Meinl for providing an option for people that is well made and worth the price.

I bought this (Hi Hat) Cymbal Pair at the direction of my husband, Bob Reibel, who saw them and asked me to get them for him for his birthday, so I did. He is very pleased with their sound! Bob told me that right after he came back from serving in WW II, he was fortunate enough to be asked to sit in and play the drums for a wonderful for him period of time with the Famous Guitar Blues Legend and Singer, Big Bill Broonsey, and his group in Chicago!!! He said, " the audience paid them in tips and the house in gin." It's one of my husband's most cherished memories! He even has a wonderfully clear black and white picture of himself sitting at a table with Big Bill and his wife, Rose, and other band members all chatting together and having a fun time! Must have been in the early '40's before I was born. Oh well, my husband says I'm his 'spring chicken,' even though I'm getting older myself now with arthritis in my hands when it's cold outside and some grey hair. It's all relative. As long as I can think straight I'm blessed. Ann Reibel

I recently picked up the Meinl HCS 20” Crash/Ride Cymbal, and I have to say, it's been a solid addition to my kit. As a beginner/intermediate drummer, I was looking for something affordable yet versatile, and this cymbal delivers exactly that. The 20" size provides a nice balance between a ride and crash sound. As a ride cymbal, it has a clear, defined ping with enough wash to get the job done without being overwhelming. It’s not as complex as higher-end cymbals, but it has a nice, smooth tone that's perfect for someone still working on technique and figuring out their sound. As a crash, it responds well with a nice, full crash sound. It’s not super explosive, but it provides a nice shimmer when hit hard. It also seems to have good durability, and the traditional finish gives it a clean, professional look. The fact that it’s made in Germany is a nice touch, as Meinl is a trusted brand in the cymbal world. The 2-year warranty gives me peace of mind, though I don't anticipate needing it anytime soon based on its build quality. All in all, I think this cymbal is a great choice for anyone just starting or in the intermediate phase of their drumming journey. It won’t break the bank, and it covers both crash and ride needs decently well. Definitely recommend it for those looking for quality at a budget-friendly price!

I got these to upgrade the cymbals that came with my starter kit, and if that's what you compare these cymbals to they sound phenomenal. They are a fair amount heavier duty and more aesthetically polished than my starter cymbals, and to be honest even the crash cymbal is more suited to being a ride than the starter ride my kit came with. Price wise, the crash cymbal really does make this a good value, because you will spend 80 bucks each for the same/comparable hi hat, ride, and crash purchased separately. So at around 150, the crash cymbal in this pack truly is thrown in for free. I'll be honest though. These cymbals sound beautiful as I can hope for, and I can't mark them down in any way... But the crash is so pristine sounding that I want to get more cymbal stands to keep my "trashy" sounding starter cymbals as additional crashes for when I really just wanna slam into a cymbal.

Very well made. These cymbals have a nice tone to them. They're certainly not the top of the line, as cymbals go, but they're far from entry level. These are certainly intermediate, to entry pro grade. The crash cymbals are much thicker than the crummy bits of pressed bronze that came with my drum kit. The 18" crash can also be used as a ride. For that matter, the 14" crash doesn't make a bad ride either. The bell section of these crashes has a nice ring to them. There's a definite difference in tone between body (arch), and edge of the cymbals. The hi-hats are nicely made too. However, I did notice that this set is comprised of equally weighted upper, and lower hi-hats. About the only problem I noticed was the plastic shipping bolt that was supposed to keep all cymbals together in their container had broken, and the cymbals were loose, and free to slide about during shipping. I did not notice any damage, however. The cymbals were interleaved with sheets of plastic which protected them from grinding on each other in transit. I had a professional drummer in the studio, and he said they sounded great.

My grandson loved these for Christmas

replaced a very old pair of Zyldgian hi hats with these (they did not belong to me, and had to return them back to my friend), I am honestly blown away by the sound of these very INEXPENSIVE hi hats. Before purchasing I seen some you tube video's etc, so that helped me choose these. I did not have a lot of money to spend $300 on a top name brand, so I took a chance with Meinl, and I am glad I did. These hats have a nice bright sound and handle stick definition well, they also have a wonderful "chick" when keeping time. To be honest, I like them better than my friends old Zyldgians. The only problem that I see is that when left open for an "open sound" they vibrate a little,don't really know why, but hey for the price something has to give, I found the correct sweet spot when using them open and it is not an issue. So glad I made this choice...and oh yeah...the look great too!.

I’m not really happy with the sound of any of the cymbals I purchased. I didn’t know I was buying a beginner set. But as a beginner cymbal they are great.once you become an intermediate drummer you will advance to the next level.if I could afford it I would buy the best set these cymbals are for real!!.