hey guys, im looking to buy new cymbals as the ones im currently using sounds awful. in case you're wondering, they came together with my tama rockstar. im totally new to all these gear stuff and im starting to get a lil confused and having some problems deciding on what to get. i know yamaha's having some sale now and touting ZXT pro's package at $550. i also checked out paiste's PST 3, 5 and 201 cymbal packs at ranking. just wanna know what your opinions are on the above and whether i should consider them or would it be better to so call "mix and match".if i do so, what can i get at that kinda price ranges? thanks!
opinions on cymbals
- Thread starter aloy182
- Start date
mel80
New member
With a less than $600 budget, it is quite difficult for you to get a full set of 'mix and match' cymbals. Reason being, a good pair of hats can easily cost over $300. Not forgetting about getting at least a crash and ride. It will somehow add up to around $1k. That is obviously the most ideal budget to work with.
But if you want to work within your budget, PST5 is the best buy from the list of cymbal packages you have mentioned.
With that said, cymbals are almost like a lifetime investment. Most of them will last you for a lifetime. So you can either get a cymbal pack and eventually 'upgrade' later, or purchase piece by piece over time. Most importantly, you have to like what you hear.
Have fun with discovering cymbal sounds!
But if you want to work within your budget, PST5 is the best buy from the list of cymbal packages you have mentioned.
With that said, cymbals are almost like a lifetime investment. Most of them will last you for a lifetime. So you can either get a cymbal pack and eventually 'upgrade' later, or purchase piece by piece over time. Most importantly, you have to like what you hear.
Have fun with discovering cymbal sounds!
Mel80: that's my exact concern. haha! im really worried that someday i'll outplay the cymbals and get discontented with the sound ( which i think wld definitely happen ) I'm getting starry eyed looking at all the cymbals around that i don't know what to choose! haha. is there any significant differences in the tone/pitch etc. between cast cymbals and sheet ones? what choices can i get with a roughly 1k budget?
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I had the same dilema when i got my Tama Rockstar almost a decade ago. It came with a bunch of paiste cymbals (only one sounds half-decent and i still use it, along with the hihat as my secondary). Rather than take a big splash (pardon the pun) and go for a cymbal set, i've been slowly upgrading and adding new cymbals one at a time. This has allowed me to go for the higher end stuff since i am able to save up. It has also been a fun experience watching my kit slowly expand and evolve. I suppose that time has also allowed me to better understand what kinda sound I like from my cymbals and make the right cymbal choices. I've reached a point where I no longer feel the urge to add or change anything unless they break (i've broken 2 crashes already, one of them being my beloved Sabian HHX Evolution crash). Your mileage might vary though. Just my $0.02.
denosha: i bet it gives you that really nice thrill and sense of satisfaction when you step back and watch your 'family' grow with each addition huh? thanks for the advice! haha. my set comes with the kinda mass manufactured cymbals stamped with TAMA's logo on it. so i guess its less than half decent? minimum resonance on the ride and stuff like that. drives me crazy. very pek chek sometimes and don't feel like playing on it anymore. dillema of getting a kit is in reality, quality of the drum set contrasts with thequality of cymbals by alot. drum heads can be changed and tuned but a cymbal is sorta like a lifelong commitmment. so i don't wanna splurge and then realise its not what i really want. haha.
by the way, whats the current configuration of your set like?
by the way, whats the current configuration of your set like?
twiztedjoker
New member
Look around, a thousand bucks is pretty good budget. If you can afford to wait, i started out with my AA Rock Set( and a 16" a custom crash @220) at about 650(yeah that adds up to about 870 - leaving enough for a nice splash)...worked my way from there to a nice cymbal set(AA Hats, 2 k dark crashes, a k dark ride and the a custom crash - i still keep my PST5 splash in storage). Honestly? If you want a good beginner set that will last, go for the PST5. Watch Cobus on youtube using his universal PST5 set-up. You'll be amazed. Of course miked up it sounds different lah, but you'll get a basic feel of it. In the end it's all up to personal opinion. Go to shops like sweelee and yamaha(and ranking -.-) and test around, come back and ask for more details and i'm sure people would be glad to help (=
P.S You could always go for a Zildjian A/K combination like me, sex cymbals but really expensive haha
P.S You could always go for a Zildjian A/K combination like me, sex cymbals but really expensive haha
jeepers
New member
Where's Drum_hobbyist and his "turkish value-for-money cymbals" pitch. Heh!
Well, I shall do it then. Get Turkish cymbals. Handhammered, quality cymbals at a absolute steal. Hours after hours, maybe even days, to find THE ONE. Box sets vary, I'm not sure what the prices are though.
Do check out the latest cymbals to hit our shore: Turca
Gorgeous stuff; great sounding, sexayy-looking cymbals. I can attest for that, saw them up close and tried them out. I vouch for the quality of turkish cymbals.
0.02
Well, I shall do it then. Get Turkish cymbals. Handhammered, quality cymbals at a absolute steal. Hours after hours, maybe even days, to find THE ONE. Box sets vary, I'm not sure what the prices are though.
Do check out the latest cymbals to hit our shore: Turca
Gorgeous stuff; great sounding, sexayy-looking cymbals. I can attest for that, saw them up close and tried them out. I vouch for the quality of turkish cymbals.
0.02
Yeah, the last thing you want is to have spent a couple of hundred bucks on a new cymbal only to regret it later on.
My kit looks like this now (except that the 16" Sabian HHX Evolution Crash has been replaced with a 16" Sabian HHX Stage Crash):
http://soft.com.sg/forum/gear-drums/8349-official-show-us-your-kits-thread-11.html#post252630
Frontal view: Denosha's Viewfinder :: Abstracts & Still Life :: Drumz_8
drum_hobbyist
New member
Check out the Turkish cymbal pack at Music Lab. The price is out of this world for hand hammered cymbals. It got snapped up so fast that right now one is available and the other reserved. Never judge the quality of a cymbal by its pricing. I don't mind buying a set for myself when the next shipment arrives 
wow, first off. let me say im impressed by the response to my thread. thanks alot you guys. really appreciate the help. i know i should really go look around the diff music shops and test but sometimes the people at the shops seem kinda unhappy, reluctant if i mention i wld like to try. very hard to make a decision under such stress conditions. btw guys, i think i'll look for a ride cymbal first and work from there. i would like to get something bright sounding. any suggestions? would the 20" k ride be adequate?
drum_hobbyist and jeepers, where can i actually find these turkish cymbals you mention? again may i ask what the diff is between hand hammered? and cast cymbals and sheet cymbals?
thanks all for your kind advice. i can really see the local drum community is very active and helpful.
btw guys, i think i'll look for a ride cymbal first and work from there. i would like to get something bright sounding. any suggestions? would the 20" k ride be adequate?drum_hobbyist and jeepers, where can i actually find these turkish cymbals you mention? again may i ask what the diff is between hand hammered? and cast cymbals and sheet cymbals?
thanks all for your kind advice.
i can really see the local drum community is very active and helpful. lester_music
New member
If i am not wrong..i think K series is usually warm and darker sounding...
The A custom probably has a brighter tone...
Anyone can verify?
The A custom probably has a brighter tone...
Anyone can verify?
twiztedjoker
New member
lester_music: Right on, the K series IS warmer and more rounded, the cymbals in this series add really dark vibes and spice up the kit. The A custom's are naturally much brighter and cutting, and thinner/lighter compared to the K custom series. It depends on what cymbal type la, of course.
aloy182: That i'm not sure, so go try yourself lor As for the 20" K custom dark ride... GO FOR IT, GO FOR IT, OMGOMGOMG! IT'S THE <3 & I HAVE ONE IT'S AWESOME. Of course that's only my really shiny and glittery 0.02cents
Cheers,
Marcus
aloy182: That i'm not sure, so go try yourself lor
As for the 20" K custom dark ride... GO FOR IT, GO FOR IT, OMGOMGOMG! IT'S THE <3 & I HAVE ONE IT'S AWESOME. Of course that's only my really shiny and glittery 0.02cents Cheers,
Marcus
jeepers
New member
aloy182: Turkish cymbals can be found at the following places:
Bosphorus: Accent Music
Turkish: Music Lab
Istanbul Mehmet: Drum Resources
Istanbul Agop: Ezimusic (There's a shipment coming in end of August, so decide soon!)
Turca: Pro Musique (Latest quality handhammered Turkish cymbals to hit our shores, very interesting stuff; both Drum_hobbyist and I can attest to that!)
If you're not a brand whore and possibly working with a tighter budget, I'd say go for the turkish-made cymbals. Up to date, I've not owned a single piece but soon I will. Will post them up in the "Wad cymbals do u guys have..." when they're in.
One piece of advice: do NOT be rash and plunge into the market for cymbals if you're not entirely sure of what you need/want, be sure of what you want and go around trying different cymbals and brands. You'll be surprised what gems you can find from brands outside the big four.
All the best!
jeepers
Bosphorus: Accent Music
Turkish: Music Lab
Istanbul Mehmet: Drum Resources
Istanbul Agop: Ezimusic (There's a shipment coming in end of August, so decide soon!)
Turca: Pro Musique (Latest quality handhammered Turkish cymbals to hit our shores, very interesting stuff; both Drum_hobbyist and I can attest to that!)
If you're not a brand whore and possibly working with a tighter budget, I'd say go for the turkish-made cymbals. Up to date, I've not owned a single piece but soon I will. Will post them up in the "Wad cymbals do u guys have..." when they're in.
One piece of advice: do NOT be rash and plunge into the market for cymbals if you're not entirely sure of what you need/want, be sure of what you want and go around trying different cymbals and brands. You'll be surprised what gems you can find from brands outside the big four.
All the best!
jeepers
ioaka
New member
aloy182,
Please don't get the Zildjian ZXT Pro set, or ZXT for that matter.
they sound really cheap, and crap in my opinion, just pingy and just overall not nice. i have set of them and i totally regret
i bought June's issue of Rhythm mag, and they recommended the following budget cymbals:
Stagg, which is sold at Penisular hotel basement. i've tried the stagg 16" Crash Medium Brilliant, as they have it at L Cube, it sounds really quite good; fast and shimmering.
pst5, sold at ranking sports.
I'm planning to get turkish cymbals myself, I just wanna warn you against getting ZXTs, ZBTs or Solars. on top of being kinda lousy cymbals, they have next to zero resale value.
All the best in your search!
Cheers,
Joash
Please don't get the Zildjian ZXT Pro set, or ZXT for that matter.
they sound really cheap, and crap in my opinion, just pingy and just overall not nice. i have set of them and i totally regret
i bought June's issue of Rhythm mag, and they recommended the following budget cymbals:
Stagg, which is sold at Penisular hotel basement. i've tried the stagg 16" Crash Medium Brilliant, as they have it at L Cube, it sounds really quite good; fast and shimmering.
pst5, sold at ranking sports.
I'm planning to get turkish cymbals myself, I just wanna warn you against getting ZXTs, ZBTs or Solars. on top of being kinda lousy cymbals, they have next to zero resale value.
All the best in your search!
Cheers,
Joash
twiztedjoker
New member
Mmmmmmmmm, the thing is, you're going to have to think about the cymbals in the long run. So as what jeepers said, spend your time making trips down to SweeLee, Yamaha and the likes for your various cymbal testing. As always, it's best to test with your kit(somehow). Alternatively you could stick around the buy/sell forum and poach yourself a good deal!
As for the ZXT and ZBT's...well you know what they say, one man's trash can be another man's treasure
P.S Or maybe you could buy someone like drum_hobbyist kopi and let him hook you up to test some turkish cymbals
As for the ZXT and ZBT's...well you know what they say, one man's trash can be another man's treasure
P.S Or maybe you could buy someone like drum_hobbyist kopi and let him hook you up to test some turkish cymbals
drum_hobbyist
New member
Yup... come over to my place and buy me kopi and learn cymbalogy and try out an array of 126 cymbals if you can cope
ioaka
New member
Mmmmmmmmm, the thing is, you're going to have to think about the cymbals in the long run....
As for the ZXT and ZBT's...well you know what they say, one man's trash can be another man's treasure
i totally agree with you twiztedjoker.
I apologize if i sounded too damning of ZXTs and ZBTs, I own the ZXT Pro set. IMO the cymbals are not great due to the fact that you really gotta whack quite hard to get an ok sound, and I've never really been much of a hard hitter. This should be due to the nature of the production of budget Zildjians (mass produced, heavy, brass alloys).
Thus these cymbals would be perfect if you're into playing metal, or any of genre with "core" in their name, but they really wouldn't work in almost every other genre , eg. pop, blues, jazz, funk etc. They don't project well with light or medium playing, brought them out on a gig playing Top 40s and Blues, and they really didn't cut it for me, and my band members. And should you attempt to enjoy your cymbal character during home practice, your treasure maybe be trash to your neighbors, and you might end up feeling really stifled and repressed, especially if your neighbors stay in close proximity to you. I stay in an apartment, and even when I try to practice jazz with rods, the neighbors come down crying for blood.
I believe we all wanna take our art to a higher level; which most likely means going for gigs at some point or another etc. in the near future. (playing drums alone in a room all the time gets kinda lonely if you ask me, unless you be like freaking thomas lang, and produce educational DVDs.)
It really sucks to be at the mercy of the venue when it comes to the drumset you use, more so for cymbals, as they project at higher frequencies then your toms; thus their character will be more obvious to everyone.
My opinion is, try get cymbals you'll be proud to take out and gig. You can tune drum skins, and use various dampening devices, but cymbal sounds are a lot harder to modify if you ask me!
btw, drum_hobbyist is the ultimate cymbal connoisseur!
Cheers,
Joash
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twiztedjoker
New member
Haha, indeed. Quite paiseh to bring one cymbal case, then start taking out your ZBT/ZHT's and set-up...
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