CymbalWorks 14" Casablanca Hihat

This 14” hi-hat from CymbalWorks’ Casablanca series is a dark and crisp hi-hat with a really interesting mix of dusty character, clarity and clear articulation.

The Casablanca series is known for its unlathed top and the milled bottom, giving the cymbals a more raw and worked surface. On this set, that applies to both the top and bottom cymbal, and it helps give the hi-hat its darker, drier and more rustic sound.

The top weighs 978 grams, while the bottom weighs 1284 grams. So there is a healthy weight difference between the two cymbals, and the bottom has enough weight to give the hi-hat a clear and solid response.

What makes this hi-hat interesting is that it has a dark and slightly dusty basic character, but still offers more clarity than you might expect. Especially when opened slightly, a clear definition comes forward, making it very usable and inspiring to play.

The attack is crisp and articulated, but without becoming harsh. The pitch sits a little higher than you might expect from a hi-hat with such a raw and dry surface, and that gives it a pretty cool hybrid feel.

It is almost as if two things meet in the same hi-hat: the dark, dusty Casablanca character and a clearer, more defined tone from the weight of the cymbals. That makes it a bit of its own thing – in a good way.

All in all, a very interesting 14” hi-hat for the drummer who wants something dark, crisp and full of character, but still with enough clarity for the stick attack to speak clearly.