Sabian 22" HHX Mike Portnoy Ride Cymbal

Sabian's 22" HHX Mike Portnoy Ride draws from two decades of Dream Theater's sound design–merging the punch of the classic HH Rock Ride with the articulate, unlathed character of Portnoy's 40th Anniversary Artisan Raw Bell model. The unlathed, hand–hammered bell delivers definition without washout, tracking stick definition across dynamic playing. At 22 inches, this ride bridges rock clarity and jazz responsiveness in a single disc.

The HHX series uses a copper–bell construction with darker alloy content, producing a lower fundamental pitch than HH models. Hammering patterns across the surface create multiple tone centres–the stick zone cuts through at medium frequencies while the bell responds to shoulder strikes with controlled sustain. The unlathed finish prevents brightness creep, maintaining consistency across grip positions and velocity ranges typical in studio and touring environments.

Portnoy specified this profile after years refining his live and recorded tones with Dream Theater, where a ride must handle both intricate jazz–fusion sections and straight–ahead rock grooves. The 22" size sits between traditional 20" and 24" rides, offering swing feel without the washiness larger cymbals introduce at moderate volumes. Studio engineers favour this cymbal for overhead mic placement, as the unlathed bell cuts clearly without requiring heavy EQ compensation.