Cymbal Manufacturers

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_brian_

_brian_

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Just wondering what you opinions are on which company makes a more consistant cymbal. I've heard that dream is one of the worst with regards to cymbals of the same model sounding so different. I'm wanting to upgrade & I'm pretty much grounded (I'll probably have to travel a few hundred miles to find a good drum store with a good stock of cymbals to try & that's not happening) this means listening to samples online is my only gauge when selecting cymbals.

PS is there a UK online shop that gives the actual sample of the cymbal your buying?
 
Brian,

I find Zildjian's and Sabian's to be the most consistent. I know Zildjian's site http://www.zildjian.com has .mp3 samples posted for all their cymbals. I think Sabian has something similar on their site as well.

David
 
I've been on all the big guns sites & found their samples to be helpful, but you wont hear the actual cymbal your buying just the sound of that model. That's why I was asking which manufacturer is most consitant so that I can gauge more precisely what I may be buying. I think there is a US online shop that does this but I haven't found a UK one sadly.
 
When cymbal shopping, I found most of the Zildjians to be very inconsistent. I was extremely disappointed with their products. I don't see why so many people like Zildjian. I guess it's the trendy hot name in cymbals these days. I played a few A and Z customs live, and I didn't like them at all. Played dozens of other Zildjian products at drum shops, and found maybe 2 or 3 that sounded good to my ears. They were very inconsistent even with seemingly identical models and sizes. The Sabians I looked at were much better and got me closer to the sound I like, but still no dice.

I went with Paiste 2002's and their RUDE series. Love em.

I tried out several Paiste products and made my decision. I then took a gamble and ordered them online. In theory, you should only buy a cymbal once you've heard it. My cymbals showed up and they sounded exactly as I remembered them sounding in person at the drum shop. Kudos to Paiste for some consistent manufacturing.
 
I've always been told, and do believe, to never go with anything that's completely hand made. I think everyone's been saying Zildjians are inconsistant and I'll second that. I made the mistake of going into a booth and not actually testing the cymbal I was going to be taking home.
I also went with Paiste, the dimensions series, a few power crashes. I also have two Zildjians - one is a 1930s 1940s era ride that I got from my drum teacher for my birthday after 13 years of lessons. He got it from some Jazz drummer and legend has it that is was hand picked by Armand Zildjian. So that's kinda cool..and the other is a K custom hybrid crash, which I have been extremely impressed with. I'm not sure if that's because I got lucky, or they are just nice cymbals..but yeah I'd say Paiste all the way.
 
Greg_L said:
I tried out several Paiste products and made my decision. I then took a gamble and ordered them online. In theory, you should only buy a cymbal once you've heard it. My cymbals showed up and they sounded exactly as I remembered them sounding in person at the drum shop. Kudos to Paiste for some consistent manufacturing.
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I can second this too! Basically the exact same situation - went to a local music store to try one out, found it online for cheaper. I'll also add that you can really beat the hell out of them. I'm not a really hard player but I've got all sorts of friends who come over.....at this point every drummer knows what I'm talking about....but they have always held up.
 
If you want consistency, I'd say Paiste, hands down. If you've seen their manufacturing process you'd know what I mean. Sabians and Zildjians are rather consistent quality wise, but there will always be (sometimes drastic) variations between different cymbals within a specific model.

Paiste's are made to perfectly replicate their master cymbal that they have for each model and size. Their pies don't go out the door unless they perfectly match the master in spec and sound. Hence, as near perfect consistency as is humanly possible
 
Paiste are very consistent sheet metal cymbals that tend to be very bright and have only one character. Caste cymbals such as Zildjian, Sabian, Bosphorous and Istanbul are more like hand made guitars and there are subtle variations between one to the other. You need to check out the one that you want by playing it. I use only Zildjian Cymbals and I have many. I started buying them back in the 60's and I've always liked the way they sound and I'm very particular about picking exactly the right ones for what I want (I rather enjoy cymbal shopping, cause it gives me ideas). I do own a couple of Sabian Cymbals, I still have some 18" and a 20" Paiste formula 602's crashes that I bought in the 60's and I use them once in a while (but they are fragile) and I have some other assorted Turkish cymbals and a few Wuhan crashes, but I really prefer the sound of my Zildjians.
It is a matter of personal taste.
 
I'm a Zildjian fan personally (vintage of course), but if it's consistency you're after, I'd have to add another recommendation for Paiste.

I've heard that John Dolmayan from System of a Down endorses Paiste so that when he's on tour he can walk into a local store and buy a cymbal that he knows will exactly replicate whatever he's broken.
 
And all the baddest drummers use Paiste.

Bonham, Keith Moon, Phil Rudd, Marky Ramone, Alex Van Halen, Greg_L, just to name a few. :D
 
Greg_L said:
And all the baddest drummers use Paiste.

Bonham, Keith Moon, Phil Rudd, Marky Ramone, Alex Van Halen, Greg_L, just to name a few. :D
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Hehe. That made me laugh. :D

Vinnie Colaiuta / Steve Gadd / Carter Beauford / Joey Kramer / Bill Stewart / Peter Erskine - Zildjian

Dave Weckl / Dom Famularo / Carl Allen / Steve Smith / Marcus Baylor / Ed Shaughnessy - Sabian

Great drummers play great cymbals. Paiste, Zildjian, Sabian, PA Meinl: all great cymbal makers. Endorsements are secondary.

Someone made a great point earlier about Paiste's quality control. Zildjian and Sabian have it, too. I think the original spirit of the thread was to discuss consistency & quality among manufacturers... To that end, I think the blanket statement can be made that most major cymbal manufacturers have enough quality control in place to produce a consistent product among their pro-level model lines.

When I say "consistency", I'm talking about the quality of the product, the general response of the cymbal, and the types of tones you can expect. My Zildjian Avedis crashes may have a slightly different pitch than your Avedis crashes of the same size and finish - because they're all lathed and finished by hand and that allows for variations - but they'll all have the same fundamental tones, and the quality will be consistent from cymbal to cymbal. Sabian's AA and HH lines would be the same situation.

If the specific... say, pitch... is what you're after, there's no substitute for a trip to your local percussion shop (or to a cymbal factory if you can arrange it) to test specific cymbals themselves.
 
and........................

Buddy Rich, Louis Belson, Elvin Jones, Gene Krupa, Max Roach, Terry Lynn Carrington and Neil Peart (until recently when he got that sweet endorsement deal) played Zildjian

Jack deJohnette, Tony Williams play Istanbul or Bosphorous

It's a matter of personal taste and the voice you want to have.
 
Rimshot said:
Buddy Rich, Louis Belson, Elvin Jones, Gene Krupa, Max Roach, Terry Lynn Carrington and Neil Peart (until recently when he got that sweet endorsement deal) played Zildjian

Jack deJohnette, Tony Williams play Istanbul or Bosphorous

It's a matter of personal taste and the voice you want to have.
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Jack has played Sabian forever. Tony was a K Zildjian man through and through.
 
twelveight said:
Jack has played Sabian forever. Tony was a K Zildjian man through and through.
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Maybe forever in your young life, but I remember when there was no such a thing as Sabian and Paiste cymbals around. I have photos and video of Tony Williams playing Turkish cymbals and Of Jack de Johnette playing a kit with Boshorous cymbals (he's even older than I am BTW).
 
Rimshot said:
Maybe forever in your young life, but I remember when there was no such a thing as Sabian and Paiste cymbals around.
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You should have paid closer attention. Paiste cymbals were used a lot in the 60's. You aint that old. :D
 
I agree Paiste is far and above the most consistent cymbal maker.
Even the traditionals and twenty series are very consistent.
 
Greg_L said:
You should have paid closer attention. Paiste cymbals were used a lot in the 60's. You aint that old. :D
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Yeah, that's sort of true. I mentioned that I purchased some Paiste Formula 602 crash cymbals in about 1968, but they were real new on the scene then. I purchased a Paiste ride a few years ago and it is a very good cymbal, but I just don't really like the sound, it's too bright for my taste. I think that they are an excellent cymbal maker, but they are not for everybody.
 
Greg_L said:
And all the baddest drummers use Paiste.

Bonham, Keith Moon, Phil Rudd, Marky Ramone, Alex Van Halen, Greg_L, just to name a few. :D
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Don't forget about Jeff, and Mike Clarck and Curt Bisquera! :)
 
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