HH Sessions Ride
With the original HH Sessions Ride selling out days after its debut in 2019, it’s clear that this cymbal captured the hearts of drummers all over the world. Todd Sucherman certainly knows a thing or two about why the model is so beloved. After collaborating with SABIAN Director of Research and Development Mark Love on the original model, Sucherman has answered an endless stream of questions about the availability of this in-demand instrument.
“In my touring with Styx and talking with drummers from all over the world, I’m frequently asked about this cymbal and if there is any way they can get their hands on one,” Sucherman said. “Until now, I’ve had to say no. I’m so pleased that SABIAN has made the decision to bring this cymbal back and make it part of their ongoing product offering.”
The origins of the HH Sessions Ride can be traced back to roughly twenty years ago, when Sucherman was living in Los Angeles and found a lone 20” prototype sitting on the cymbal tree at the SABIAN office. After hitting it, he was immediately intrigued with the smoke and hiss of the cymbal, as well as its glassy definition and rocking bell. A number of subsequent prototypes were developed by Love at SABIAN’s Meductic factory using notes provided by Sucherman, and the pair landed on the original 22” Hand Hammered Sessions Ride.
The latest edition won’t come individually numbered or with a signed certificate of authenticity, as a nod to maintaining the collector’s appeal of its 2019 counterpart. That said, the 2023 HH Sessions Ride will carry all of the same features and specifications as its highly sought-after predecessor, along with a freshly updated logo treatment to further distinguish the new model.
Twice hand hammered to enhance tonal character, and the product of a coarser, HH-style lathing process designed to create multiple thicknesses over its surface, the 22″ HH Sessions Ride features bold articulation, a pleasant splash on the slap, a complex spread and a massive crash. The pitch of the bell is designed to be higher than the tonic note of the cymbal, making this a high-quality instrument for both the studio and stage.
“Everyone’s looking for the perfect ride cymbal,” Sucherman said of the original model. “They want it dark, but they want it bright. They want strong stick definition, but with crash-ability. This really is an anomaly in that it can do everything really, really well. You could do a metal gig on this, a country gig, a jazz gig, certainly a big band gig. Any style of music, you know. If there’s one cymbal to have in your bag for recording sessions, I think this is the one that can really cover all the bases.”