View source for Sabian Cymbals

{{Short description|Canadian cymbal manufacturing company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Sabian
| logo = Sabian Cymbals logo 2019.svg
| logo_size = 250
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| fate = 
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1981}} in [[Meductic, New Brunswick|Meductic]], [[Canada]]
| founder = [[Robert Zildjian]]
| location_city = [[Lakeland Ridges|Lakeland Ridges, New Brunswick]]
| location_country = [[Canada]]
| key_people = Andy Zildjian (president/CEO)<br/>Sally Zildjian-Teague
| revenue = 
| owner = 
| industry = [[Musical instrument]]s
| num_employees = 
| products = [[Cymbal]]s, [[crotales]], [[zill]]s, [[gong]]s, [[mark tree]]s, [[Triangle (musical instrument)|triangles]], [[thunder sheet]]s
| brands = [[Crescent cymbals|Crescent]]<ref name=cres>[https://www.moderndrummer.com/2015/02/news-crescent-cymbals-acquired-sabian/ Crescent cymbals acquired by Sabian] on Modern Drummer, Feb 2015</ref>
| subsid = 
| parent = 
| homepage = {{url|https://sabian.com/|sabian.com}}
}}

'''Sabian''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|eɪ|b|ɪ|ən}} {{respell|SAY|bee|ən}}) is a Canadian [[cymbal]] [[manufacturing]] company based in [[New Brunswick]]. It was established in 1981 in the village of [[Meductic, New Brunswick|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 [[Avedis Zildjian Company|Zildjian]], [[Meinl Percussion|Meinl]] and [[Paiste]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Biancardi |first=Matt |title=Crash Clash: The Shared History of Zildjian and Sabian Cymbals |url=https://reverb.com/news/crash-clash-the-shared-history-of-zidjian-and-sabian |website=Reverb |date=25 February 2014 |access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref>

==History==
{{multiple image
|align = left
|direction = vertical
|header = 
|total_width = 150
|image1 = SABIAN Paragon Ride Limited Edition Steampunk.jpg
|caption1 = 22" limited edition ride cymbal, ''Paragon'' line
|image2 = Crash 41808 18" B8 firmy Sabian.jpg
|footer = 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 Company|Avedis Zildjian]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The New Brunswick cymbal factory that was a crashing success |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/the-new-brunswick-cymbal-factory-that-was-a-crashing-success-1.5214015 |access-date=May 29, 2024 |work=[[CBC Archives]] |date=July 26, 2019}}</ref> In 1968, the Zildjian company set up Azco and the plant in rural [[Meductic, New Brunswick|Meductic]], [[New Brunswick]] under persuasion from [[Robert Zildjian]], who, beginning in the late 1940s, had grown familiar with the area from going on [[Atlantic salmon|salmon]] fishing trips.<ref>{{cite news |title=A status cymbal? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-mcmurray-today/156497302/ |access-date=October 3, 2024 |work=[[Fort McMurray Today]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]] |date=September 17, 1982 |page=30}}</ref><ref name="Gleaner1">{{cite news |title=Sabian Limited Top Maker Of Cymbals |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-gleaner/156497833/ |access-date=October 3, 2024 |work=[[The Daily Gleaner]] |date=October 20, 1984 |page=52}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Gleaner1"/>

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,<ref>{{cite web|last=Leonard |first=JT |title=Robert Zildjian, world-famous cymbal pioneer, dies in Brunswick |url=http://bangordailynews.com/2013/04/01/news/midcoast/robert-zildjian-world-famous-cymbal-pioneer-dies-in-brunswick/ |website=Bangor Daily News |date=April 2013 |access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref> naming the new company by combining the first two letters of his three children's names—'''Sa'''lly, '''Bi'''lly, and '''An'''dy. The Zildjian company's former operations in Meductic under 'Azco' became the headquarters of the new company.<ref name="Gleaner1"/>

In 1982, Sabian introduced the Automatic Anvil (AA) and the Hand Hammered (HH) lines, producing 45,000 cymbals in the first year.<ref name="revbian">{{cite web |last=Biancardi |first=Matt |title=The Sabian story a timeline of cymbal craft |url=https://reverb.com/news/the-sabian-story-a-timeline-of-cymbal-craft |website=Reverb |date=16 June 2016 |access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref>

By 1987, Sabian was exporting 90% of their product, additionally receiving endorsements and special visits from percussionists including [[Gerry Brown (drummer)|Gerry Brown]], [[Martin Drew]] and [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] drummer [[Peter Criss]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Percussionists Come To Sabian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/saint-john-times-globe/156585426/ |access-date=October 5, 2024 |work=The Evening Times-Globe |date=February 26, 1987 |location=[[Saint John, New Brunswick]] |page=48}}</ref> In 1989, Sabian produced its first signature artist cymbals, the [[Jack DeJohnette]] [[ride cymbal|ride]]/[[hi-hat]]s, and the [[Carmine Appice]] Silver Nickel [[China cymbal|Chinese]].<ref name="revbian"/> Eight years later, due to rising demand, a larger plant was opened in Meductic.<ref name="revbian"/>

Sabian introduced the HHX series in 2001 which brought in the Manhattan's darker hammering techniques.<ref name="revbian"/> In 2011, with the help of [[Jojo Mayer]], Sabian produced the OMNI series, which was the product of years of research and development.<ref name="revbian"/>

Sabian cymbals are still made in New Brunswick.<ref name="cbc.ca">{{cite web |title=Robert Zildjian, Sabian Cymbals founder, dies at 89 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/robert-zildjian-sabian-cymbals-founder-dies-at-89-1.1366113 |website=CBC |access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref> Robert's son Andy is the most recent president of Sabian.<ref name="cbc.ca"/> In January 2015, the company announced the acquisition of [[United States|US]] cymbal manufacturer, [[Crescent cymbals|Crescent Cymbals]], moving all its production to Sabian's factory in Canada, subsequently incorporating Crescent into its list of brands.<ref name=cres/>

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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sabian Cymbals Buys Tickets so People Can Attend 'Capital Project' Event for Free |url=http://huddle.today/sabian-cymbals-sponsors-new-brunswick-film-and-concert-event/ |website=[[Huddle (website)|Huddle Today]] |date=30 October 2017 |access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref> {{Importance inline|date=March 4th, 2024}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official}}
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/robert-zildjian Robert Zildjian Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Library]] (2002)
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/willi-zildjian Willi Zildjian Interview] NAMM Oral History Library (2002)
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/andy-zildjian Andy Zildjian Interview] NAMM Oral History Library (2012)

{{Percussion instruments brands}}
{{cymbals}}
{{Coord|45|59|39.93|N|67|28|44.13|W|display=title}}

[[Category:Percussion instrument manufacturing companies]]
[[Category:Cymbal manufacturing companies]]
[[Category:Companies based in New Brunswick]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1981]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in New Brunswick]]
[[Category:Canadian brands]]
[[Category:York County, New Brunswick]]
[[Category:Musical instrument manufacturing companies of Canada]]


{{Musical-instrument-company-stub}}