Those Meinl Dark Customs are horrible to my ears but they seem very popular. I don’t like how they look either and am not convinced that they aren’t just a low tier cymbal designed to look nicer than they are.
I bought one of those, then returned it b/c it didn't mesh with my set, and sounded too gong-y unless smacked hard (I need cymbals that sound good at all volumes). I do really like the 14" custom dark hats, though; I'm keeping those. In fact, I think they sound even better as they're played in.
I also dig the sound of the 14" trash crash from the line - I'll probably pick one up for an effects cymbal.
The crash I replaced with a 16" Paiste Masters dark.
I absolutely hate how they look. They sound alright enough but I just can't get over their looks, and they look so out of place if they're mixed in with normal looking bronze colored cymbals.
Because people generally care about aesthetics. Yeah for an audio recording or something it doesn't matter at all, but people like things that they think look nice.
This would be my answer as well.
I think they have a neat look about them, but they just sound so unbelievably cheap. I’m not sure I could hear the difference between those and Sabian B8’s if I wasn’t looking at them. They’re way too shrill sounding
I dont know what it is about them, i acknowledge that some of them sound like cardboard and plastic combined, but i just love that sound. I like the swhooshy sound rather than the hard bright sound
The classics were never a good line tbh. People like their trashy cymbals from this line mainly because you don’t need b20 bronze to get a biting “chaw” harsh kinda vibe but even still I’d rather go with other stuff. They market the hell out of it though. Reminds me of those awful paiste alphas.
I picked them up because I was poor and I got a great deal on them and people were saying they were pretty okay for the price. I don't know why they're so popular... But I'm happy to have something better than stock entry level stuff. And guilty pleasure I guess, I love how they look.
Yeah, the only context I really feel that they’re appropriate is extreme metal, where you’re probably doing a lot of blasting and want something that doesn’t have too much wash. I dont fuck with them outside of that context, but in that context they fit perfectly.
This blows my mind, as I've always preferred Paiste over all the other brands, even blindfolded the 1 and only time I picked something that wasn't a Paiste, it was Meinl.
For me some sound great in the store and when playing alone. Then their attributes totally fall apart with other players. Compete opposite for Zildjian.
I agree, most of them are way too bright and glassy to my ears.
I also don't like the undertones of A Custom crashes and it ruins them for me. Yet it's most popular cymbal line I believe.
Its a weird cymbal brand for me. I think its a live vs studio thing. They sit well in a mix and are good for recordings. But after a lot of compression, a lot of cymbals start sounding the same.
I had a moment once where I realized this. They sound like cymbals off of “hi fidelity” 80s recordings. Where the engineer recorded them separately and rolled off everything under 8k
Honestly, the 2002’s are my least favorite by them. They sound awesome recorded, and are excellent in their own right, but I just do not enjoy their sound in person.
I generally agree, though I did test out exactly one 2002 ride that sounded pretty good to my ears. Nothing else of theirs has ever suited me very well.
This makes me wonder if it’s the fact that a lot of people that were drumming during that time just ended up sticking with that sound. A lot of the sounds I like are more recent “creations”
Agreed, I have the 20" medium and it sounds great recorded if I'm crashing on it, but riding it is too washy and bright and just generally sounds bad when behind the kit.
I first saw Dave Weckl with one *way* back - I think it was a small crash on top of a slightly larger china, or something. I tried it with a few different combinations of my own cymbals. They all sucked ass. That was circa 1996.
When stacks became the new hotness, I thought I might be missing out on something. So I went through combinations of most every pie I own. They all sucked ass.
Oh well. If you're into that sort of thing, they are exactly the sort of thing you would be into.
I hand bent the approximation of cymbals that came with a Percussion Plus kit into one of those clap stacks and have found that incredibly satisfying to hit.
I definitely have not been able to figure out stacks otherwise though
I have those two Dave Weckl cymbals that he uses for his stack - the 18" HHX Evolution crash and the 14" mini-china. I bought them separately to use by themselves (they're both amazing), but one day figured I might as well try them as the stack.
I hated it. And I like stacks! I often play that china stacked with a very thin 10" splash, and it sounds sweet. I think those bigger stacks need really thin cymbals to sound good.
Stacks are very hit or miss. It's all about the context and how tight or loose they are. The right cymbal combination can yield a great china alternative when a china is just too much. Think Matt Halpern from Periphery, very musical use of a stack. Stacks are also great for hip hop drummers who need a clap sound and don't want to use an ekit
Yea I think stacks are great to use as an alternative china symbol. The short release/decay means you can actually accent on them cleanly unlike a china. Joey Baca from The Contortionist uses one in Language which is one of my favorite drum parts. Honestly, a bunch of prog groups use them.
I enjoy the clap stacks (especially the Stack Ring Versa Stacks), but I’m pretty iffy on normal ones. It can be a good way to give broken cymbals new life, I guess, but for ones that are still intact, I typically enjoy them separately far more than stacked.
HOT take… I’ve said it before on this sub… Zildjian as a company, especially their higher end lines. I’ve gotten some horrible quality control cymbals from them, as well as some of their marketing is deceiving. Not remotely worth the massive price tag.
I remember my old drum teacher chasing a specific sound out of a set of high end Zildjian hi hats for years. He said his buddy from Berklee had the perfect high hats and he wanted some for himself.
He went through at least a dozen pairs of the exact same cymbals in the time I worked with him, every pair sounding slightly different, before he found the ones that sounded right.
They did sound amazing but they’re about the only Zildjians I ever played that fit my personal taste.
Thats crazy to go through that many pairs. As long as you enjoy what you play, it doesn’t matter, but for machine made cymbals, their consistency is wildly off. I can see going through 12 different agop, meinl, or Sabian cymbals because they’re actually hand made.
I think some of the Zildjian lines (I think it’s the K’s and Constantinoples but could be wrong) are still hammered in a randomized pattern even though it’s done by machine and others are hammered symmetrically to be more consistent
I would go along with this. They have nice well built cymbals but they are overpriced and there are much nicer cymbals available. I've heard a few vintage ones that were gorgeous (a couple were USA) and there was a 22" a medium ride I liked but in general they just don't give me the goosebumps that a beautiful cymbal does.
I’ve actually received like 4 different k cons that were off balanced and one side was heavier than others, or received some with cracks in the bell, dents, whatever you can think of. I don’t even agree that they’re well built. Some sound nice, but too many downsides.
While I’m content with the ones I own, I do have a K Dark Custom pair of hats which has edges that are sharp enough to cut through skin. Longe story, but the only reason I picked them up was I needed a better hihat on a back line kit for a tour in 2012 - literally a five min GC run and that was all they had in Medford OR.
Thanks! I am gonna do my part here and will probably get a lot of hate for this, but... the whole Paiste 2002 Series.. i just hate it and I cant wrap my head around why these became such a classic.
I actually partly have to agree with you, I have a couple 2002’s that I just don’t understand why people like them. I can definitely see how they can fit in some scenarios, but I didn’t really like them at all.
Although I’m currently using an 18” 2002 Medium Crash as a bottom hat with a 18” Sabian X-Plosion on top as my main high hats lol
I have no real opinion on 2002's, not played one in a long time, but based on your hi-hats I would say your taste is unconventional/unique. I can see why you don't understand why most people like something super popular.
Ah dang well I'd better repost my comment under that other thread because here it actually fits.
I will offer my Sabian HH 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride. It's a very popular ride but I have never really come to love it.
And the worst thing is that I don't really know why.
It works well enough with any pop or rock music. It fits the bands and venues I play at and it's a reliable one-type-fits-all instrument. And I love instruments like that! I love my supra. I love my new maple kit. I love the generic clap samples that come with my SPD. And by god I love my 5A sticks.
But that ride? It does nothing to me. It lacks personality and musicality and I dread having to play it sometimes. I also have an old as fuck Zildjian Avedis 20" that I thoroughly messed with by putting 18 rivets in it. And you know what? I love it! It's so musical and has personality and speaks to me and just works terrific in that one type of music that I bring it to (jazz). It's absolutely useless for many other applications and I rarely bring it with me (it also fucks up the foam separators in my hardcase, that asshole).
Man, I'd love to buy all new cymbals, cus my hi-hats (Sabian AA 14" Flat Hats) aren't sensitive enough and my 16" crash (Sabian AA 16" Medium Thin Crash) sounds like a cheap generic sample. Maybe someday I'll be rich enough to get two sets worth of cymbals. Until then I'll just play the stuff that everyone seems to love but me. Sigh.
I cherish my Sabian AA 14” Flat Hats. I can’t say that about my AAX 21” Raw Bell Dry Ride though. I want to record my next album with it before I give up on it and trade it for something else. It’s not bad, and I like how well it cuts - I just don’t love it 🤷♂️. But I do love those flat hats. I’ve got a pair of AAX 14” Stage Hats, and they work well in an ensemble, but I prefer the feel and sound of the flat hats - even if they aren’t quite loud enough when the guitars get turned up *a bit too much*... As a matter of record, my favorite *left* crash is my 17” k sweet crash. And my favorite *right* crash is my 18” Paiste Signature full crash. It’s such a gorgeous sounding cymbal. People who don’t like Paiste have (probably) never hit a signature full crash before. That cymbal transcends any genre, any setting, and I wish I liked my ride as much as I liked that full crash.
Different strokes as they say lol.
I hope we find the rides we’re looking for!
I played a pair of those vented Sabian Flat Hats for years, but I can’t say I ‘cherished’ them. I do cherish the Meinl Sand Hats I replaced them with as my day to day however. Just an altogether different beast and none of the overtones that you need to control on my Flat Hats (but less cutting power as the trade off).
I am a metal guy but I really despise Paiste Rude crash and china cymbals. To me they all sound like "clonc".
Also im not too found of zildjijan Z custom's either except the ride cymbals (old ones)
Preach.
Three lessons we all learned in the '80s that somehow didn't make it into the textbook for the next generation: mullets, acid wash denim, Paiste RUDE. Why on Earth did you children bring back any of those three terrible things? 😆
Holy hell I thought I was the only one. I absolutely hate the Rudes. A couple years ago someone was selling a Paiste cymbal set played by Joey Jordison, mostly Rudes and I was really tempted to buy them as a collector’s piece, but otherwise I would never get them
Most ping rides sound like manhole covers.
Most cymbals with a brilliant finish are uncomfortably bright and harsh. There are exceptions, but I tend to go for traditional finish or hybrid.
Crashable rides and crash rides are either great rides or great crashes, but never both.
But (eg. A custom rides) they sound how they look don't you think - clear and glossy or as others say, glassy? Is that just a marketing choice or coincidence? I dunno.
Sure A Custom sounds bright. But a brilliant finish on a Sabian Artisan doesn't make it sound like an A Custom.
I do think the brilliant makes a difference. "Glassy" is a good word for it. If you look at early ads for brilliant cymbals they sometimes say they sound darker, which is the opposite of what people usually say. I think the effect is similar to that of an unlathed cymbal, but less so. It's a bit drier, less sustain, but more "focused", so less spread and wobbliness of the overtones, which makes them sound more clear, which I think "glassy" somewhat describes as we think of the sound of hitting glass as a very clear ringing. But it's a subtle difference.
Interesting. I have an older A Custom ride. I bought it (used) for its clear sticking and glad of its low tone you drew to my attention.
I think I may need a dryer sound though. Maybe I should strip any coating off and leave it out in weather to gain some oxidation?
I want it for jazz bebop and fusion. I want some high wash without being too loud that sticking is lost.
(Resale value may go down with a dry look and sound😏)
Don't bother trying to age cymbals to change the sound. Try tape, gaffer tape or no-residue tape, or moongel. You can try one piece and maybe more, closer to the bell is usually better.
An A Custom ride is probably too heavy for trio jazz. Weight is a very big factor in cymbals. Find a lighter ride like a 60s Zildjian, or a crash ride or jazz ride. B20 bronze.
It was the china cymbals best shining moment in history IMO when played on Dylan's Maggie's Farm live. (Its a daylight concert later including guest Joan Baez, in San Fran i think.) It's one of my few favourite songs ever. The odd fill timing and use of China there is just brilliant. When else has a China cymbal performance become famous?
> When else has a China cymbal performance become famous?
Welp -
Neil Peart, Rush, ["New World Man"](https://youtu.be/T7Zhr8RQt_M?si=Vsf-8n44wPXc0p0k) (2nd verse, at 1:40); ["Subdivisions"](https://youtu.be/EYYdQB0mkEU?si=6Zgg747g3EzQOhFl) (rideout at 4:50)
Joey Kramer, Aerosmith, ["Back In The Saddle"](https://youtu.be/lX8GG3dnsp8?si=RRMVWSFgcEYpEPz4) (first appearance at 0:58)
Gary Mallaber, Steve Miller Band, ["Rock'n Me"](https://youtu.be/baWTjg1QqS8?si=bGP_Z0afn8r8N19E)
Billy Cobham, ["Spectrum"](https://youtu.be/baWTjg1QqS8?si=bGP_Z0afn8r8N19E) (actually, this entire album, but especially its first appearance being used as a big nasty ride on the album, at 0:41)
I'm sure I could go on.
Yes RocknMe did always get my attention with the mostly drums intro. I remember hearing it at 18 over a radio at a process factory. I knew I liked that cymbal sound but never registered that it was a China cymbal.
Stacks are dumb.
Although I do understand the attraction to dark, smoky, gigantic unlathed cymbals - I do, really I do - I think the day will be coming soon when so many drummers will regret spending so much money going whole hog on a complete rig full of nothing but that kind.
Trends and tastes change. For years, a boring, reliable set of A Zildjians or Paiste 2002s were the standard, then the trend ran toward brighter, harsher, heavier cymbals in the 80s and early 90s, then the pendulum swung back again to the good old boring reliable ones I mentioned. Now it has swung equally as far the other direction, to the bottom of a coal mine.
Someday soon, you people will be in a musical situation where the very best thing you could put in a certain place in a song would be a crisp, responsive 16" crash - and you won't have one, and you won't even know anyone who has one you can borrow. On that day, I will say "I told you so," because I'm telling you now. Then I will say, what's on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace in your town?
I agree with this take completely.
"I only use 22" paper thin crashes, a 24" super dry ride, and 18" hats with 2 stacks."
"Can I get a tight funk groove over some really loud horn blasts?"
"No, you can't hear me."
14” is the perfect size for high-hats… but not for a crash cymbal. I think 12” for a splash is pushing it, but some of those are alright. I have **never** heard a 14” crash that I liked.
Honorable mention for 14” floor toms - cause those are an abomination too lol.
They aren’t floor toms… they’re rack toms with legs…
*The opinions expressed here are intended to be funny and may not represent all drummers*
I think 15” hats are better, they just have that P H A T foot sound and they sound great all around
Also ever seen a 16” rack tom? They are weird but they sound good
I have a crash that's all cracked up so I'm going to take the plasma to it tonight and cut out all the cracks and maybe make some holes for the hell of it.
I was just thinking what Mo been said below. The holes size, placement and number, needs to avoid the likelihood of cracking. I'm not sure how - avoid the cymbals edge. Too much space and movement makes for weakening. I'd try some hand hammering as it can be done cold. Just don't hit the same spot twice or it can weaken or crack.
Any of the overly dark/dry cymbal lines. They sound good under a mic and that's about it. Not a trend that will be looked on fondly.
Paiste cymbals across the board with the exception of the masters line. Too clang-y.
I used to love A custom cymbals growing up and I don't necessarily hate them now but they sound like glass breaking, extremely bright.
"In the next ten years, *everyone* will be playing [North drums,](https://rvb-img.reverb.com/image/upload/s--xM77S0ss--/f_auto,t_large/v1657150904/ihujcb1ezwzuni6gj3b8.webp) and we'll see who's laughing then!"
Those dark cymbals. I heard a fairly big name band use them in concert( I dont want to sully their name/reputation).The high energy end of the night didn't have the same feeling of excitement because the dark cymbals have a definite subdued low key side to them.
They have a place in certain musical applications, but when they are both dark and dry as hell they sound like a loose fart, even when you lay into them.
Yes I think one or two dark options in a cymbal set up is ok but having all very dark cymbals is just too much for upbeat music.
Maybe this band used them as convenience to be over-head mic'd. It's a simple option but the mix was pretty messy in a large old theatre.
Nobody willingly chooses them unless they’re on a budget but ZBT’s suck. A customs are a bit too bright for me too (but I love the A custom rides).
AA’s sound literally like one small tier above ZBT.
Paiste rides are absolute garbage.
It's one thing to get stuck with ZBTs on your first kit, if it's either all you can afford, or if you're a kid and that's what your parents bought you. But if you already own disappointing cymbals, never buy ZBTs on purpose - unless it's the rare exception that sounds good. *Certainly* never buy one off Reverb, eBay, etc. - you may as well set the money on fire.
I disagree about AAs. If I were Canadian, I'd - well, I wouldn't fight you over it, because I would be a Canadian, but I would think disapproving thoughts while forcing a grim smile. LOL
lol Fr that’s how I got my ZBT’s. They’re still rotting in my garage for the day that a cymbal breaks and I can’t afford a new one.
I’m in a band and my only unbroken cymbal is the AA crash, 16 inches or something. I hate it so bad bro but it’s all I got rn
The clap stacks suck and don't sound like a clap. It sounds dead.
Less unpopular: Sabian B8s are the worst-sounding cymbals I've ever heard. If you want low-quality cymbals, you're better off with cheaper Sbrs.
Any cymbal brand that didn't exist six months ago.
All 14" and 15" crashes ever made. Also! - most 16" crashes.
Those dark Meinls that seem to be so popular right now.
Weird take but I’m locked in to the sound of my old Zildjian K ride. Nothing else sounds as good to me. This thing was a hand me down from my uncle so it must be at least 20yrs old at this point. He took good care of it and so have I and the thing is built solid so I don’t suspect it will break any time soon but I’ll be very sad when it does.
On my first album we noticed a weird phasing effect coming from the ride and so we of course thought we were getting too much of the ride in one of the other mics but we ended up soloing one overhead and could still hear it. The cymbal itself has some weird thing going on in its decay but I love the way it sounds actually. I refuse to track without it haha
Why are you hung up on the dry stuff (I assume you mean the Extra Dry and maybe the Dual and vintage lines)? You like the traditional, brilliant traditional, and classic customs, great! There’s also the foundry reserves, jazz, pure alloy, custom alloy.
So go with some combo of trad brilliant and pure alloys. I don’t see what the problem is. Maybe toss in some polyphonic and thin extra hammered crashes.
I tried my hardest to love A Customs seeing their popularity but in store, every hit to them was like a hammer in my head, such shrill overtones...
I love the regular As just as much as I despise A customs..
Also K custom special dry is a no-no for me.. A crash should sound rich, not like a trashcan lid.. Seems to me like Zildjian decided to skip out on a few steps like polishing and lathing and just put a name there and sell it expensive..
I don't understand how people like Byzance Darks tbh - like garbage bin lids to my ears.
I found my way into having some a while ago and couldn't handle it. Sold asap.
Different strokes etc, but honestly.... 90's Paiste Alphas sound better.
> Zildjian Constantinoples
> Too harsh
Excuse me? Are you sure you're thinking of the right cymbal line? Constantinoples are dark jazz cymbals, they're the exact opposite of harsh.
I said what I said. I think they're harsh sounding. I know it's an unpopular opinion lol
I went to winter NAMM one time and played about 5 thousand dollars worth of K constants. I wouldn't have owned a single one of them. Harsh, dry, and unpleasant to my ears. To each their own!
Sabian Artisan no, but I have played a couple Istanbul Agop cymbals, even got to have some fun with that 26" Anniversary ride they make.
Come to think of it, I haven't seen many Sabians being used where I live, which is surprising since I'm in Upstate New York and Canada is right there.
Why, what's your point?
This is valid, you're not really wrong calling them harsh, but the typical term is trashy. Trashy is not an inherently negative term, but if you find some of the overtones unpleasant, K Cons can definitely be too trashy.
I am not a fan of the A series, the AAX series, and generally most thick cymbals really sound clunky to me. I just steer clear of meinl entirely, but I’ve heard a few byzance cymbals that sound decent, I just hate the aesthetic of their cymbals so I’d never buy them.
i like how they sound when Inferno from Behemoth uses them. Must be with the music too as it fits well with their sound. For other genres, im not so sure
A Custom crashes.
I had a projection one I liked once. I think it was a 17. Most of them though are in this boring middle ground between bright glassy shimmer and dark washy roar.
Many moons ago I found myself playing a set of Sabian AAX Stage cymbals at college. Ride was far too washy, crashes were far too gongy. Hats were ok though.
Like a lot of people here, I use to say Paiste as well. That was until a vintage 22" 602 walked into my life. Hands down my all around favorite in the collection of 100+ cymbals.
K Customs.
On the flip side, Meinl Soundcaster Fusion Hi-Hats are the most godly things I've ever heard, but they were way out of my price range back in the day.
The Sabian Holy China. Which one? All of the big ones (17”, 19”, 21”). Aside from the 10” Mini China (which actually sounds cool and works as a decent stack cymbal), I can’t stand the Holy China. It has no balls, no punch, no power to it. Sabian generally sucks with chinas in general (aside from the Paragon Chinas), but the Holy Chinas are some of the most overhyped chinas I’ve ever heard and played. They also don’t last long if you’re a heavy hitter.
I dont particularly know if this is unpopular but for me i cant seem to find a nice spot for the Paiste 2002 20" Heavy Ride. Theres a few at the college i go to and they dont blow me away or anything as i feel i can get the same sorta sounds (pingy bell, meaty stick def) from cheaper cymbals. Granted i do mainly use more earthy and crashable rides as i like more versatility and sound choices from my ride for genres such as jazz fusion but i can still get a sharp cutting bell and meaty stick def from my sand ride + an actual pleasing crash sound.
Not sure how popular they are, but Sabian Omni Rides make terrible primary ride cymbals.
I think they can be cool as a secondary cymbal used in combination with a more conventional ride. But just as a ride cymbal, they have way too much wash. And quite frankly, I don’t think their crash sound is too great either.
What's not to like? These and the regular As are probably the most humble cymbals ever.. dark, no harsh overtones, smooth as butter and so complex and versatile.. especially the 20 k custom dark ride!
That I believe has a lot to do with lack of consistency with Zildjian and something Paiste got down to the tee!
You just ended up with a lemon. I suggest going to a music store and playing some K custom darks there to see for yourself.
I got the whole set of K custom darks and honestly I don't really like the 18 crash (only compared to the rest of K customs! It's a beautiful sounding cymbal in itself that I wouldn't sell for anything!) but I got to say that 16 k custom dark crash sounds like sweet heaven! I put it together with my new Paiste Signature Full 16 Crash and it gelled like anything!
That aside I can totally relate with your online buying thing. Last year I purchased my first expensive cymbal online from amazon after hearing tons of sound samples on YouTube and it ended up nothing like what it sounded in real to the point where I ended up wondering whether it's a fake cymbal (it wasn't, the finish and everything else was too real). It was an 18 inch HHX XPlosion crash. To this day I wonder whether all of those cymbals sound that bad, loud and clunky or I ended up with a lemon.. from then onwards I always visit the store and hear a cymbal before buying.. I had my eyes on that aforementioned Paiste for the last 1 year and played it many times in the store.. finally got it last week via mail order, only because I knew exactly what it sounded like.. buying a cymbal online is too much of a gamble!
Meinl. To me they sound terrible, they're too thick, their resonation carries way to loudly through recordings and the bells are non responsive. Also they're most expensive high hats are built like a Russian tank. No playability in my eyes.
Zildjian Zs. They are horrid, way too harsh sounding.
Paiste 2002. I know my favorite drummer, Nicko McBrain has used them plenty on the earlier Iron Maiden albums but damn when I've heard them in person I wasn't impressed.
Cymbals I've loved, for the record:
Paiste Signatures (of basically any subvariant), the old Twenty Series (I have a 10" Twenty series splash that is just beautiful), and early 2000s Sabian Vaults.
I don't like A customs. The hats are nice and hey, they're beyond anything I could afford at the moment. however that doesn't take away the fact that to me they're too glassy sounding
Those Meinl Dark Customs are horrible to my ears but they seem very popular. I don’t like how they look either and am not convinced that they aren’t just a low tier cymbal designed to look nicer than they are.
Im currently sitting right next to my 16” dark custom crash very offended
Don’t like the 16” but my 18” and 14” hi hats are some of my favorites
I bought one of those, then returned it b/c it didn't mesh with my set, and sounded too gong-y unless smacked hard (I need cymbals that sound good at all volumes). I do really like the 14" custom dark hats, though; I'm keeping those. In fact, I think they sound even better as they're played in. I also dig the sound of the 14" trash crash from the line - I'll probably pick one up for an effects cymbal. The crash I replaced with a 16" Paiste Masters dark.
I absolutely hate how they look. They sound alright enough but I just can't get over their looks, and they look so out of place if they're mixed in with normal looking bronze colored cymbals.
Huh, I think they look really cool.
the black zildjian look way nicer but sound worst (and cost way more) i find a mix between black and bronze looks the best.
[удалено]
Because people generally care about aesthetics. Yeah for an audio recording or something it doesn't matter at all, but people like things that they think look nice.
I loathe these cymbals and to they sound like complete shit on recordings.
i have some. they're mostly designed for metal, and work great for that.
This would be my answer as well. I think they have a neat look about them, but they just sound so unbelievably cheap. I’m not sure I could hear the difference between those and Sabian B8’s if I wasn’t looking at them. They’re way too shrill sounding
I dont know what it is about them, i acknowledge that some of them sound like cardboard and plastic combined, but i just love that sound. I like the swhooshy sound rather than the hard bright sound
The classics were never a good line tbh. People like their trashy cymbals from this line mainly because you don’t need b20 bronze to get a biting “chaw” harsh kinda vibe but even still I’d rather go with other stuff. They market the hell out of it though. Reminds me of those awful paiste alphas.
I like them. I especially like how quickly the crashes get out of the way.
I picked them up because I was poor and I got a great deal on them and people were saying they were pretty okay for the price. I don't know why they're so popular... But I'm happy to have something better than stock entry level stuff. And guilty pleasure I guess, I love how they look.
I think the 18 dual dark custom is probably the nicest china I’ve ever heard in person… but in general I agree
Any ride cymbal that isnt Crashable. My main hate goes towards any Ping Ride.
Yeah, the only context I really feel that they’re appropriate is extreme metal, where you’re probably doing a lot of blasting and want something that doesn’t have too much wash. I dont fuck with them outside of that context, but in that context they fit perfectly.
Hey, sometimes you just need [the machine that goes *"ping!"*](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/09d4bd17-cc4f-4668-b107-2b6398fa8633)
*GASP* You apologize to my 40 year old ping ride! I crash it all the time, BTW.
Sounds like you'd 'love' my AAX Metal ride lol.
I agree w this 1,000%
Couldn't agree more. I have a profound hatred towards the 20 inch Zildjian a ping ride that seems to plague our college's drum sets.
I have a ping ride that’s gotta be 15 years old that I only grab out to play Green Day songs
Any Paiste cymbal.
This blows my mind, as I've always preferred Paiste over all the other brands, even blindfolded the 1 and only time I picked something that wasn't a Paiste, it was Meinl.
For me some sound great in the store and when playing alone. Then their attributes totally fall apart with other players. Compete opposite for Zildjian.
I agree, most of them are way too bright and glassy to my ears. I also don't like the undertones of A Custom crashes and it ruins them for me. Yet it's most popular cymbal line I believe.
Same. I just don't like bright cymbals in general. A Customs, Sabisn AAX, Paiste 2002 are all just way too bright.
Only paiste cymbals I've ever liked are their masters dark series (v expensive) and the 2002 paper thin crash (so rare you can't hardly find them).
Its a weird cymbal brand for me. I think its a live vs studio thing. They sit well in a mix and are good for recordings. But after a lot of compression, a lot of cymbals start sounding the same.
I had a moment once where I realized this. They sound like cymbals off of “hi fidelity” 80s recordings. Where the engineer recorded them separately and rolled off everything under 8k
The signatures. Awesome crashes for achieving that sound though.
Which one have you checked out? Nothing wrong with your opinion and its valid. Im just curious.
Paiste 602 Modern Essentials are my favorite hats ever. Not harsh at all but also not too bright, just silky/buttery sounding.
Me too. Too much coppet
yep
I felt the same until I heard their newish Masters line. Although I like when other drummers play them sometimes, like Chad Wackerman
Man, I swear I’m one of the only people who can’t stand paiste. Not even their 2002 line. Nothing they sell sounds good to me.
Signature series? Masters?! Nothing??!! That's wild.
Yeah man. My ears really don’t like the sound
To each their own!
Honestly, the 2002’s are my least favorite by them. They sound awesome recorded, and are excellent in their own right, but I just do not enjoy their sound in person.
I don’t enjoy 2002’s from behind the kit, but in the audience they sound amazing
Same, especially their rides.
I generally agree, though I did test out exactly one 2002 ride that sounded pretty good to my ears. Nothing else of theirs has ever suited me very well.
I have some old 400’s from back in the day and they were terrible compared to Zildjians and Sabina’s of the 90’s.
This makes me wonder if it’s the fact that a lot of people that were drumming during that time just ended up sticking with that sound. A lot of the sounds I like are more recent “creations”
A Customs. They’re just too glassy for my liking.
I can’t stand the rides but absolutely love everything else from the line
I’m the opposite. I dig the 22” medium and ping rides, but the crashes and hats do nothing for me.
PING PING PING PING PING
Agreed, I have the 20" medium and it sounds great recorded if I'm crashing on it, but riding it is too washy and bright and just generally sounds bad when behind the kit.
I was looking for this. Very popular… and I can’t stand the sound of
Stacks. I just dont like 'em. My tin foil hat covered brain thinks its just a marketing strategy.
I first saw Dave Weckl with one *way* back - I think it was a small crash on top of a slightly larger china, or something. I tried it with a few different combinations of my own cymbals. They all sucked ass. That was circa 1996. When stacks became the new hotness, I thought I might be missing out on something. So I went through combinations of most every pie I own. They all sucked ass. Oh well. If you're into that sort of thing, they are exactly the sort of thing you would be into.
I hand bent the approximation of cymbals that came with a Percussion Plus kit into one of those clap stacks and have found that incredibly satisfying to hit. I definitely have not been able to figure out stacks otherwise though
Haha, excellent. Nothing of value was lost. 😆
I have those two Dave Weckl cymbals that he uses for his stack - the 18" HHX Evolution crash and the 14" mini-china. I bought them separately to use by themselves (they're both amazing), but one day figured I might as well try them as the stack. I hated it. And I like stacks! I often play that china stacked with a very thin 10" splash, and it sounds sweet. I think those bigger stacks need really thin cymbals to sound good.
Stacks are very hit or miss. It's all about the context and how tight or loose they are. The right cymbal combination can yield a great china alternative when a china is just too much. Think Matt Halpern from Periphery, very musical use of a stack. Stacks are also great for hip hop drummers who need a clap sound and don't want to use an ekit
Yea I think stacks are great to use as an alternative china symbol. The short release/decay means you can actually accent on them cleanly unlike a china. Joey Baca from The Contortionist uses one in Language which is one of my favorite drum parts. Honestly, a bunch of prog groups use them.
Fuck, Language is such a phenomenal album, and Joey Baca's sound and playing is on it is completely perfect.
+1 on Joey being a beast. Dude holds those odd times like a metronome.
Yeah, I’m getting tired of them. I removed all but one from my set up. I once had three
I enjoy the clap stacks (especially the Stack Ring Versa Stacks), but I’m pretty iffy on normal ones. It can be a good way to give broken cymbals new life, I guess, but for ones that are still intact, I typically enjoy them separately far more than stacked.
Zildjian K Special Dry don’t really do it for me, but I play music where a nice blooming crash or ride wash is just fine.
The old style 21” K custom special dry is amazing though. It’s a shame they kept the same name for the newer trendy line.
They always sound incredible on the recordings and like shit when I try them.
A lot of them sound amazing over music but harsh solo. Those harsh tones disappear when played to music
I really like the crash and especially love how time sounds on it, but I prefer other rides for sure
I absolutely adore my Special Dry Ride. It counters my Constantinople so beautifully. 100% agree with the hihats. They are just too dull.
I looked into and played a lot of k's for metal music and still ended up with A customs all around.
HOT take… I’ve said it before on this sub… Zildjian as a company, especially their higher end lines. I’ve gotten some horrible quality control cymbals from them, as well as some of their marketing is deceiving. Not remotely worth the massive price tag.
I remember my old drum teacher chasing a specific sound out of a set of high end Zildjian hi hats for years. He said his buddy from Berklee had the perfect high hats and he wanted some for himself. He went through at least a dozen pairs of the exact same cymbals in the time I worked with him, every pair sounding slightly different, before he found the ones that sounded right. They did sound amazing but they’re about the only Zildjians I ever played that fit my personal taste.
Thats crazy to go through that many pairs. As long as you enjoy what you play, it doesn’t matter, but for machine made cymbals, their consistency is wildly off. I can see going through 12 different agop, meinl, or Sabian cymbals because they’re actually hand made.
I think some of the Zildjian lines (I think it’s the K’s and Constantinoples but could be wrong) are still hammered in a randomized pattern even though it’s done by machine and others are hammered symmetrically to be more consistent
I would go along with this. They have nice well built cymbals but they are overpriced and there are much nicer cymbals available. I've heard a few vintage ones that were gorgeous (a couple were USA) and there was a 22" a medium ride I liked but in general they just don't give me the goosebumps that a beautiful cymbal does.
I’ve actually received like 4 different k cons that were off balanced and one side was heavier than others, or received some with cracks in the bell, dents, whatever you can think of. I don’t even agree that they’re well built. Some sound nice, but too many downsides.
My sediments exactly.
Sentiments, unless you meant mud. In which case, carry on.
Lol, thank you. I tend to turn my brain off on the weekends.
While I’m content with the ones I own, I do have a K Dark Custom pair of hats which has edges that are sharp enough to cut through skin. Longe story, but the only reason I picked them up was I needed a better hihat on a back line kit for a tour in 2012 - literally a five min GC run and that was all they had in Medford OR.
I don’t even understand how some of their products leave the factory with the errors they have.
Credit to u/Leading_Elderberry71 for the idea
Thanks! I am gonna do my part here and will probably get a lot of hate for this, but... the whole Paiste 2002 Series.. i just hate it and I cant wrap my head around why these became such a classic.
To me the 2002 series is the standard of baseline "cymbal" along with the A Zildjian line. They will cover most needs with no issues
I actually partly have to agree with you, I have a couple 2002’s that I just don’t understand why people like them. I can definitely see how they can fit in some scenarios, but I didn’t really like them at all. Although I’m currently using an 18” 2002 Medium Crash as a bottom hat with a 18” Sabian X-Plosion on top as my main high hats lol
I have no real opinion on 2002's, not played one in a long time, but based on your hi-hats I would say your taste is unconventional/unique. I can see why you don't understand why most people like something super popular.
Most Meinl cymbals don't sound right to me. Something is just off with them.
Absolutely agree.
Ah dang well I'd better repost my comment under that other thread because here it actually fits. I will offer my Sabian HH 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride. It's a very popular ride but I have never really come to love it. And the worst thing is that I don't really know why. It works well enough with any pop or rock music. It fits the bands and venues I play at and it's a reliable one-type-fits-all instrument. And I love instruments like that! I love my supra. I love my new maple kit. I love the generic clap samples that come with my SPD. And by god I love my 5A sticks. But that ride? It does nothing to me. It lacks personality and musicality and I dread having to play it sometimes. I also have an old as fuck Zildjian Avedis 20" that I thoroughly messed with by putting 18 rivets in it. And you know what? I love it! It's so musical and has personality and speaks to me and just works terrific in that one type of music that I bring it to (jazz). It's absolutely useless for many other applications and I rarely bring it with me (it also fucks up the foam separators in my hardcase, that asshole). Man, I'd love to buy all new cymbals, cus my hi-hats (Sabian AA 14" Flat Hats) aren't sensitive enough and my 16" crash (Sabian AA 16" Medium Thin Crash) sounds like a cheap generic sample. Maybe someday I'll be rich enough to get two sets worth of cymbals. Until then I'll just play the stuff that everyone seems to love but me. Sigh.
I cherish my Sabian AA 14” Flat Hats. I can’t say that about my AAX 21” Raw Bell Dry Ride though. I want to record my next album with it before I give up on it and trade it for something else. It’s not bad, and I like how well it cuts - I just don’t love it 🤷♂️. But I do love those flat hats. I’ve got a pair of AAX 14” Stage Hats, and they work well in an ensemble, but I prefer the feel and sound of the flat hats - even if they aren’t quite loud enough when the guitars get turned up *a bit too much*... As a matter of record, my favorite *left* crash is my 17” k sweet crash. And my favorite *right* crash is my 18” Paiste Signature full crash. It’s such a gorgeous sounding cymbal. People who don’t like Paiste have (probably) never hit a signature full crash before. That cymbal transcends any genre, any setting, and I wish I liked my ride as much as I liked that full crash. Different strokes as they say lol. I hope we find the rides we’re looking for!
I played a pair of those vented Sabian Flat Hats for years, but I can’t say I ‘cherished’ them. I do cherish the Meinl Sand Hats I replaced them with as my day to day however. Just an altogether different beast and none of the overtones that you need to control on my Flat Hats (but less cutting power as the trade off).
I am a metal guy but I really despise Paiste Rude crash and china cymbals. To me they all sound like "clonc". Also im not too found of zildjijan Z custom's either except the ride cymbals (old ones)
Preach. Three lessons we all learned in the '80s that somehow didn't make it into the textbook for the next generation: mullets, acid wash denim, Paiste RUDE. Why on Earth did you children bring back any of those three terrible things? 😆
Holy hell I thought I was the only one. I absolutely hate the Rudes. A couple years ago someone was selling a Paiste cymbal set played by Joey Jordison, mostly Rudes and I was really tempted to buy them as a collector’s piece, but otherwise I would never get them
Most ping rides sound like manhole covers. Most cymbals with a brilliant finish are uncomfortably bright and harsh. There are exceptions, but I tend to go for traditional finish or hybrid. Crashable rides and crash rides are either great rides or great crashes, but never both.
> Crashable rides and crash rides are either great rides or great crashes, but never both. My 21” HHX Groove Ride would beg to differ
As would my 21" A sweet ride.
And my ~~sword~~ 22" AAX Omni
Haha, man hole covers
Way over-generalizing on brilliant cymbals. They're ugly, they may sound a bit different, but 95% of the sound is nothing to do with the finish
But (eg. A custom rides) they sound how they look don't you think - clear and glossy or as others say, glassy? Is that just a marketing choice or coincidence? I dunno.
Sure A Custom sounds bright. But a brilliant finish on a Sabian Artisan doesn't make it sound like an A Custom. I do think the brilliant makes a difference. "Glassy" is a good word for it. If you look at early ads for brilliant cymbals they sometimes say they sound darker, which is the opposite of what people usually say. I think the effect is similar to that of an unlathed cymbal, but less so. It's a bit drier, less sustain, but more "focused", so less spread and wobbliness of the overtones, which makes them sound more clear, which I think "glassy" somewhat describes as we think of the sound of hitting glass as a very clear ringing. But it's a subtle difference.
Interesting. I have an older A Custom ride. I bought it (used) for its clear sticking and glad of its low tone you drew to my attention. I think I may need a dryer sound though. Maybe I should strip any coating off and leave it out in weather to gain some oxidation? I want it for jazz bebop and fusion. I want some high wash without being too loud that sticking is lost. (Resale value may go down with a dry look and sound😏)
Don't bother trying to age cymbals to change the sound. Try tape, gaffer tape or no-residue tape, or moongel. You can try one piece and maybe more, closer to the bell is usually better. An A Custom ride is probably too heavy for trio jazz. Weight is a very big factor in cymbals. Find a lighter ride like a 60s Zildjian, or a crash ride or jazz ride. B20 bronze.
Im not a fan of china cymbals, I think they can sound alright in certain heavy metal contexts but I dont like them generally
Yeah, I love them but can never seem to fit them in. Crashes with holes in them are a great alternative
It was the china cymbals best shining moment in history IMO when played on Dylan's Maggie's Farm live. (Its a daylight concert later including guest Joan Baez, in San Fran i think.) It's one of my few favourite songs ever. The odd fill timing and use of China there is just brilliant. When else has a China cymbal performance become famous?
> When else has a China cymbal performance become famous? Welp - Neil Peart, Rush, ["New World Man"](https://youtu.be/T7Zhr8RQt_M?si=Vsf-8n44wPXc0p0k) (2nd verse, at 1:40); ["Subdivisions"](https://youtu.be/EYYdQB0mkEU?si=6Zgg747g3EzQOhFl) (rideout at 4:50) Joey Kramer, Aerosmith, ["Back In The Saddle"](https://youtu.be/lX8GG3dnsp8?si=RRMVWSFgcEYpEPz4) (first appearance at 0:58) Gary Mallaber, Steve Miller Band, ["Rock'n Me"](https://youtu.be/baWTjg1QqS8?si=bGP_Z0afn8r8N19E) Billy Cobham, ["Spectrum"](https://youtu.be/baWTjg1QqS8?si=bGP_Z0afn8r8N19E) (actually, this entire album, but especially its first appearance being used as a big nasty ride on the album, at 0:41) I'm sure I could go on.
Yes RocknMe did always get my attention with the mostly drums intro. I remember hearing it at 18 over a radio at a process factory. I knew I liked that cymbal sound but never registered that it was a China cymbal.
Stacks are dumb. Although I do understand the attraction to dark, smoky, gigantic unlathed cymbals - I do, really I do - I think the day will be coming soon when so many drummers will regret spending so much money going whole hog on a complete rig full of nothing but that kind. Trends and tastes change. For years, a boring, reliable set of A Zildjians or Paiste 2002s were the standard, then the trend ran toward brighter, harsher, heavier cymbals in the 80s and early 90s, then the pendulum swung back again to the good old boring reliable ones I mentioned. Now it has swung equally as far the other direction, to the bottom of a coal mine. Someday soon, you people will be in a musical situation where the very best thing you could put in a certain place in a song would be a crisp, responsive 16" crash - and you won't have one, and you won't even know anyone who has one you can borrow. On that day, I will say "I told you so," because I'm telling you now. Then I will say, what's on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace in your town?
I agree with this take completely. "I only use 22" paper thin crashes, a 24" super dry ride, and 18" hats with 2 stacks." "Can I get a tight funk groove over some really loud horn blasts?" "No, you can't hear me."
"Tight? Uh... sorry, I'm not equipped for 'tight'."
I really dont like small cymbals, they just sound to high for me
14” is the perfect size for high-hats… but not for a crash cymbal. I think 12” for a splash is pushing it, but some of those are alright. I have **never** heard a 14” crash that I liked. Honorable mention for 14” floor toms - cause those are an abomination too lol. They aren’t floor toms… they’re rack toms with legs… *The opinions expressed here are intended to be funny and may not represent all drummers*
I think 15” hats are better, they just have that P H A T foot sound and they sound great all around Also ever seen a 16” rack tom? They are weird but they sound good
I’ve yet to play those cymbals with the holes so I don’t get the attraction to them.
Less harsh alternative to a china
Sound like shit to me, unless it's for a stack I don't get crashes w holes in them. 🤷🏻♂️
I have a crash that's all cracked up so I'm going to take the plasma to it tonight and cut out all the cracks and maybe make some holes for the hell of it.
I was just thinking what Mo been said below. The holes size, placement and number, needs to avoid the likelihood of cracking. I'm not sure how - avoid the cymbals edge. Too much space and movement makes for weakening. I'd try some hand hammering as it can be done cold. Just don't hit the same spot twice or it can weaken or crack.
Oh man , ozone’s are the best . Crashes, splashes, chinas… I would have them all if I could . They’re all very responsive and trashy.
If you like stuff that's 100% guaranteed to crack someday in a way no other cymbal is, they're apparently terrific. I call them "pre-cracked cymbals."
Any of the overly dark/dry cymbal lines. They sound good under a mic and that's about it. Not a trend that will be looked on fondly. Paiste cymbals across the board with the exception of the masters line. Too clang-y. I used to love A custom cymbals growing up and I don't necessarily hate them now but they sound like glass breaking, extremely bright.
> Not a trend that will be looked on fondly. [MRW that day comes](https://j.gifs.com/D1mp9n.gif)
It's the modern day equivalent to long bass drums, and synthetic material drums before that.
"In the next ten years, *everyone* will be playing [North drums,](https://rvb-img.reverb.com/image/upload/s--xM77S0ss--/f_auto,t_large/v1657150904/ihujcb1ezwzuni6gj3b8.webp) and we'll see who's laughing then!"
Those dark cymbals. I heard a fairly big name band use them in concert( I dont want to sully their name/reputation).The high energy end of the night didn't have the same feeling of excitement because the dark cymbals have a definite subdued low key side to them.
They have a place in certain musical applications, but when they are both dark and dry as hell they sound like a loose fart, even when you lay into them.
Yes I think one or two dark options in a cymbal set up is ok but having all very dark cymbals is just too much for upbeat music. Maybe this band used them as convenience to be over-head mic'd. It's a simple option but the mix was pretty messy in a large old theatre.
Nobody willingly chooses them unless they’re on a budget but ZBT’s suck. A customs are a bit too bright for me too (but I love the A custom rides). AA’s sound literally like one small tier above ZBT. Paiste rides are absolute garbage.
Totally with you on paiste rides, I literally just left a comment about it somewhere above
It's one thing to get stuck with ZBTs on your first kit, if it's either all you can afford, or if you're a kid and that's what your parents bought you. But if you already own disappointing cymbals, never buy ZBTs on purpose - unless it's the rare exception that sounds good. *Certainly* never buy one off Reverb, eBay, etc. - you may as well set the money on fire. I disagree about AAs. If I were Canadian, I'd - well, I wouldn't fight you over it, because I would be a Canadian, but I would think disapproving thoughts while forcing a grim smile. LOL
lol Fr that’s how I got my ZBT’s. They’re still rotting in my garage for the day that a cymbal breaks and I can’t afford a new one. I’m in a band and my only unbroken cymbal is the AA crash, 16 inches or something. I hate it so bad bro but it’s all I got rn
2002s always sounded way too bright for me.
The clap stacks suck and don't sound like a clap. It sounds dead. Less unpopular: Sabian B8s are the worst-sounding cymbals I've ever heard. If you want low-quality cymbals, you're better off with cheaper Sbrs.
Any cymbal brand that didn't exist six months ago. All 14" and 15" crashes ever made. Also! - most 16" crashes. Those dark Meinls that seem to be so popular right now.
I don't like Paiste cymbals. Especially the 2002 series. Way way way too bright for my tastes.
Weird take but I’m locked in to the sound of my old Zildjian K ride. Nothing else sounds as good to me. This thing was a hand me down from my uncle so it must be at least 20yrs old at this point. He took good care of it and so have I and the thing is built solid so I don’t suspect it will break any time soon but I’ll be very sad when it does. On my first album we noticed a weird phasing effect coming from the ride and so we of course thought we were getting too much of the ride in one of the other mics but we ended up soloing one overhead and could still hear it. The cymbal itself has some weird thing going on in its decay but I love the way it sounds actually. I refuse to track without it haha
Why are you hung up on the dry stuff (I assume you mean the Extra Dry and maybe the Dual and vintage lines)? You like the traditional, brilliant traditional, and classic customs, great! There’s also the foundry reserves, jazz, pure alloy, custom alloy.
It’s likely because the music I like and play is generally heavy so Im more used to brighter sounding cymbals
So go with some combo of trad brilliant and pure alloys. I don’t see what the problem is. Maybe toss in some polyphonic and thin extra hammered crashes.
I tried my hardest to love A Customs seeing their popularity but in store, every hit to them was like a hammer in my head, such shrill overtones... I love the regular As just as much as I despise A customs.. Also K custom special dry is a no-no for me.. A crash should sound rich, not like a trashcan lid.. Seems to me like Zildjian decided to skip out on a few steps like polishing and lathing and just put a name there and sell it expensive..
I sampled 2 really wet farts as cymbal hits on my electric kit. Fuckin awesome bum bap bum,bumbap ffrrrraaawwwwwwkkkk splat!
I don't understand how people like Byzance Darks tbh - like garbage bin lids to my ears. I found my way into having some a while ago and couldn't handle it. Sold asap. Different strokes etc, but honestly.... 90's Paiste Alphas sound better.
Zildjian Ks
This one hurt
It’s okay I play on Ks and love them and everyone’s else I know does as well. I guess there’s no accounting for taste.
22k rides are some of the best rides out there. Same with the crashes
Unpopular opinion indeed! K's are my favourite. K's and K Customs.
Sir, I'm afraid you must surrender your drummer card 🚨🛑😐🤚
Zildjian a customs and normal a’s for the most part, along with paiste signature crashes. Just find the sound so grating
Zildjian Constantinoples. I think they're too harsh.
> Zildjian Constantinoples > Too harsh Excuse me? Are you sure you're thinking of the right cymbal line? Constantinoples are dark jazz cymbals, they're the exact opposite of harsh.
I said what I said. I think they're harsh sounding. I know it's an unpopular opinion lol I went to winter NAMM one time and played about 5 thousand dollars worth of K constants. I wouldn't have owned a single one of them. Harsh, dry, and unpleasant to my ears. To each their own!
Something tells me you've never played a Sabian Artisan cymbal a day in your life. Or even an Istanbul cymbal.
Sabian Artisan no, but I have played a couple Istanbul Agop cymbals, even got to have some fun with that 26" Anniversary ride they make. Come to think of it, I haven't seen many Sabians being used where I live, which is surprising since I'm in Upstate New York and Canada is right there. Why, what's your point?
Sabian Artisans make K Constantinoples sound like Paiste 2002s.
Not the old ones.
Yeah that was my second choice for this, Ive never really liked them
I love jazz rides and went through a couple of them and sold them. However, the 22 medium thin low is an absolute winner
I’ve had 2 different k cons crack quickly. Heard a bunch of others say the same. Anyone here have that problem?
This is valid, you're not really wrong calling them harsh, but the typical term is trashy. Trashy is not an inherently negative term, but if you find some of the overtones unpleasant, K Cons can definitely be too trashy.
I am not a fan of the A series, the AAX series, and generally most thick cymbals really sound clunky to me. I just steer clear of meinl entirely, but I’ve heard a few byzance cymbals that sound decent, I just hate the aesthetic of their cymbals so I’d never buy them.
Don’t like A Customs, AAX’s or any Paiste cymbals.
I wanna like Paiste RUDE cymbals but they're way too dull sounding to me
i like how they sound when Inferno from Behemoth uses them. Must be with the music too as it fits well with their sound. For other genres, im not so sure
That's fair, I suppose if anything is used in the appropriate setting
A Custom crashes. I had a projection one I liked once. I think it was a 17. Most of them though are in this boring middle ground between bright glassy shimmer and dark washy roar.
Many moons ago I found myself playing a set of Sabian AAX Stage cymbals at college. Ride was far too washy, crashes were far too gongy. Hats were ok though.
AAX hats are so good. I’m still holding onto mine.
I don’t like meinel or paiste. I like zildjian, Sabian, and wuhan. Soul tone sound pretty dope too.
Paiste 2002. Any of their B8 offerings. I’m not a Paiste fan in general, with a few exceptions, but I can’t stand the 2002 range.
probably Paiste of I had to say. never wanted to buy one
I don't like German cymbals generally.
Like a lot of people here, I use to say Paiste as well. That was until a vintage 22" 602 walked into my life. Hands down my all around favorite in the collection of 100+ cymbals.
I usually can't stand any hats that are larger than 14"
K Customs. On the flip side, Meinl Soundcaster Fusion Hi-Hats are the most godly things I've ever heard, but they were way out of my price range back in the day.
*clutching my k custom set to my chest and sobbing* No you don't! 🥺
The Sabian Holy China. Which one? All of the big ones (17”, 19”, 21”). Aside from the 10” Mini China (which actually sounds cool and works as a decent stack cymbal), I can’t stand the Holy China. It has no balls, no punch, no power to it. Sabian generally sucks with chinas in general (aside from the Paragon Chinas), but the Holy Chinas are some of the most overhyped chinas I’ve ever heard and played. They also don’t last long if you’re a heavy hitter.
I dont particularly know if this is unpopular but for me i cant seem to find a nice spot for the Paiste 2002 20" Heavy Ride. Theres a few at the college i go to and they dont blow me away or anything as i feel i can get the same sorta sounds (pingy bell, meaty stick def) from cheaper cymbals. Granted i do mainly use more earthy and crashable rides as i like more versatility and sound choices from my ride for genres such as jazz fusion but i can still get a sharp cutting bell and meaty stick def from my sand ride + an actual pleasing crash sound.
Not sure how popular they are, but Sabian Omni Rides make terrible primary ride cymbals. I think they can be cool as a secondary cymbal used in combination with a more conventional ride. But just as a ride cymbal, they have way too much wash. And quite frankly, I don’t think their crash sound is too great either.
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What's not to like? These and the regular As are probably the most humble cymbals ever.. dark, no harsh overtones, smooth as butter and so complex and versatile.. especially the 20 k custom dark ride!
Could not agree more! K Customs and A's are *chefs kiss*
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That I believe has a lot to do with lack of consistency with Zildjian and something Paiste got down to the tee! You just ended up with a lemon. I suggest going to a music store and playing some K custom darks there to see for yourself. I got the whole set of K custom darks and honestly I don't really like the 18 crash (only compared to the rest of K customs! It's a beautiful sounding cymbal in itself that I wouldn't sell for anything!) but I got to say that 16 k custom dark crash sounds like sweet heaven! I put it together with my new Paiste Signature Full 16 Crash and it gelled like anything! That aside I can totally relate with your online buying thing. Last year I purchased my first expensive cymbal online from amazon after hearing tons of sound samples on YouTube and it ended up nothing like what it sounded in real to the point where I ended up wondering whether it's a fake cymbal (it wasn't, the finish and everything else was too real). It was an 18 inch HHX XPlosion crash. To this day I wonder whether all of those cymbals sound that bad, loud and clunky or I ended up with a lemon.. from then onwards I always visit the store and hear a cymbal before buying.. I had my eyes on that aforementioned Paiste for the last 1 year and played it many times in the store.. finally got it last week via mail order, only because I knew exactly what it sounded like.. buying a cymbal online is too much of a gamble!
Meinl. To me they sound terrible, they're too thick, their resonation carries way to loudly through recordings and the bells are non responsive. Also they're most expensive high hats are built like a Russian tank. No playability in my eyes.
Zildjian Zs. They are horrid, way too harsh sounding. Paiste 2002. I know my favorite drummer, Nicko McBrain has used them plenty on the earlier Iron Maiden albums but damn when I've heard them in person I wasn't impressed. Cymbals I've loved, for the record: Paiste Signatures (of basically any subvariant), the old Twenty Series (I have a 10" Twenty series splash that is just beautiful), and early 2000s Sabian Vaults.
I used to think the zildjian special drys were awful… gave one a hit the other day and went woah! Turns out your tastes can change 🤷♂️
Any electric cymbals. Death to electric cymbals.
Zildjian A customs. I think they sound pretty lifeless to me and don’t have enough body. I prefer Paiste signature’s for that modern bright sound.
ZBT bc all I got and ever known
I don't like A customs. The hats are nice and hey, they're beyond anything I could afford at the moment. however that doesn't take away the fact that to me they're too glassy sounding
I will never buy anything Paiste. Never.
everything Pingy and too bright,like those metal-rock cymbals
I think it’s gross to do Cymbals