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Sabian Cymbals

Coordinates: 45°59′39.93″N 67°28′44.13″W / 45.9944250°N 67.4789250°W / 45.9944250; -67.4789250
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Sabian
Company typePrivate
IndustryMusical instruments
Founded1981; 43 years ago (1981) in Meductic, Canada
FounderRobert Zildjian
Headquarters
Lakeland Ridges, New Brunswick
,
Canada
Key people
Andy Zildjian (president/CEO)
Sally Zildjian-Teague
ProductsCymbals, crotales, zills, gongs, mark trees, triangles, thunder sheets
BrandsCrescent[1]
Websitesabian.com

Sabian is a Canadian cymbal manufacturing company based in New Brunswick. It was established in 1981 in the village of Meductic, which is now part of Lakeland Ridges, where the company is still headquartered. Sabian is considered one of the big four manufacturers of cymbals, along with Zildjian, Meinl and Paiste.[2]

History

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22" limited edition ride cymbal, Paragon line
18" low price crash cymbal

Before Sabian Cymbals was founded, its current manufacturing facility was operated by Azco, which was then a subsidiary of Avedis Zildjian.[3] In 1968, the Zildjian company set up Azco and the plant in rural Meductic, New Brunswick under persuasion from Robert Zildjian, who, beginning in the late 1940s, had grown familiar with the area from going on salmon fishing trips.[4][5] Initially, the Meductic plant was used for casting and rolling cymbals, while finishing work was done at the Zildjian plant in North Quincy, Massachusetts. By 1970, the Meductic facility handled both processes and produced about 40% of the company's output.[5]

After a dispute with his brother Armand following their father Avedis's death in 1979, Robert left the family business. In 1981, he founded Sabian,[6] naming the new company by combining the first two letters of his three children's names—Sally, Billy, and Andy. The Zildjian company's former operations in Meductic under 'Azco' became the headquarters of the new company.[5]

In 1982, Sabian introduced the Automatic Anvil (AA) and the Hand Hammered (HH) lines, producing 45,000 cymbals in the first year.[7]

By 1987, Sabian was exporting 90% of their product, additionally receiving endorsements and special visits from percussionists including Gerry Brown, Martin Drew and Kiss drummer Peter Criss.[8] In 1989, Sabian produced its first signature artist cymbals, the Jack DeJohnette ride/hi-hats, and the Carmine Appice Silver Nickel Chinese.[7] Eight years later, due to rising demand, a larger plant was opened in Meductic.[7]

Sabian introduced the HHX series in 2001 which brought in the Manhattan's darker hammering techniques.[7] In 2011, with the help of Jojo Mayer, Sabian produced the OMNI series, which was the product of years of research and development.[7]

Sabian cymbals are still made in New Brunswick.[9] Robert's son Andy is the most recent president of Sabian.[9] In January 2015, the company announced the acquisition of US cymbal manufacturer, Crescent Cymbals, moving all its production to Sabian's factory in Canada, subsequently incorporating Crescent into its list of brands.[1]

In 2017, Sabian sponsored "The Capital Project Presents: The Final Concert", a music and film event in Fredericton, New Brunswick, making the event free of charge. Refunds were offered to people who had already purchased tickets.[10] [importance?]

References

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  1. ^ a b Crescent cymbals acquired by Sabian on Modern Drummer, Feb 2015
  2. ^ Biancardi, Matt (25 February 2014). "Crash Clash: The Shared History of Zildjian and Sabian Cymbals". Reverb. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  3. ^ "The New Brunswick cymbal factory that was a crashing success". CBC Archives. July 26, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "A status cymbal?". Fort McMurray Today. The Canadian Press. September 17, 1982. p. 30. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Sabian Limited Top Maker Of Cymbals". The Daily Gleaner. October 20, 1984. p. 52. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  6. ^ Leonard, JT (April 2013). "Robert Zildjian, world-famous cymbal pioneer, dies in Brunswick". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e Biancardi, Matt (16 June 2016). "The Sabian story a timeline of cymbal craft". Reverb. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Percussionists Come To Sabian". The Evening Times-Globe. Saint John, New Brunswick. February 26, 1987. p. 48. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Robert Zildjian, Sabian Cymbals founder, dies at 89". CBC. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Sabian Cymbals Buys Tickets so People Can Attend 'Capital Project' Event for Free". Huddle Today. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
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