Sabian Cymbals

Sabian is a Canadian manufacturer of cymbals for drum kits, orchestral percussion, marching percussion and other musical applications. The company is headquartered in the Meductic area of New Brunswick, now within the community of Lakeland Ridges, and continues to manufacture cymbals at the facility that originally served as the Canadian production site of Azco, a subsidiary of the Avedis Zildjian Company. The factory's history predates Sabian. In 1968, Zildjian established Azco and opened the New Brunswick operation after Robert Zildjian developed a connection with the region. The plant initially concentrated on casting and rolling cymbal blanks, while finishing work was completed at Zildjian's Massachusetts facility. By 1970, the Canadian site handled both major stages of production and was responsible for a substantial share of Zildjian's output. Sabian was founded in 1981 after Robert Zildjian left the family cymbal business following a dispute with his brother Armand after the death of their father, Avedis Zildjian. Robert used the existing New Brunswick operation as the foundation for the new company. The name Sabian was formed from the first two letters of the names of his three children: Sally, Billy and Andy. The company introduced its Automatic Anvil, or AA, and Hand Hammered, or HH, lines in 1982 and produced approximately 45,000 cymbals during its first year. During the 1980s, Sabian developed an international customer base and increasingly used professional percussionists in product development, promotion and endorsement activity. By 1987, the company reportedly exported about 90 percent of its production. Its early signature products included cymbals associated with Jack DeJohnette and Carmine Appice, helping establish Sabian as a serious alternative to longer-established manufacturers. The company expanded its production capacity in the 1990s as demand increased. In 2001, it launched the HHX family, drawing on darker, more complex hammering approaches associated with the company's Hand Hammered work. In 2011, Sabian introduced the OMNI series after a long development process conducted with drummer Jojo Mayer. These product families reinforced the brand's emphasis on varied tonal palettes, hand-finishing and artist-informed design rather than a single standardized sound. Sabian is commonly identified as one of the four major global cymbal manufacturers, alongside Zildjian, Meinl and Paiste. Its portfolio spans traditional cast cymbals, hand-hammered instruments, effects cymbals, artist signatures and products for drum set, concert, marching and other percussion settings. The company has also used acquisitions and brand integration to broaden its offering. In January 2015, it announced the acquisition of United States cymbal maker Crescent Cymbals and moved Crescent production to the Canadian factory. The business remains associated with the Zildjian family through Robert's son Andy Zildjian, who became the most recent president identified in the available reference material. Sabian's continuing New Brunswick manufacturing base is a central part of its identity, while its products are sold and endorsed internationally. Sabian is generally regarded as one of the four major global cymbal manufacturers, alongside Zildjian, Meinl and Paiste. Its portfolio spans traditional cast cymbals, hand-hammered instruments, effects cymbals, artist signature models and products for drum-set, concert, marching and other percussion settings. The company has also broadened its lines through acquisitions and brand consolidation. In January 2015, it announced the acquisition of the American cymbal maker Crescent Cymbals and moved Crescent production to its Canadian factory. The business remains connected to the Zildjian family through Robert's son Andy Zildjian, identified in available references as the most recent president. Sabian's continued manufacturing in New Brunswick is central to its identity, while its products are sold internationally and carry endorsements.

Sabian's manufacturing history begins with the New Brunswick plant that preceded the brand. In 1968, the Avedis Zildjian Company established Azco as a Canadian subsidiary and opened a facility in rural Meductic. Robert Zildjian had become familiar with the area from repeated visits and persuaded the company to establish operations there. The site first cast and rolled cymbal material, with finishing performed at Zildjian's plant in North Quincy, Massachusetts. By 1970, the Canadian facility had taken over both casting-related and finishing operations and was producing a significant portion of Zildjian's output. A family dispute changed the direction of the operation. After Avedis Zildjian's death in 1979, Robert Zildjian and his brother Armand disagreed over the family business. Robert subsequently left Zildjian and founded Sabian in 1981. Rather than building a wholly new factory, he based the new company on the former Azco operation in Meductic. The name Sabian combined the first two letters of the names of Robert's three children, Sally, Billy and Andy. Sabian's first major commercial step came in 1982 with the introduction of the AA and HH ranges. The company produced approximately 45,000 cymbals in its first year. Its early growth was strongly export-oriented: by 1987, approximately 90 percent of production was being exported. Sabian also built visibility through relationships with professional percussionists, including Gerry Brown, Martin Drew and Peter Criss. In 1989, it began producing artist signature cymbals, including a Jack DeJohnette ride and hi-hats and a Carmine Appice Silver Nickel Chinese cymbal. Rising demand led Sabian to open a larger plant in Meductic in 1997. Product development remained central to the company's differentiation. In 2001, Sabian introduced HHX, a family based on darker and more complex hammering approaches. In 2011, the company launched OMNI, developed over several years with drummer Jojo Mayer. These launches expanded the brand's appeal among players seeking distinct attack, sustain and tonal response rather than generic cymbal sounds. In January 2015, Sabian announced that it had acquired Crescent Cymbals, a United States manufacturer. Production of Crescent instruments was moved to Sabian's Canadian factory, and Crescent became part of the brand portfolio. The transaction broadened Sabian's range while consolidating manufacturing at its established New Brunswick site. Sabian is generally grouped with Zildjian, Meinl and Paiste as one of the four dominant global cymbal manufacturers. Its activities encompass cymbals for drum set, concert, marching and specialist percussion use. The company remains headquartered in the Meductic area, now administered as part of Lakeland Ridges, New Brunswick. Available reference material identifies Andy Zildjian, Robert's son, as the most recent president. Sabian's continued association with Canadian production and its wide range of artist-oriented and hand-finished products remain defining elements of the brand.

• 2017

  New Brunswick concert sponsorship

  [1]Sabian Cymbalsen.wikipedia.org

  Sabian sponsored The Capital Project Presents: The Final Concert in Fredericton and helped make the event free to attend.

• 2015

  Crescent Cymbals acquisition

  [1]Sabian Cymbalsen.wikipedia.org

  Sabian acquired Crescent Cymbals and moved its production to the Canadian factory.

• 2011

  OMNI series launches

  [1]Sabian Cymbalsen.wikipedia.org

  The OMNI range was introduced after research and development work with Jojo Mayer.

• 2001

  HHX series launches

  [1]Sabian Cymbalsen.wikipedia.org

  Sabian introduced HHX, a product family emphasizing darker tonal characteristics.

• 1997

  Larger Meductic plant opens

  [1]Sabian Cymbalsen.wikipedia.org

  Sabian opened a larger facility in Meductic to respond to increasing demand.

• 1989

  First artist signature cymbals

  [1]Sabian Cymbalsen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced signature products associated with Jack DeJohnette and Carmine Appice.

• 1982

  AA and HH lines debut

  [1]Sabian Cymbalsen.wikipedia.org

  Sabian introduced its Automatic Anvil and Hand Hammered cymbal families.

• 1981

  Sabian is founded

  [1]Sabian Cymbalsen.wikipedia.org

  Robert Zildjian founded Sabian after leaving the family cymbal business and based the company at the former Azco facility.

• 1970

  The Canadian facility expands production

  [1]Sabian Cymbalsen.wikipedia.org

  The Meductic operation began handling both major production stages and supplied a substantial share of Zildjian's output.

• 1968

  Azco establishes the New Brunswick plant

  [1]Sabian Cymbalsen.wikipedia.org

  The Avedis Zildjian Company established Azco and opened a cymbal manufacturing facility in Meductic, New Brunswick.

A professional and internationally distributed cymbal brand positioned around Canadian manufacturing, broad tonal choice, hand-hammered craftsmanship, artist collaboration and product lines serving both mainstream and specialist percussion markets.

• Cast drum-set cymbals · 1982

  AA

  The AA, or Automatic Anvil, line was among Sabian's first major product families, introduced in 1982. It represents the company's early cast-cymbal offering and forms part of the traditional core of its drum-set portfolio.

• Hand-hammered cymbals · 1982

  HH

  The HH, or Hand Hammered, series was introduced with the original 1982 Sabian range. It emphasizes hand-hammered production and provides a platform for complex, individualized cymbal tones across rides, crashes and hi-hats.

• Hand-hammered drum-set cymbals · 2001

  HHX

  Introduced in 2001, HHX expanded Sabian's hand-hammered range with darker, more complex tonal characteristics. The series was associated with hammering techniques developed through the company's Manhattan-related work.

• Artist-developed cymbal series · 2011

  OMNI

  OMNI was developed with drummer Jojo Mayer over an extended research and development period and launched in 2011. The series reflects Sabian's interest in combining contrasting tonal and response characteristics within artist-informed designs.

• Cymbal brand and product range

  Crescent Cymbals

  Crescent Cymbals became part of Sabian's portfolio after the 2015 acquisition. Production was transferred from the United States to Sabian's Canadian facility, preserving Crescent products within a broader Sabian manufacturing structure.

• 2017The Capital Project Presents: The Final Concert

  Canada

  Sabian sponsored a music and film event in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The sponsorship enabled organizers to make the event free of charge and offer refunds to people who had already purchased tickets.

  Outcome. The event was presented as a free program, with refunds made available to previous ticket buyers.

  Source

• 2015

  Acquire Crescent CymbalsM&A

  Background

  Sabian sought to expand its cymbal portfolio through the acquisition of the United States manufacturer Crescent Cymbals.

  Action taken

  Sabian acquired Crescent and moved Crescent production to its New Brunswick factory.

  Aftermath

  Crescent was incorporated into Sabian's brand portfolio while manufacturing was consolidated in Canada.

  Source

• 1981

  Establish Sabian around the former Azco facilityStrategy

  Background

  Robert Zildjian left the family cymbal business after a dispute with his brother and created an independent company.

  Action taken

  He founded Sabian and used the existing Meductic, New Brunswick operation as the company's headquarters and manufacturing base.

  Aftermath

  The decision gave Sabian an established production site and a Canadian manufacturing identity from its beginning.

  Source

1. 1Sabian Cymbalsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Robert Zildjian Interview, NAMM Oral History Librarynamm.org
3. 3Andy Zildjian Interview, NAMM Oral History Librarynamm.org