[UPSTROKE]

Being REALLY OLD & with nothing else to do, I pondered over this question for several hours.

So maybe we can get some input and opinions plus acquire a little knowledge along the way.
As many of you old grunts know, the hi-hat started out back in the year 2.
At that time, it was only about 6" off the floor. In no way was it ever intended to be used like it is today. Eventually some cool drummer figured out that if you raise it up about three feet you can whack it with your stick when no one is looking.
Then the Devil invented rock and roll and end everything really got screwed up. One thing led to another and pretty soon there were a lot of drummers wailin' away on hi-hat cymbals, even when people were looking. Thats' a really accurate history--honest. Anyway, because it eventually became about three feet tall, and was still just really supposed to be used primarily with the foot, it never has been moved.
Why not??? There really is no advantage in having to reach over your left hand with your right hand just to play a hi-hat pattern. Having to play with one hand over the other just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. When the right hand isn't busy whacking away on the hi-hat, it generally would be up, out of the way of the left hand, in the neighborhood of the crash and ride cymbals. If that is where your right hand does most of it's job, why not put the hi-hat in that neighborhood too?
Ta-Da--the invention of the cable operated hi-hat. Same thing only it's on a cable instead of a piece of pipe. BUT--Now you can put the darn thing any where you want. (A couple of people have already suggested a place where I can stick mine) VEWY WUDE. I use two of the little buggers and I also use a standard hi-hat for little jazz gigs. Just because I don't want to tear down the big kit. To me the cable hats make so much more sense. And--It really is just the next step in the design evolution.

Opinions?????????

[UPSTROKE]

CAMP & DRUMS 004.jpg With the hats up here, my right rarely leaves the job site. It's not ever in the way of my left hand and it's very comfortable. It really works great for two handed hat patterns. Even if you just use the one on the left.

[mouse]

How do you find the cable hat action? I had one (a cheapy) and found it sluggish compared to the normal hi hat action. I adjusted and lubed it as best i could, but no.Was good to have as a slave hi hat to the right side for riding, but came a time where it sat (and the spare hats) in the corner unused and so the money from them went to buying more usable gigging gear.

[UPSTROKE]

Thanks for the input Mouse. My first cable hat was a Yamaha with an 8' cable. Due to the friction in the 8' cable, it was a little sluggish. After using it for a while, I adjusted to it.
The current cable hats are both DW. The left one has a 4' cable & is very close to a standard hi-hat feel. Even a 4' cable is plenty of length to get the hi-hat far enough away so you don't have to play cross-handed. The right one has a 8' cable & like the Yamaha, it has more friction.
Result--longer cable=more friction. However, I find that the longer I use the cable hats, the more I adjust to the feel. I have the two cable pedals side by side. This allows me to operate both of them together. creates a variation in sound with quick hi-hat burps on half open cymbals. The second cable hat on the right just made more sense to me than a fixed cymbal unit. The 15" cymbals give a nice sustain on slower blues tunes with partially open hat.
Look at the photo of the left hi-hat. It is just a little forward of where it would be on a piece of pipe (standard hi-hat). The forward location is far more comfortable & much more practical. It's still very close to your snare & puts your right hand closer to the other cymbals.

	Yamaha Drums Shop for Yamaha Drums at Musician's Friend

	DW Drums Shop for DW Drums at Musician's Friend

[mouse]

Your'e right about the cable length. The one i had, i think was a powerbeat, and had a decent cable that would go right across the kick) and i also use 15" hi hats which would need a little more effort to lift.
Ergonomicaly the cable hi hats are a good idea, your set up looks great (nice drum kit).
I also have an AAX crash (16" studio), it's a nice sounding shimmery all purpose cymbal.

[UPSTROKE]

Yo--Mouse; The Powerbeat cable hi-hat that you had may not have had a tension adjustment. With longer cable (8'), that's a must have item. The DW pedals seem to have the best tension adjustment of any I've used. But, with the long cable & heavier top cymbal--it tends to be a bit draggy. I've tried powdered graphite, but it doesn't seem to do much to help. Like I said, I've gotten used to it. I offset the drag by curling my toes down & starting the foot movement a tad earlier. What can I say---It Woiks.
The little 14" AAX has a nice quick & clean little punch that I like. Most of my cymbals are Paiste Signatures. But, I did NOT pick them because of the name or the price. I like the clean, bright
sound they produce. I find that I don't use my 17" crash much. Over the years my taste in sound may have changed. I'm going to give it to my Son & pick up a 15" Paiste Sig. that I heard.

	DW Drums Shop for DW Drums at Musician's Friend

	Paiste Cymbals Shop for Paiste Cymbals at Musician's Friend

[UPSTROKE]

Thank you Mouse for the kind compliment on the kit. It is Just a PDP CX in
Blue Onyx. I need to get some current pics of it. I've moved everything around to the right. That upper right tom (a 12"x 14") is now sitting down in front of the 14"x 16" floor tom. Consequently, the remaining rack toms were slid around to the right to put them more in front of me instead of up to the left. The result was that I could put my old Ludwig Copper Timbales up above my secondary snare ( a 3 1/2"x 14" Piccolo). I like to do some Latin stuff with the jazz group. With this set-up, I can turn sideways to the left. My Piccolo snare is right in front of me The timbales are just above & in front of me. My left double bass pedal becomes my right foot bass pedal, & I can use my left foot on the 14" hi-hat or the last pedal to the left has a tambourine attached. Makes it a whole new kit. Took some new pics. Hope it helps.

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	Ludwig Drums Shop for Ludwig Drums at Musician's Friend

[skinslapper]

I'm currently considering cable-hat myself. Motivation, to utilise the left of my snare for effects and toms and to get rid of crossover action. Also, my hat stand and rack are the only two things that won't fit in my hardware bag. I'd like it to only be the rack.

[mouse]

You can always learn play the left hi hat with the left stick for a challenge. I can play that way a little (need more practice) but it sure helps with developing the weaker hand and ability to play an occasional left accent on the hihat when riding. Drummers who play that style i enjoy watching like Simon Phillips,REO Speedwagon's Alan Gratzer , etc.
They are only ambidextrous on the kit because they worked at it.

[UPSTROKE]

It's kind of surprising how fast your left hand will improve on the hi-hat if you stay consistent. At first it really feels awkward. If you just play through some of the tunes that you normally play & use your left hand on hi-hat, it won't take long to be comfortable. Be especially aware of the timing and accents. your band is used to your normal sound. It's surprising how influential that little tick-tick on the hi-hat is with the band. I'm not suggesting that you do any of this on the stage until you have it down cold. But, after you feel comfortable-try it at rehearsal. see how it goes. If you get it down, like mouse says, you be a lot more fluid with both hands. If nothing else, it's a great left hand workout in the practice room. Of course, the easiest cure is just get a cable hat & move the hi-hat a few inches away from your left hands area of motion.