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Favorite cymbals - and why

CJMST3KCJMST3K Posts: 9,722
edited August 2007 in Musicians and Gearheads
I've been using Paiste signature series crash and china - which are really crisp and have a nice smooth wash and crash - but they're almost too pretty sounding. I used to have Sabians before I destroyed each of them from playing - they were good but slightly dull sounding. Same with my 20" Zildjian K crash - just dull.

I really like the sound on MC's cymbals - though I think he could certainly use more variety.

Which do you prefer, and why?
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Comments

  • NovawindNovawind Posts: 836
    My girlfriend has Sabians on her kit. She likes them well enough. She'll probably upgrade to Zildjians eventually. Wish she could practice more though.
    If idle hands are the devil's workshop, he must not be very productive.

    7/9/06 LA 1
    7/10/06 LA 2
    10/21/06 Bridge 1
  • i like matt.ci like matt.c Posts: 1,122
    I play paiste and I think they're fine. However whenever I get the chance I do play Zildjian and they're great.
  • tama_drummer91tama_drummer91 Posts: 205
    I love Zildjian As. I use those around my whole kit. I know Matt uses a lot of Zildjian As too.
    My first PJ show to witness was at Bonnaroo. How is that for lucky?
  • CJMST3KCJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    tama_drummer91 wrote:
    I love Zildjian As. I use those around my whole kit. I know Matt uses a lot of Zildjian As too.


    ah... another VA drummer. :)

    Can you describe the difference in sound between the Zildjian A's and K's?
    ADD 5,200 to the post count you see, thank you. :)
    *NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
    *MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
    *Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
    *Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
    *Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
    *VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
    *EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
    *Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
  • tama_drummer91tama_drummer91 Posts: 205
    CJMST3K wrote:
    ah... another VA drummer. :)

    Can you describe the difference in sound between the Zildjian A's and K's?


    Are you from VA? The difference in tone is that the Ks usually have a darker more trashy tone, where the As are more middle ground. Theres a lot more difference between the A Customs and the As in tone then there is in As and Ks in tone.
    My first PJ show to witness was at Bonnaroo. How is that for lucky?
  • CJMST3KCJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    tama_drummer91 wrote:
    Are you from VA? The difference in tone is that the Ks usually have a darker more trashy tone, where the As are more middle ground. Theres a lot more difference between the A Customs and the As in tone then there is in As and Ks in tone.


    yup - Richmond.

    So what's the difference between the A Customs and the A's?
    ADD 5,200 to the post count you see, thank you. :)
    *NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
    *MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
    *Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
    *Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
    *Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
    *VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
    *EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
    *Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
  • tama_drummer91tama_drummer91 Posts: 205
    CJMST3K wrote:
    yup - Richmond.

    So what's the difference between the A Customs and the A's?

    Youre a few hours away from me. Still nice to know that theres another jammer in VA. The difference between As and A Customs is how friggin bright the A Customs are. If you want bright cymbals I would recommend these. Ive always prefered the As to the Customs because I dont like really bright cymbals. Its all just a matter of taste. How long have you been drumming?
    My first PJ show to witness was at Bonnaroo. How is that for lucky?
  • CJMST3KCJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    tama_drummer91 wrote:
    Youre a few hours away from me. Still nice to know that theres another jammer in VA. The difference between As and A Customs is how friggin bright the A Customs are. If you want bright cymbals I would recommend these. Ive always prefered the As to the Customs because I dont like really bright cymbals. Its all just a matter of taste. How long have you been drumming?


    cool man. hopefully there's enough jammers to get a PJ gig one year! :)

    I've been playing about 22 years. Or that's how long I've been playing a kit. Tapped before then a bit. How about you?
    ADD 5,200 to the post count you see, thank you. :)
    *NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
    *MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
    *Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
    *Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
    *Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
    *VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
    *EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
    *Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
  • tama_drummer91tama_drummer91 Posts: 205
    CJMST3K wrote:
    cool man. hopefully there's enough jammers to get a PJ gig one year! :)

    I've been playing about 22 years. Or that's how long I've been playing a kit. Tapped before then a bit. How about you?


    Sorry I took so long to reply, I was out of town. Youve been playing for 22 years and you are asking me whats the differences in cymbal sounds? Are you testing me? Ive played for about 5 years.
    My first PJ show to witness was at Bonnaroo. How is that for lucky?
  • CJMST3KCJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    tama_drummer91 wrote:
    Sorry I took so long to reply, I was out of town. Youve been playing for 22 years and you are asking me whats the differences in cymbal sounds? Are you testing me? Ive played for about 5 years.

    I'm looking to see everyone's preferences. :)

    I have the high-end Paiste's, but many of the drummers I enjoy use Zildjian cymbals and Yamaha drums. I'm picky when it comes to cymbals, but there must be a reason Zildjian is up top with some people.
    ADD 5,200 to the post count you see, thank you. :)
    *NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
    *MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
    *Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
    *Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
    *Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
    *VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
    *EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
    *Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
  • MichaelMcKevinMichaelMcKevin Posts: 1,161
    I wouldn't necessarily say Zildjians are an upgrade to Sabians. I think it's a "separate but equal" type deal. I was once told they were the same company that split up. If you'd like to compare cymbals, both Sabian and Zildjian's websites have several audio clips to compare cymbals.

    http://www.sabian.com
    http://www.zildjian.com
    Camden I '06, Camden II '06, Bonnaroo '08, Camden I '08, Camden II '08, Philly Spectrum II/III/IV '09, MSG I '10, MSG II '10, Made In America '12, Wrigley '13, Brooklyn II '13, Philly I '13, Philly II '13, ...
  • PatrickBatemanPatrickBateman Posts: 2,243
    I currently use:
    14" Sabian AAX-celerator hats
    22" Paiste 2002 power ride
    18" and 19" Paiste Dimensions Raw crashes
    14" Paiste 502 crash
    12" and 18" Wuhan China
    8" Sabian B8 pro splash

    The 22" power ride and 18/19 Dimension crashes are really loud and cut through when the rest of the set is mic'd but in a basement setting they are almost too loud. I like them though.
    I tried many different hats and these were my favorite, I like the swishiness of the wavy bottom hat and when used with foot pedal, I get a nice clean "chick".

    I used to have a nice 18" Zildjian China but it disappeared one day. The Wuhan are really loud and trashy and cut through nice but it has a short sustain. But hey they were dirt cheap and can take a beating. ( I use Eastons Ahead sticks). Some day I will break down and get a better china. The 12" is great for accents.

    The others are cheap fillers for varied sounds.

    oh, and I wouldn't say Zildjians are necessarily an 'upgrade' to Sabians.
    I strayed away from zildjians when I noticed they were the only ones that ever broke on me....could be coincidence but there a days when I have one too many beers and beat the crap out of my Paiste's and Sabians and have not broke one yet. Every Zildjian I owned broke on me (except the one that got away)
    If a man speaks in a forest and there is no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?
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