Recommend me some cymbals! Please.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dethska
  • Start date Start date
Dethska

Dethska

Not a Mod
I need some help finding some new cymbals to go with my new drum set. I refuse to use ZBT's anymore.

I'm looking for a good all around sound. I'm thinking Ziljian A's or A customs. What do you guys think? What is the difference between the two. I also have looked at K's as I've heard they are good for recording, but I'm wondering if they are a thinner cymbal that might not work too well under any abuse. I know I don't want Z's. I've got heavy ZBT's and they suck.

For hi-hats, I'm looking at new beats and mastersounds(?). Any opinions? Rides? I've heard good things about K series rides.

I'm reallly looking for cymbals that record well, can take a little abuse, and will sound good in a rock/punk setting, but won't sound horrible in a quieter situation.

I really need help because I'm so used to my ZBT's that I don't know what is good. I have one cymbal that isn't an ZBT that I like, but it isn't marked with any letter. Just Avedis Ziljian Medium Thin Crash. I think it's an A of some sort.

I think I'm going to want probably one maybe two more crashes. I have an 18" that's good so maybe a 16" and a 14"? Maybe instead of the 14", a splash of some sort. And some hats, and a ride. A budget of no more than $500 for everything.

What do you guys recommend? Thanks for your help in advance.
 
If you want cymbals for a quieter setting as well, I'd stay away from Z customs, even though I love my Z Custom Rock Crash. A's or A customs are both very good cymbals, I would just go into the store and try everything out to see what you like best.
 
Dethska said:
I need some help finding some new cymbals to go with my new drum set. I refuse to use ZBT's anymore.

I'm looking for a good all around sound. I'm thinking Ziljian A's or A customs. What do you guys think? What is the difference between the two. I also have looked at K's as I've heard they are good for recording, but I'm wondering if they are a thinner cymbal that might not work too well under any abuse. I know I don't want Z's. I've got heavy ZBT's and they suck.

For hi-hats, I'm looking at new beats and mastersounds(?). Any opinions? Rides? I've heard good things about K series rides.

I'm reallly looking for cymbals that record well, can take a little abuse, and will sound good in a rock/punk setting, but won't sound horrible in a quieter situation.

I really need help because I'm so used to my ZBT's that I don't know what is good. I have one cymbal that isn't an ZBT that I like, but it isn't marked with any letter. Just Avedis Ziljian Medium Thin Crash. I think it's an A of some sort.

I think I'm going to want probably one maybe two more crashes. I have an 18" that's good so maybe a 16" and a 14"? Maybe instead of the 14", a splash of some sort. And some hats, and a ride. A budget of no more than $500 for everything.

What do you guys recommend? Thanks for your help in advance.
Click to expand...

IMO, I like 13" Mastersounds. I have ZBTs right now and I hate them. Also, for a ride, I would go with a 20 K Dark Ride. I like brilliant finishes on my cymbals. Again, you just have to pick what sounds good to your ears. Mastersounds may sound beautiful to me but crappy to you. See my point? The aforementioned were just some that a lot of people i know, as well as I, recommend. Hope this helps!
 
K rides are lovely, dark, dry....... I would get quikbeat or mastersound hihats - whatever sounds best to you. For crashs i would look at Sabian AAX Studio Crash, Zildjian A/A custom, Zildjian K's maybe Zildjian Z's and maybe even Stagg DH Brilliant Series (I have a beautiful 18" crash that sounds very oriental for £50). For FX cymbals the ZXT trashformer is great and very cheap.... AAX metal china is well worth looking at.... The Stagg splashes are nice if your short of cash...
 
I realize I need to hear them before I buy them, but I'm looking for opinions.

If you were in my situation, what would you buy? You have $500, play rock/punk but also some mellower stuff. You have a decent 18" crash already. You need to fill out the rest of the cymbals. What would you buy?

Thanks for the responses so far.
 
Dethska said:
I realize I need to hear them before I buy them, but I'm looking for opinions.

If you were in my situation, what would you buy? You have $500, play rock/punk but also some mellower stuff. You have a decent 18" crash already. You need to fill out the rest of the cymbals. What would you buy?

Thanks for the responses so far.
Click to expand...

With $500, IMO, you're kind of limited. I would probably go with a 20" K Ride ($200-250), 13" Mastersound hats ($200), and "maybe" an 18" A Custom Crash ($150). I don't know how many cymbals you're looking to add to your set up, but with the cymbals I have already mentioned, it's already over your budget. That is my opinion.
 
i like the idea of the K custom ride and the 13" mastersounds. i've got the 20in K Custom Dark ride and LOVE it. the mastersounds are next on the list. with those two instruments, you'll be set.

then i'd take the remaining cash and buy a couple used crashes in the A or A custom line. look for 16s and 18s, and you should be able to get 2 cymbals for about $100. just make sure they're not cracked or keyholed.


cheers,
wade
 
mrface2112 said:
i like the idea of the K custom ride and the 13" mastersounds. i've got the 20in K Custom Dark ride and LOVE it. the mastersounds are next on the list. with those two instruments, you'll be set.
Click to expand...

You said it!
 
K Custom Ride for rock/punk?

Don't get me wrong, I love my 20" K, but it sits in the case most of the time. It's just a little too dry for that kind of music. I think a better match for the style would be A's. They also cost less.

I'm a big fan of 13" hats. They just sound clean and crisp - especially on tape. While 14's are the standard, they can sound a little bit gong like in the studio.

13" New Beats - 200 or 13" Mastersounds - 220
20" Ping Ride - 180 or 20" A Custom Ride - 200

Crashes are even more subjective, so I'm not even going there. All I can say is don't judge by brand or series, trust your ears.
 
i recommended the K b/c he said that he's heard good things about them, and i whole-heartedly agree. i play mostly straight-ahead rock and my K works perfectly for that. for punk or metal, though, it won't.....and you're right, an A-series ride would be better suited. either way, stay away from the Z's. you can find PLENTY of used A rides around, and usually on the cheap--$100, give or take.

and i generally like 13" hats better that 14" hats. the 14's just sound too "meaty", where the 13's have a more crisp "chick" to them. the mastersounds might be not at all suited for punk, but you never know. all i know is that i like the mastersounds a lot better than the 14" newbeats i've currently got, for the music i play.


wade
 
Very true. That is the same reason why I love 13" over 14" hats. I started with 13" and they just sound so clean. Wade makes a good point that to the both of us, they seem to be too meaty. I also like the general size of them as well. With 14"s, I feel like I'm usin crashes for hats! LOL.
 
Hey Eric,

Read Jonnyfives last sentence several times cuz he's so right. Forget brand name, series,price, etc.. Trust your ears. Buy only what sounds good to you, on your set, in your drumroom. I would go to GC or anyplace that has a good return policy and buy (charge) any cymbal(s) that you think might work. Take them home and play them. Then record them. Return the ones you dont like. In December I bought a new crash and ride. I had three of each in my home and did the same thing. I think it's the best way to make sure you end up with the best possible selection.
 
I hate 13" hi-hats, period. For rock, or punk or any thing that you want warmth, 14' or 15' are the way to go. I have a set of 15" New Beats and they're great. They are quick, yet ballsey, loud yet very musical. I have recorded with them so many times because they are so versatile. I have an old set of 14" new beats that are also very good. They are brighter than the 15" but live I prefer the 15" because they're loud enough to cut through anything. MY friend just bought a pair of 15" Mastersounds and they rock! They're right inbetween the 14" and 15" New beats.
For rock, and if you are a hard hitter like myself, you might try medium crash cymbals. I don't like the Rock crashes because you have to beat the crap out of them to get a good sound and, it's not that good. I prefer the Zildjian A's. A really good set up is a 17" and a 19" A Mediums. Or you might try 16" and an 18" mediums. Two inch spreads always seam to give you the most versatillity. You could also try a Medium-Thin crash as well. If you don't hit extremly hard that actually works very well. Don't buy any crash smaller than a 16". They have no volume and you'll hit them too hard trying to force the cymbal to do something it cannot. A customs are exellent crashes but they're a bit thin and if you play rock or punk, I guarantee you'll break one in about 3-4 months. Hint: A nice ride like a 20" medium also makes a decent crash if you want that Bonham type sound once in a while!
As for rides, I like something with a decent bell. A 21" A Sweet ride is a very versatile ride. It has nice ping, great bell and a nice wash to it. It even can double as a crash once in a while (Bonham)! A 22" A Medium ride is a good choice as well, as is a 22" A Custom ride. I prefer Medium thickness to the rides because they are more versatile rather than a heavy or Earth ride, which I do not like.
Over all, It's all up to your ears. You might hate the cymbles that i've suggested but give them a try. Zbts are garbage! Anything you can get in a "pack" is trash. You get what you pay for and by the way, i recomend NOT getting anything with a "brilliant" finish..they sound like shit, and they dont look as cool!
 
I've been using the A's and A customs for years now. Can't say many bad things about them. The A customs tend to be thinner, and have a relatively bright sound to them. I plan on switching to Paiste 2002s very soon. I want something more explosive.

New beat A's are good for just about everything. Also check out the Sabian HH classic ride. Best ride cymbal I have played on so far.
 
Thanks for the suggestions! I'll keep all of this in mind when I go out shopping. It's interesting to hear the A customs are a little more fragile. The thing I don't want to do is break any more cymbals. I don't play all that hard anymore, but there is nothing worse than watching a crack slowly ruin your nice sounding cymbal.
 
The A Custom projections are heavier, verrrrry nice.

I use Sabian AAX's for my crashes. I think they sound fine. They're cheaper too.

I don't really like having a huge difference between my crashes. I usually use two 18" crashes of different thicknesses. That's just a personal preference though.

The ride I use, and love, is a 20" Zildjian A Ping Ride Brilliant. Mmmm.
 
cobradenim said:
I hate 13" hi-hats, period. For rock, or punk or any thing that you want warmth, 14' or 15' are the way to go.
Click to expand...

Your opinion. I do not play punk, but 13" sound beautifully when "I" record them. For punk, maybe not. For anything else that doesn't require cutting through the mix (ie. metal), definitely. I also would recommend the K/Z configuration.

cobradenim said:
Over all, It's all up to your ears. You might hate the cymbles that i've suggested but give them a try. Zbts are garbage! Anything you can get in a "pack" is trash. You get what you pay for and by the way, i recomend NOT getting anything with a "brilliant" finish..they sound like shit, and they dont look as cool!
Click to expand...

That's what we've been trying to tell him all along, lol. Very true, ZBTs are garbage. However, do not misinform people. A. Customs come in packs and there is nothing wrong with their sound. And for your comment about any cymbal with a "brilliant" finish, they wouldn't offer the option or sell certain cymbals that way if they did sound like shit now would they? :)
 
Dang, I didn't mean to start a war. And I believe I said in my first post that:

A: I know ZBT's are crap

B: I know I need to hear them , BUT I wanted suggestions on where to start.


Which is exactly what I've got now. I've never thought that 13" hats would be any good, but with the recommendations I've received I'll give them a good listen. I'll be focusing on A's and A customs initially, because they get the most talk.

Thanks everyone.
 
Enrique said:
And for your comment about any cymbal with a "brilliant" finish, they wouldn't offer the option or sell certain cymbals that way if they did sound like shit now would they? :)
Click to expand...

Your opinion. You're right, I forgot they do sell packs of A customs and they are great cymbles. But they are a little thin and I don't think he wants to break anymore of them. I prefer not to have a brilliant finish because I do not like the tone. But it's up to everybodys individual ears on what they like. I've never been a fan of 13" hi-hats. The 13' hew beats and Mastersounds are not my choice, that's for sure. However, I know a guy who has 13" K hats and they're ok for 13"s. I was suprised. but, they still don't cut through for punk or rock very well. 14" Mastersounds are very bright like 13" but they cut better and have a little bit more punch to them. 14" Piaste 2002 Sound Edge hats are brighter than the 14" mastersounds more like a set of 13"s. 15" Piaste 2002 Sound Edge are what John Bonham used and they sound good. Listen to How The West Was One. If you like that sound, there's an option.
Over all, spend some cash and get quality gear. It will pay off in the long run. Use the Zbts for rehearsal if you want, that might be a way to extend the life of the good cymbles when you get them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top