Sabian AA
The line Sabian was built on — machine-hammered B20 bronze, bright, focused and made to be heard, from the Holy China to the classic rides.
AA is where Sabian started. The name comes from the Automatic Anvil hammering that shapes every cymbal in the line, and the sound that comes out of it is bright, focused and loud — the B20 voice that has been holding down rock and metal kits since 1981. Machine hammering also means consistency: order two AA crashes and they will sound like siblings, which is exactly the point.
The range's most famous member is the Holy China, the hole-punched, raw-bell beast Sabian designed with Chad Smith in 2010. Our full deep dive on it is below, along with every AA cymbal documented in the Rig Vault — who plays it, and where to buy one.
Sabian AA in the Rig Vault
🥁 14 items documented👤 played by 5 drummers
Real setups documented piece by piece in the Rig Vault — every item links to who plays it, reader reviews and where to buy.
Drummers who play Sabian AA
Most played Sabian AA gear
Every Sabian AA item in the vault
Cymbals× 14
- Sabian 10" AA Splash1
- Sabian 14" AA Rock Hats1
- Sabian 19" AA Holy China1
- Sabian 21" AA Holy China1
- Sabian 21" AA MantaRay Chinese1
- Sabian 21" AA Rock Ride1
- Sabian AA 14" Regular Hi-hats2
- Sabian AA 16"–18" Crashes1
- Sabian AA 18" Chinese1
- Sabian AA 18" Medium Crash1
- Sabian AA 18" Sick Hats1
- Sabian AA 20" Chinese1
- Sabian AA 20" Rock Ride2
- Sabian AA Holy China1
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