THERE WAS A TIME, many years ago, when a cymbal was just a cymbal. A flat disc of metal with a bell and a hole in the middle. Costing some thruppence ha'penny an inch and sounding, unless you were extraordinarily lucky, like the proverbial dustbin lid.

Specialisation, even to the extent of defined "rides" and "crashes", is a fairly new development. Newer still is the sort of intense specialisation, at the professional end of the cymbal market, that has taken place over the last couple of decades. This is the phenomenon that's given rise to such beasties as fusion hi-hats, dark chinas, power crashes, jazz rides and Bavarian folk/reggae splashes (rivets optional).

What with the other recent development of budget-priced metals that don't set your teeth on edge, the scope of the cymbal market is now immeasurably wider than it was even five years ago. And with competition for the beginner's bucks as an added factor, there's potential for this scope to become even broader.

The B8 Rock range from Sabian - an addition to their already established B8 and B8 Plus lines - is the first attempt by a manufacturer to market budget cymbals by targeting them at a specific style of music. Furthermore, it's an innovatory move in that the B8 Rocks (sounds like they could be Fred Flintstone's breakfast cereal) are cheap cymbals with quite a specific sound. This sets them apart from other budget ranges, because until now, the aim of such an enterprise has been to provide adaptable cymbals at a low price.

Now, even with a cynicism as finely tuned as mine, I find it hard to believe the price of these cymbals. Their weight alone leads me to suspect some skulduggery: budget cymbals just don't feel this heavy.

The 20" ride is particularly wrist-stretching, and that's not something to have any complaints about. The sound is similarly meaty, with excellent stick definition and projection. More than that, it has a discernibly unique character that immediately sets it apart from any other ride I have heard in this price range. It's similar to the "trashiness" that is so prized in more costly cymbals - a rough edge that hints at chaotic noise, yet avoids being unmusical.

The best sound comes from really laying in to the thing with the butt end of an already heavy stick. It can certainly take that kind of punishment without an intrusive build-up of overtones. Obviously it throws out a lot of noise, but even at the highest volume the ride beat remains focused and strong.

The profile of all the B8 Rock cymbals reveals them to have a very shallow bell and quite an unpronounced bow. What influence this has on their tone I can't really say, but it certainly seems to have no ill effects. The bell of the ride cymbal is more than adequately piercing; in fact I wouldn't be surprised if its dimensions actually help to accentuate this by promoting the higher frequencies. Whatever the case, the ride cymbal lacks nothing in the "ding-ding-a-ding" department.

Much the same thing can be said of the hi-hats. I must admit to a slight sigh of relief when I lifted this pair of 14" hi-hats from their bag. Being that this range is specifically designed for rock, I was fully expecting a couple of histrionically proportioned 15" manhole covers. Why do people bother with those things? They're not significantly louder than 14" hi-hats, just harder to control.

Neither control nor volume presents any problem with this pair of cymbals. They lack some of the depth of character present in the ride, but in terms of power and projection they are at least its equal. Being fairly heavy - particularly the top hat, which is not much lighter than the bottom - the stick definition is again excellent. There's a suggestion of clanginess from the top cymbal, something I find deeply annoying in hi-hats, but when they're played in the manner for which they are fitted (ie. damned hard), you have difficulty hearing yourself think, let alone pick out a few low-level imperfections.

In terms of foot control, open/closed accents are passable if not quite as accurate or sharp as I'd like. There are some rather tiresome overtones that hang around after you've put your foot down. Again, not something that would be noticeable from beyond the third row, but it does take the edge off the definition slightly.

The 16" crash is a tad disappointing after the excellence of both the ride and the hi-hats. Not that it isn't a highly commendable cymbal in its class, it just lacks a little of the presence that renders its stablemates so special. The "crash" has admirable volume, but the depth of tone is lacking and its character is somewhat weedy. Maybe this has something to do with its relatively light weight when compared to the 18" crash, but for me it wasn't strident or colourful enough.

The 18" crash is a good deal louder than the 16", and in comparison sounds as if it should be labelled a "power crash" or even a "crash ride". It's a heavy cymbal and has a very long sustain. Under certain circumstances this could prove to be a nuisance, but considering the application for which the cymbal is intended, it shouldn't be a problem. In other words, if you're kicked out of the band for belting this in the middle of 'The Girl From Ipanema' and causing half your audience to die of a coronary, it's your own fault. Despite its weight, though, there isn't a hint of "clanginess" to this cymbal, and again it shares a lot of the same characteristics as the ride. Although the nature of crash cymbals being what it is, I feel that it is less versatile. Its suitability to rock music, however, is not just governed by the fact that it is loud; the sound itself has that same raucousness underpinning a smooth power that suits it perfectly to amplified music. Think of it as the cymbal equivalent of a power chord.

The B8 Rocks are beautiful to look at. They have a "brilliant" finish and a pleasant golden colour, quite different from that of most budget cymbals - it actually looks like quality metal. Their surface is surprisingly smooth, the lathed grooves are extremely even, and there are imprinted circles that speak of a computerised hammering process over their upper area.

So, they don't look like cheap cymbals, they certainly don't sound like them and, though it's a cliché to say it, the only thing that gives the game away is the price tag.

SABIAN B8 ROCK CYMBALS; From £59 (16" crash) to £95 (22" ride); Performance Pack (14" hi-hat, 16" crash, 20" ride) £207; all prices include VAT.

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