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NCD - New Cymbal Day

#21
fourstringdrums said:
Like any cymbal, it's a personal thing. What style of music are you playing? When I test a ride cymbal I play with the tip at the edge of the cymbal, toward the middle and closer toward the bell, as well as on the bell with the tip. I use the shaft of the stick on the bell as well. I like to have ride cymbals that can be crashed so I crash them as well.

I listen to the stick articulation to how tight it is compared to the wash or build up of the cymbal swell as you play. The bell I like to have a clear tone that is mostly separate, but blends well with the wash of the cymbal. As for the crash I like to find one that has a sweet spread that doesn't sound gongy.

I'm not sure if any of that makes sense but if you listen to the areas I suggested you play, just go with a cymbal that qualities that you find pleasing. I actually do the same with crashes. I ride them, play the bell etc.. I love cymbals that are multi purpose.
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This is excellent advice!

And all drummers will have different about what is good in what situation. I don't crash on my rides. But that's just me. And I play K and K Customs primarily, even though I play prog rock and metal.

I like larger, heavier rides with little wash to them. I have two rides on my set - a 22" A series Ping ride and a 20" K Custom series Dry Ride. The Ping will get washy if played aggressively toward the edge. But it's bell is awesome! I primarily ride on the K. It won't wash out no matter what you do to it. And it's bell is nice and quiet unless you lay the side of a stick across it.
 
#22
bolophonic said:
I really lucked out... I started asking my drummer friends for advice on cymbals and many of them have such extensive collections that they just lent me cymbals to try out. I never had to shell out money on beginner cymbals.

What are the differences between the K and A lines?
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K custom = "Jazzy"
A custom = "Rock"
... And the best cymbal for metal is ... Z custom. (They are extremely loud, not quite as musical, and were more popular in years past.)
 
#23
fourstringdrums said:
Are you wanting to just stick with Zildjian? I usually ignore whatever a brand says their cymbals are good for.. It's a decent place to start, but just like a cymbal designation "ride, crash.." a cymbal is whatever you choose it to be.

I would look into a Sabian Raw Bell Dry Ride. It has a nice tight sound and clear bell that would work well in metal/hardcore but will work in Funk and Soul as well. Here is a comparison video because that model is produced in the Sabian AA/AAX/HH/HHX series which all sound a little different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpiVVBFfgxc
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Funny you say that... I had just finished watching a different video comparing rides and the one that caught my attention the most was the Sabian Raw Bell HHX. I watched your video and that one sounded the best to me (though I couldn't exactly tell you why) was the HHX. Thanks for the tip.
 
#24
bolophonic said:
Funny you say that... I had just finished watching a different video comparing rides and the one that caught my attention the most was the Sabian Raw Bell HHX. I watched your video and that one sounded the best to me (though I couldn't exactly tell you why) was the HHX. Thanks for the tip.
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Out of all Sabian series I prefer the HHX. I think it's because they're dark but they are hand hammered, so there are more musical overtones to them. When I played Sabian that was usually my go-to series, but honestly I can appreciate all of them. Where-as with Zildjian, I really only like the K and K Constantinoples.
 
#25
Epitaph04 said:
I used to be a drummer, and I was never a fan if the clear acrylic kits. They look cool, especially under some nice lighting, but the sound they produce...well as Mike Portnoy said, they look good more than anything.
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I agree wholeheartedly when it comes to the poo-poo like tones produced by the "Vista-lite" kits. My slur about drummers being "picky" when it comes to their sound was actually aimed at us fellow bassists.
But, it was some time ago when I tried to persuade him to gig with 'em. After all, he was using triggers at the time. So, IMHO, the tone didn't matter nearly as much back when he was using triggers.
 
#26
image-1432324851.jpg

The cymbal in question.
 
#27
millsbass5 said:
I agree wholeheartedly when it comes to the poo-poo like tones produced by the "Vista-lite" kits. My slur about drummers being "picky" when it comes to their sound was actually aimed at us fellow bassists.
But, it was some time ago when I tried to persuade him to gig with 'em. After all, he was using triggers at the time. So, IMHO, the tone didn't matter nearly as much back when he was using triggers.
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Actually drummers aren't as picky as guitarists/bassists I've found. There are more drummers just content on slogging their stuff around, sans cases, with beat to crap heads that aren't even tuned. I did a gig a few weeks back with a drummer who didn't even take the cymbals off the stands. He just threw them in the back seat of his car. I had to cringe.. I have padded bags for everything.
 
#28
Ok, I got set up and I've been jamming out to my new practice session. I am going to play along to the entire Fair Warning album by Van Halen until I have it perfect. If I can learn what Alex Van Halen plays on that album, I will be well on my way to expressing myself on drums the way I want to.
 

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