Paiste

This was the first set of hi hats I ever bought, and I still occaisionally gig with them today. The 505's are a really interesting line because people often mistake them for the 2002's. The 505's are considered lower quality, but have an extremely similar alloy and lathing make up. 505's are often really old, cus there are a lot of used models for sale at killer prices. I really liked these hi hats when I played them and they felt really great. The chick is punchy and the stick definition is really chunky. When opened, the wash is powerful and raw, but not too crazy. The only gripe I have with the sound is that the splashes don't sound very good. There is a lot of unnecessary ringing and it is difficult to get the splashes even. This is surprising considering the cymbal's other attributes. They are very versatile in a rock or funk context due to the powerful sounds and a middle ground of brigh/dark tones. It is trashy enough to groove out and really fool around with but clean enough to get in the pocket and chill. They don't look too spectacular because they are dark and uniform. Unless you are using paiste 505's or 2002's, these might clash with the overall look of the drum set. Of course, cymbals should be purchased on sound not sight. They are very versatile, and in many years of treating these badly and kicking em around from gig to gig they never sound or look and worse. These are probably the most durable cymbals I have. Like I said earlier, they are usually very reasonable priced for what you get. Whether for a veteran looking for a gigging pair of hats to beat up or a beginner looking to upgrade their stock cymbals, the Paiste 505's are a good all around choice.

Got these from Musicians Friend. Alway's pricematch expensive equipment using Froogle. You can save a ton. Rudes have a reputation for being completely unique, and that's what I wanted. I was worried about getting their standard crash/rides, for fear of them being too heavey. As soon as they came out with the Thin Crashes, I jumped on the ball. They have a nice shimmer when hit softly, and an extremely fast decay when when hit hard. These are the best for hard rock. I really like everything. If you want a loud, pretty cymbal, get something else. These baby's are advertised as "audacious" for a reason. The rude thins, are not any thinner than a regular cymbal, they are just much thinner that the crash/ride monsters. These babies are great. They look amazing too. I also have the Power Ride, the China, and the SoundEdge hats. That's how much I love rudes. If you want unique, you want rude. They are professional level cymbals, not for beginners. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I aquired this cymbal at Guitar Center Used for about $75. Original price was about $115. Very responsive to a stick attack. Nice wash. Very good with a jazz session or a no-mike situation. Bell not really sounding too well, made a dead "ping". Not very projectable with a rock crash or any cymbal over 16". This cymbal looks small outside but has a big sound. The cymbal has a unique bell, almost round, dome-like construction that, when hit, produces a dull "ping" sound, perfect for a jazz situation. The brilliant finish adds warmth and wash all in one. If you are a drummer that is on a budget, this cymbal is just what you are looking for. This handy cymbal is a great addition to any drumset for a price that other cymbal companies only dream about. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I Purchased 16", 18", and 20" Paiste Signature Power Crashes. These are worth every penny. I like EVERYTHING about these cymbals. They are bright, with long susteain, and tehre Extremely Cutting. Paiste Signature are the BEST cymbals in the world. NOTHING! These cymbals have the best quality, Never cracked one, and the few sticks marks that are on it come off with light soap and water. Paiste Signature Power Crashes are one of the Finest sounding cymbals in the world. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this at a local drumstore in Sweden (great one, check out: www.drumcenter.se!!!) for about $270. I was looking for a crash with a big, rocking sound that would work in any environment or constellation. I love this one! It has a big sound, punchy attack and works well in any playing situation. I've played heavy rock, blues, acoustic, pop, rock and it always works well. One thing in particular that reveals the great quality, is that even if you hit it loosely it won't just sound "clonc!", it produces a mellow crash sound, only at a lower volume! A great cymbal, i don't fins much about it that I dislike! One small, small thing, that disturbs me is the fact that the edges of the center hole are very sharp, so I had to change the plastic protection pipes on my cymbal stand, since the cymbal easily ate itself into the plastic device. The sharpness wiore of though after some playing and now everything is fine. Some people might not like the fact that the cymbal has a rather long sustain, but I love it!!! This unit is made from the classic 2002 bonze alloy, hand made, hammered lathed, everytning. When holding the cymbalm, you just simply feel the quality in it! A great cymbals, to put it simple! It beats the Zildjians, Sabians and Meinls I've tried HANDS F***ING DOWN! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this at a drum shop used for 140.00. I am in a heavy metal band and needed a good durable cymbal that had alot of sound. I love the classic look of the cymbal. The Hand hammering really reveals itself in the bright shimmering sound it produces. It has a beautiful sound that beats my Zildjian A 18" Rock crash HANDS DOWN!! I play it extremely hard for the past 3 months and nothing has broken. It is also very resilient to getting stick marks. NOTHING It is very durable and has an attractive classic look. Its not flashy, just sound awesome. This is the finest crash cymbal I have ever owned. I would recommend it for any style of music. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Our drummer just bought this cymbal, and I am very impressed with it. While it isn't mine, I do practice with my drummer 2-3 times a week in addition to gigs, so at this point I'm really familiar with it, especially since it's being used by a far better drummer than myself. It is 20" and isn't too thick like a lot of new ride cymbals tend to be. This is probably because it was used, and had been worn in really well, but this was no matter as the cymbal sounds fantastic. It has a nice, rich tone for a ride, bright enough to hear through a drum mix but dark enough to add character. It is labeled a jazz ride, but I really like the sound that my drummer (and I) get through it for a rock band. In fact, I'd probably go with something else for jazz, honestly. I like the character that this cymbal adds to the DW kit that my drummer uses. It allows us to get more of a subdued, subtle sound out of that rocking, loud kit. The bell is loud and clear, with a great fat tone. Crashing the ride can get loud, but it works well in the context of our group. Playing it in the more traditional soft manner is pleasant, as it is light and airy but fat enough that you can really feel its presence. I think that my drummer got a great deal on this cymbal. It's certainly going for much more than that new, even though it probably is better when it's been worn in a little bit. It's not quite on the level of some of the K custom rides, but it's also a lot cheaper. This will make a fine addition to your cymbals if you can get it at a good price, and will be a useful color in your palette.

The Paiste 505 Crash 18" is a pretty standard crash cymbal for use in the context of a full drum kit. I'm primarily not a drummer, but recently played a family member's drum kit who had this cymbal as his main crash and definitely liked what I heard. It's not too bright sounding and is pretty full toned overall. I believe that the cymbal is made out of alloy, which gives it a slightly different tone when compared to some other crash cymbals out there, which isn't a bad thing at all - it just has it's own sound. I wouldn't say that it's a professional's cymbal, but for anyone less than a professional or a very experience player, it should do the job just fine. This isn't to say that this would be my first choice for a crash cymbal, but it's an adequate one. I don't know much more backing information on the Paiste 505 Crash 18" in terms of when it was made or anything like that, but it seems like there are still some of these floating around even though they're no longer in production. As far as price is concerned I really don't know what a used one of these would go for, but unless you can find one for a pretty cheap price it most likely won't be worth it. I haven't done any recording or gigging with this cymbal as I'm not a drummer and haven't worked with it as an engineer on the other side of the glass, so I'm not too sure on how well it might translate when put on tape. The Paiste 505 Crash 18" isn't the kind of cymbal I'd necessarily seek out to buy, but it's worth a gander if you do indeed come across one.

The Paiste 2002 16” Thin China is a colorful cymbal that is a great addition to anyone’s drum set. I’m not a drummer myself, but have played extensively with a drummer who has one of these and who uses it all the time. I’ve heard it used across the board – in the studio, on the stage, and for simple practicing. If you know the general sound that a china sound will give you, you’ll obviously have a better idea of what this cymbal sounds like, as it’s definitely a recognizably china sound. I don’t really know all that much about the materials that this cymbal, or any cymbals are made from, but this definitely seems to be a sturdy cymbal. I know that my friend has had the cymbal for a number of years and it’s still in great shape after being played pretty consistently. The sound of the Paiste 2002 16” Thin China can be described as being bright and splashy. It isn’t the type of cymbal that you’d use as much as you would a crash or a ride cymbal, but it’s awesome for adding a new color to the mix when needed. China cymbals in general are probably my favorite besides the standards of crash, ride, and hi-hats, as they have a really distinct and interesting sound. Paiste has a great reputation for making high quality cymbals, and this definitely holds true for the 2002 16” Thin China cymbal. I don’t know anything about the price or where this fits in the mix of other china cymbals out there, but I can’t imagine it being too expensive. Of course there are other cymbals that are more important to deal with, but if you’re set in your standard cymbals, a china is a really cool sounding cymbal to add to the mix. If you’re a drummer without a china cymbal, definitely do yourself a favor and check this one out.

As much as I love the Paiste 2002 line, I am not a big fan of their China cymbals. These have the other admirable 2002 qualities such as durability or uniqueness. However, as chinas they don't sound great. The alloy sounds similar to that of the Wuhan Chinas, and the dark orange brown color looks similar. The production is obviously very different, but I consider the Wuhan Chinas to be better at a much lower price. Some Chinas are worth the price, such as certain Zildjian K's or Sabian Paragons. These 2002 Chinas are not worth the price, in my opinion. <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> Much of the desirable chnese characteristics are personal preference. I prefer Chinas that have a deep, gong like trashy explosiveness with a smooth attack and slow decay. The 2002's have a very intense attack with a short decay. They tend to be harsh and abrasive rather than smooth. Some people may prefer this, but I do not. Surprisingly, I do not find that this cymbal blends well with other 2002's. It sound out of place regardless of context. I don't mean to get too critical, as this is still a high quality in a professional line from a reputable brand. I just think that there are many other options out there, such as the Wuhans, for a similar sound and lower price. The larger 2002 Chinas are the better choice, as they have a deeper sound and more powerful decay. The smaller ones can be irritating if overused. High quality Chinas can be used frequently and in various contexts, but the 2002's really seem to be for specific effects only. </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span> I would only recommend this cymbal to someone if they played it extensively and was very happy with its sounds. Otherwise, I would suggest spending less money and going with a Wuhan, or else dishing out a bit more and going with a Zildjian K or Sabian Paragon or HHX.

Like the other cymbals in the 2002 line, this is good for rock music. The 20" crash has truly amazing power. The 2002's already pack a punch, so supplying 20 inches is almost out of control. This is actually the only 2002 (reviewed) I have never include in my set at one time. I have played it multiple times however, and would loved to own one. Like most large crashes, this can be doubled as a crash ride. It can even be struck with the shoulder of the stick to get a trashy china like sound. This is the benefit of large crashes so many sound can be obtained. Not a lot of drummers would immediately desire such a large cymbal. After some experimentation, it is very difficult to resist. This cymbal is bright and powerful. Its bell is killer, definitely a few steps above the bells from crashes of smaller sizes. It has a very long sustain and a fast attack. It can be used as a ride, but the ping sometimes gets lost in the wash. It is very pleasant to ride on, creating a wall of cymbal crashing. This is great for filling up space, though I wouldn't use this for brief accents. Because if its size, it happens to be a decent amount deeper than its smaller relatives as well. Its large size is slightly cumbersome, depending in the setup of the other cymbals. Like most 2002's it is very durable and this can be felt during the first time it is played. It retains the vintage 2002 sound while offering precision and consistency of modern lathed cymbals. I would recommend this to someone who is interested in large cymbals and 2002's in general. However, it is a cymbal that some would consider unnecessary. It lacks a certain versatility, in part due to the line but also due to its size. For this reason, it gets some points deducted. At such a large size, it is also more expensive than most crashes. For this reason, I never picked one up myself.

The Paiste 2002 16" crash is an excellent cymbal for rock music. I think that the crashes in this line are the highlight and are a great deal for their quality. A few steps down from the signatures, the 2002's still provide professional quality at a more reasonable price. I wouldn't bring these to a jazz gig, but for rock I would almost prefer these 2002's to the Signatures because of their sound and durability. Ths 16" crash embodies the typical 2002 characteristics. It is very responsive and bright, exploding with sound at the slightest stroke. While it is bright, it doesn't have an overly pingy sound and has a vintage feel. The coating really adds to this, as it is not very shiny. For mostly lathed cymbals these have a lot of character. The 2002's have a nice mix of dry and wet qualities and are well balanced overall. One of the biggest benefits to playing 2002's is that they are very durable. More so than almost all other lines I have played, these can take a beating. I usualy never damage cymbals through playing, but I have heard from multiple drummers that these 2002's are among the strongest out there. This is important especially when considering the genre of music these are best suited towards. Zildjian A's for example are excellent but I have seen many of these break. I have never seen a 2002 break. The only complaints one could make about these is their lack of versatility. Like I said, I usually would only take these to a rock or funk gig. They are a little too bright for my taste otherwise. Also, they look very different from most other cymbals so they might throw off the look of a mixed setup. Of course, this is a minor consideration. I like the 2002's a lot, but especially the 17" and 16" crashes. I would suggest these if one is looking for a reliable, durable and vintage rock sound.