A unique effect from Sabian and Neil Peart!
The 20" Paragon Diamondback Chinese Cymbal is the product of a collaboration between award-winning cymbal maker Sabian and the legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart. The Chinese cymbal's thin, highly responsive model features a wide-flanged circumference punctuated by industrial cotter pins holding a total of four jingles that vibrate when the cymbal is struck. To increase the sound, the jingles are positioned in the shallow of the flange so they vibrate on both the bow and the edge, while a single rivet is positioned between each of the four jingle placements.
"While recording Snakes and Arrows," said Peart, "I was making good use of the two Paragon Chinese models I had developed with Sabian a few years ago. The 20" had a sharp, tight attack, while the 19" had a warm, dark swell. However, a couple of the songs called for a different texture, something with a subtle stick sound, and a wispy, kind of ethereal voice, but with a sizzle... like a traditional rivet cymbal, but with more presence. Sabian produced prototypes until we arrived at one particularly innovative combination, which I named Diamondback (thinking both of Paragon's diamond logo and the fact that it rattles). I used the Diamondback prominently in such songs as 'The Larger Bowl' and 'The Main Monkey Business,' where it delivers a wispy, haunting ride effect with the sizzle of rivets and tambourine jingles. It also added a subtle accent in songs such as the opening track, 'Far Cry.'"
As with all Paragon models, the Diamondback Chinese Cymbal combines various hammering and lathing styles including a hand-hammered bell. Jumbo-sized HHX dimpling is applied specifically to the bow and lip after the lathing process in an effort to lower the fundamental pitch of the cymbal and give it a dark tone.
The Diamondback Chinese is handcrafted from premium Sabian B20 cast bronze and features the rich gold logo markings exclusive to the Paragon series. To create a rich high-low response when the jingles and cymbal vibrate together, the jingles are of brighter-sounding B8 bronze. This combination of B20 and B8 increases the complexity of sound produced. All Paragon cymbals are quality-protected by the Sabian one-year warranty.
"While recording Snakes and Arrows," said Peart, "I was making good use of the two Paragon Chinese models I had developed with Sabian a few years ago. The 20" had a sharp, tight attack, while the 19" had a warm, dark swell. However, a couple of the songs called for a different texture, something with a subtle stick sound, and a wispy, kind of ethereal voice, but with a sizzle... like a traditional rivet cymbal, but with more presence. Sabian produced prototypes until we arrived at one particularly innovative combination, which I named Diamondback (thinking both of Paragon's diamond logo and the fact that it rattles). I used the Diamondback prominently in such songs as 'The Larger Bowl' and 'The Main Monkey Business,' where it delivers a wispy, haunting ride effect with the sizzle of rivets and tambourine jingles. It also added a subtle accent in songs such as the opening track, 'Far Cry.'"
As with all Paragon models, the Diamondback Chinese Cymbal combines various hammering and lathing styles including a hand-hammered bell. Jumbo-sized HHX dimpling is applied specifically to the bow and lip after the lathing process in an effort to lower the fundamental pitch of the cymbal and give it a dark tone.
The Diamondback Chinese is handcrafted from premium Sabian B20 cast bronze and features the rich gold logo markings exclusive to the Paragon series. To create a rich high-low response when the jingles and cymbal vibrate together, the jingles are of brighter-sounding B8 bronze. This combination of B20 and B8 increases the complexity of sound produced. All Paragon cymbals are quality-protected by the Sabian one-year warranty.