Zildjian A Custom Fast Crash 16"

I was lucky enough to win this cymbal as 1st Prize in Zildjian's recent "A Custom" promotion - Grand Prize was a trip to the Zildjian factory, a chance to meet Vinnie Coliauta, and a complete set of A Customs! While I would have loved to have won the trip and complete set-up, I certainly appreciate the gift of a cymbal which retails for about $150, plus $50 in "swag", and 12 pair of Zildjian sticks of my choice!

The A Custom "Fast" Crashes are designed to provide quick accents, and then to quickly decay. And, the 16" Fast Crash certainly does that!
This cymbal is nearly perfect for use in a low-volume or unplugged situation. It responds well to a lighter touch, and doesn't have a long sustain. The effect is somewhat between a normal crash and a larger splash cymbal, but without the "gimmicky" sound some splashes give off.

I am used to higher-pitched cymbals (my main set-up is composed largely of Sabian AAX Stage series cymbals), and the A Custom 16" Fast Crash is a good bit lower in pitch that what I am accustomed to.
This lower pitch helps the crash to blend in, rather than stand out, when struck softly. Again, fitting well with lower-volume/unplugged situations.
This cymbal would be a poor choice for mid- or high-volume situations.

The cymbal, like all Zildjian professional-quality products, is beautifully made.
The brilliant finish is deep and golden, the tone grooves are even and smooth, and the printing and logos are clean and attractive.

If you understand the limitations of the A Custom Fast Crash, and are looking for a cymbal that blends more than stands out, this would be an excellent choice.
In addition to the low volume/unplugged gigs I use this cymbal in, it would also be a good addition to your normal set-up for those softer songs or sets in your repitiore - where you might use a splash, or attempt to lightly strike a heavier, louder cymbal.
Drummers in some churches, where their drumming needs to be more controlled in volume and presence (as they play to support choirs and/or congregations), would also likely benefit from the subtly and controlled volume of the 16" Fast Crash.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I did not use this cymbal long, as it just didn't jive with my tastes and expectations. It might for you, though. The 16" Fast Crash is pretty typical and in line with the rest of the A Custom series, but this particular cymbal is just not of use to how I play and what I prefer in a crash cymbal.

What I liked about this cymbal is its shimmery blast of sound that hits you in milliseconds of hitting the cymbal. They didn't call it a Fast Crash for nothing.

What I did NOT like about it was that I found it a bit thin and anemic sounding for a 16" cymbal. It had the sustain of a 16" or larger, but the wimpiness of a 14" or 15" crash. It lacked fullness. Even its sustain was just the tone lingering, and not a full reverberation of the cymbal. It is probably due to the thin-ness of the cymbal, its fairly lightweight. It seems like to achieve the "fast" crash that this cymbal is named for, it had to lose any fullness or deep sustain that it could have otherwise had had it been a more substantial cymbal. Its a trade-off for sure, and a trade-off I'd rather not make.

So in my opinion, I would never use this cymbal in a rock band, even though much of the A Custom line-up is perfect for everything from mellow rock to aggressive rock music. I would maybe check out the 14" or 15" Fast Crashes as a more splashy cymbal in the future but the 16" has no place on my kit. I could reccomend trying out this cymbal to anyone who plays more modern jazz or fusion type playing. They might appreciate the mellow sustain and punctuated "fast" crash sound of this cymbal.