Gambayak – yes I agree and that’s what I’m doing too – I used only Cymbals appropriate for Jazz and I don’t use my Jazz Cymbals for Blues.
Ahpek – good advice and so true especially so on the Technique Part.
My personal opinion:-
When it comes to decision on purchasing Cymbals – careful consideration should be taken besides the above.
I’ve heard many Proponents & Opponents of – “Manufacturer Brands of Cymbals eg Sabian Zildjian Paiste etc) via “Hand-Hammered Cymbals eg. Bosphorous, Turkish, Istanbul, Masterworks etc).
The truth is :-
(1) Manufacturer Cymbals
They are produced in Volume, due to their Popularity, so with their image and volume demand – they need Machines…and standardization in Sound is achieved besides been able to coup with World-Wide Demand…..
There is Good & Bad here - - - - Good thing is for their Higher End Cymbals (or range of Cymbals) – there is a certain standardization in Sound – you are assured that you get this close-similarity in the sound you really wanted from them for their cymbals..eg. Zildjian Constantinople, Paiste Signature, Sabian Vault etc (just an example)….BadOn the other hand is – There are always a handful of Drummers who wanted difference in sound in a Cymbal(that’s why some claim – not all cymbal sound the same) and Prices are high and in US – customers as they becomes more discerning (with introduction of more HandHammered Cymbals with better value for money offers to drummers) – the customers (who are drummers here) feels these Manufacturer are over-pricing their Cymbals – true in a way – but it’s a process and reality that when demand becomes Worldwide – you can’t hammer every single Cymbal and Certain Standard have to be set…that’s understandable.
I love Paiste – but not all Paiste (only their Signature & The New Signature Series) – so do I love Zildjian K Constantinople & Ks, I like Sabian Vault too - - - but if I buy a lower range of Cymbals of these Manufacturer - - - then I would rather go for HandHammered Series (eg like Bosphorous, Turkish, Istanbul, Masterworks etc) just to name a few here because
(2) HandHammered Cymbals
HandHammered Cymbals are really Value For Money Cymbals – not expensive, great sounding among their entire range ….. The difference within their range is just (whether you want Rock Cymbals, Jazz Cymbals etc) – but test them all within the range and you’ll find it’s just – What kind of sound you want to suit your kind of Music you Play – Pricing within the range are very close (so all are value for money)…great buy.
Because they are HandHammer – you find a greater difference in sound even among the same range, size - - I love this too because sound is very subjective, it great to have such variance here maintaining a certain level of acceptable sound – as all HandHammer cymbals will go through a Final Stage of Testing and Hammering by their QC which is the CymbalMaker (maybe one or two person here only) – the rest just knock knock base on a certain standard patterns before it comes to this stage.
Then there is this Bosphorus (the Dirty n Raw –Look) vs Istanbul n Turkish (the clean n Shining Look)….some like the Raw Kinda Looks and some Clean Shinning Looks – both are nice…..To me price is of no issue here when comparing among these HandHammered Cymbals – cause the variance is negligible – so when making a comparison strictly between 2 HandHammered Series – Sound you prefer will be the Main and Sole deciding factor - , unlike comparing them to High-End Manufacturer Cymbals – which can be almost double or even more than double – even triple the price is not uncommon…….
It is here – Value For Money of HandHammered Cymbals comes in – If Prices is 3 times or 2 times more when comparing it with Manufacturer High End Cymbals – We begin to question or ask ourself – Is the SOUND…3 times better – No way hahahahah ! a difference there is but not twice better….so we make decision here on what to choose.
Now if you are Image Conscious and love a particular Brand eg Zildjian or Paiste – then it is the willingness to pay the Ex-$$$$$$. So it is true – we pay more $$$$$ for a Brand which is their Equity that commands the Higher Prices…..this being said –
Manufacturer Brands like Zildjian K Con really sound awesome don’t they? So does Paiste New Signature Series …. Whether they sound better than HandHammered – it’s an acquired taste by oneself…..to me – I love these 2 Range most for Manufacturer Brand.
But unfortunately – I don’t have a money-Printing-Machine…so I work within my budget – get the best of both world – buy some Paiste Sig , some Zildjian (which I haven’t yet – money not enough), meantime I’ve Bosphorous which I love them.
If only I have the $$$$$$$$$$$, like our Brother Drum_Hobbyists – I will buy all of them…Kekekekeke.
Because Cymbals are really nice, it’s hard to compare, they offer differences in Sound and Flavours, I wish I could own all of them…akin to woman - - - Raw Looking Type or Clean Looking Type – I’ve learn to admire appreciate them…they are nice and each unique in their own individual way….so it’s a good thing – I welcome them all with an open-mind and an open-arm :lol: Kekekekeke...wink* wink*