Sabian HHX Evolution 14" Hi-Hats: the Dave Weckl signature working canon
Sabian HHX Evolution 14-inch Hi-Hat cymbals (11402XEB), brilliant finish. Dave Weckl signature design with HHX top over hand-hammered bottom. The fusion and modern-jazz hi-hat reference.
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
Sabian HHX Evolution 14" Hi-Hats (11402XEB) are the Dave Weckl signature design pairing a HHX top with a hand-hammered HHX bottom. The combination produces tight, articulate stick definition with warm low-end body — the working canon for fusion drummers since the line launched, plus broad use in modern pop, funk, R&B, and session rock. Brilliant finish adds high-frequency presence that fits modern dense mixes.
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What this cymbal pair is
Sabian HHX Evolution 14" Hi-Hats are the Dave Weckl signature 14-inch hi-hat in the HHX line, the working-pro fusion / modern-jazz / pop-session reference. The HHX line, launched in 2002, was Sabian's modern voicing built around brilliant finish, hand hammering, and a cleaner stick definition than older AAX cymbals could deliver.
The 11402XEB pairs a medium-weight top with a heavy-weight bottom — the spec Weckl developed with Sabian's R&D team. The medium top responds quickly to stick attack with articulate, defined patterns; the heavy bottom anchors the closure tone with a tight, focused chick that reads cleanly in any mix context.
Anatomy
What they sound like
Closed stick on the bow reads as tight, articulate, slightly warm — the HHX brilliant finish brings high-frequency clarity without the clinical brightness of AAX. Open stick reads as warm and rich with controlled spread; the high-frequency content sits around 5-7 kHz where modern fusion and jazz mixes expect hi-hats to live.
Chick (closure attack) is the standout feature: tight, defined, fast. The medium top + heavy bottom combination produces a chick that's significantly cleaner than equal-weight pairings, which is the design choice that made these the fusion canon. Players moving from dark, vintage hats often find the HHX Evolution chick almost too articulate at first; players coming from AAX find them more musical.
Best for
Fusion drumming where stick articulation matters at fast tempos. Modern jazz, neo-soul, R&B, and funk session work where the hi-hat is part of the harmonic content of the mix, not just timing. Pop and modern-rock studio sessions where the hi-hat needs to cut without going harsh. Drummers building a setup around a Dave Weckl tonal reference.
Worst for
Traditional jazz (too bright; reach for HH Vintage Hats or AA Sound Control Hats). Heavy metal where the hat needs maximum chick volume at peak dynamics (AAX Stage Hats or Sabian Carmine Appice signature designs are tighter at high SPL). Country and folk where vintage darker hats fit the tradition better.
Verdict
The Dave Weckl signature design has stayed in the Sabian catalog for over two decades because the medium top + heavy bottom combination is one of the most-imitated hi-hat specs in the modern industry. If your tradition is fusion, modern jazz, neo-soul, or any genre where the hat is harmonic content rather than just a metronome, this is the working canon. Premium price, broad working-pro adoption.