I played a set of 15" Paiste big beats for a while but I can't imagine 16" hats, I actually prefer 13s, I have a set of Tosca "hip-hop" hats that I got used for 100 bucks and they sound great. Sometimes I use a K master sound bottom for a little more chick sound. I also have a pair of old, maybe vintage, probably 70's Zildjians. I used to think they were new beats but both cymbals are the same weight. They're very warm and great for jazz but not very loud.

Personnaly I prefer smaller, more articulate hi-hats, but what I can tell you is I am seeing a lot of pro drummers using 16" hats. It's very much a trend. I have even seen a guy using 18" hats. I worked with a guy recently who used a 16" thin crash for a top and a 16" crash that he buried for a year for his bottom hat. Truly if I were playing straight ahead rock or blues I would consider it. Sloshy and warm. Pretty interesting.

+ 1 to both suggestions.

If you prefer something new, Dream Bliss is a possibility - but I can only suggest you try all the pairs they have in your shop as they are very different.

Jon

I don't have ANY stores in my area with a cymbal selection further than Zildjian A customs and the occasional K and Sabian B8's have been a local favorite (I'm disgusted) I did go on Ebay and order a 16" Dream bliss series crash and a 16" Dream Energy series and I'm going to pair them up and see if I like them. I may end up buying another Bliss to go with it... I couldn't find anyone on ebay that had how many grams the cymbal was so I just got another cymbal i knew sounded good and was a little heavier.

Hi

I have a newer pair of 13" hats that I THINK are made in China..

$50 for the pair....plus ship...

can get you gram weights if you are interested...

Eh, I already ordered some. From what I read in the posts I went with a 16" pair. and if I don't like them I can just sell the crashes separately. The 13's I have sound good, just not what I'm searching for in this certain band i'm playing with.

Not sure of the thickness but a pair of 14" Zildjians ('60's era New Beats) like Buddy Rich used would probably get you the sound you want.

Have you considered some old Zilco hi hats? I knew someone that had some 60's (maybe) Zilco hats when I was a kid and they were pretty thin and sounded thin in a very good way. I always liked the way they sounded, however, they'd have to be treated with delicacy but they'd return the favor by sounding very sweet.

+1 on this.

I tried many cymbals trying to find the sound I heard in my head, then realized that most of the '60's jazz and '70's rock players I wanted to sound like were using Avedis Zildjians (now called Zildjian A's) back in the day.

Check Guitar Center's web site for used cymbals. They will let you pick them up at your local store, thereby avoiding shipping fees.