Zildjian

It is not a cymbal for beginners, rather one for those artist drummers with a real sophisticated palate. This is certainly one of the most versatile crash cymbals available. I have not encountered a Zildjian K model cymbal that I did not love, and the 15 inch Zildjian K Custom Dark Crash is no exception. There are no unwanted overtones, the decay is short and to the point. The tone is a complex mixture of a sharp and clean attack, with full, dark, and mellow overtones. It has a slightly shorter sustain than the 16 inch, and is a little more crisp than the 14 inch. It has a strong punch that is great for most styles, but also opens up a collection of beautiful tones when played with brushes. This cymbal works great in the studio as well as for a live setting. Recording engineers love this cymbal because it does not require much EQ. It doesn't have a lot of low end but it does have a deep tone. It's perfect for jazz, blues, hip-hop, rock and pop. The sound is definitely powerful enough for hard rock and metal but I wouldn't recommend using it for metal only because the cymbal is thin, and it can crack if it is bashed too hard. That and the price are probably the only downsides to the cymbal that I can think of. The price is a little high but you do get what you pay for. It is a quality cymbal and it is made to perfection. I own about 5 K series cymbals including this one and would never consider trading it in for anything else. I have had mine for almost 10 years, and it still sounds beautiful and has no cracks. The 15 inch custom dark crash will really add to your musical arsenal and your overall sound.

I have a fondness for darker-sounding cymbals, and the models from Zildjian’s K Custom line are among my favorites. I have owned and played various models from this series, and these are some of the most ear-pleasing cymbals I’ve ever heard. It’s also amazing that they are beautifully handcrafted and aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. I have a pair 14” K Custom Dark Hats, which I own and have been playing for over a decade already. I’ve read somewhere that this is said to be the dark version of Zildjian’s classic bestselling A New Beat Hats. And I definitely agree with this. The K Custom Dark Hats has that versatile, full-bodied tone similar to the New Beats, but with a darker voice quality that blends in with the music instead of cutting through. I’ve played in an R&B / hip-hop band for almost a decade, and I’ve done several pop, rock, and jazz sessions. I’m also currently in a progressive rock band. With the different styles I play, the K Custom Dark Hats can easily fit in. Its dark chick sound is perfect for groove-oriented styles like R&B and hip-hop. Its barking, half-open sound can complement pop and rock styles. And of course, these hats are a natural fit in jazz-oriented styles. I've tried and played similar dark models from different brands, and for me the K Custom Dark Hats is one of the most versatile hats that I’ve ever played. And they sound very good in the studio too, as I’ve proven in a number of R&B, pop and rock recording sessions. I like how its dark sound doesn’t overpower the music. Like I said, I like how the sound blends in instead of cutting through, which is my personal preference. So if you want some extra cut and power in your hats, I suggest that you get the New Beats or any other similar-sounding model. Playing it with the hi-hat pedal, I also suggest that you put some angle to the bottom cymbal in order to achieve a more solid chick sound. Just like most K and K Custom Zildjians, my K Custom Dark Hats are also aging gracefully like fine wine. With the logo of my top hat cymbal fading in time, the sound tends to smoothen as it gets older. I also appreciate how durable it is, considering how the medium-thin-weight top and the medium-weight bottom cymbals are holding up. With proper care and playing, these hats can last for a lifetime. I highly recommend the K Custom Dark Hats to drummers who prefer a dark, solid, versatile hi-hat sound that blends in with the music. It’s a beautiful-looking and even more beautiful-sounding pair of hats. The K Custom Dark Hats may not be affordable, but these high-end hats are worth the investment.

The Zildjian ZBT 14" Hi-Hats are intermediate level cymbals, really only for use within the context of a full drum set. I haven't done any recording with these hi hats but have played a kit that has them a number of times at a friends who has a kit with mostly Zildjian ZBT cymbals on it. I'm primarily not a drummer so I don't own any drums or cymbals myself, but as an engineer I've recorded a ton of different drum sets and cymbals and have a pretty good idea about what sounds good and what doesn't. While not ideal for any situation, the Zildjian ZBT 14" Hi-Hats will do the job just fine for playing shows, practicing, and even recording if you don't have anything else to work with. Don't get me wrong, they definitely don't sound bad but when compared to other hi hats, these pale in comparison. They are pretty heavy as far as hi hats go and in my opinion are definitely best suited for rock music and in situations where the hats are going to be open a lot. Perhaps I'm just a stickler when it comes to cymbals to record with as these will be suitable for most drummers who aren't professional or semi-professional. The price is definitely nice with the Zildjian ZBT 14" Hi-Hats as it's about the least you can spend without getting something close to unusable. Zildjian has a great reputation for making cymbals of all shapes and sizes and in all price ranges, which is really a nice thing. Of course professionals will know that these aren't adequate for everyday use, but those who are just upgrading their beginner kit or are putting together a beginner's kit themselves, they'll be just fine. Check em out if you're looking for some hi hats that won't break the bank and don't sound bad...

The K Custom 19" Hybrid China is one of the most interesting cymbals I have played, both in appearance and sound. I have a specific taste in China cymbals, and this passes my tests. I first encountered these hybrid cymbals a few years ago at a Zildjian prototype sale at a local drum shop. I was a fan of Akira Jimbo, so I was interested in giving these a try. To be honest, I felt like these may be too pingy and bright, as Akira has a very clean and pronounced style. I usually prefer darker and dirtier sounds, so I was skeptical. Despite my expectations, the entire line was great, including the china. When struck on the underside, it sounds like a good china. The deep groove helps to add to a trashy character and the decay is nice and slow. It is very loud, and the 19" size seems to work very well. I also love the 19" Paragon china, so maybe 19" is a lucky number. Actually, this China reminds me a lot of the Paragon. Then turned to the from side, it produces more of a gong like crash sound. The coated interior typical of the fusion series produces its own sounds. However, because it is a china, I feel like the benefits of having a fusion cymbal are limited, as the coated part is rarely played. In a way, it can be struck to produce a dark, hollow bell like sound which is great. As I said, I am icky about China cymbals. The only thing I was warned about this one was that it is fragile. I haven't known any of these to break personally, but I can see this type of China being susceptible to cracks because of its odd shape and thin edges. With proper technique and tasteful dynamics, I wouldn't worry about it. I would recommend this to anyone, it is one of my favorite cymbals from Akira Jimbo's interesting line.

The A custom ping ride is one of the best cymbals in the A custom line. Its coated exterior produces a beautifully smooth "ping" (the name says a lot) sound that blends with the music it is played with. It also looks great, as long as fingerprints and smears are wiped off. The response is extremely fast, and the ping ride has a real tendency to resist crashing when playing hard and fast. Many other crashes keep resonating louder and louder until the cymbal is overpowering. The ping ride has a true gift of maintaining articulation and clarity. The bell is also a strong point, cutting through anything but still remaining tasteful. Even at low volumes, the cymbal bell (and the cymbal in general) have few undesirable ringing overtones. On the other hand, I feel that the ping ride's weakest quality is its crashing ability. Obviously a 20 inch ride isn't designed to be crashed on all the time, but I really like to crash my rides once and a while. This leaves some to be desired, partly because it doesn't have a good trashy wash sound like many other 20 inch rides. Of course, this is a minor price to pay for the clarity that is given in return. This is the only complaint I ever had with the Zildjian ping. Personally, I usually dislike the qualities of coated cymbals but this is nearly perfect. This was one of the first rides I ever owned, and is a really good starting point for many drummers because it has a professional sound at a price that is reasonable. Because of its cutting, bright sound, it is best suited to playing rock or pop music. This cymbal is durable, attractive, affordable, and sounds great. I feel that the Zildjian A custom ping rides are miles ahead of their uncoated Zildjian A ride cousins.

I've been using the Zildjian K Dark Crash cymbal for about four or five years for recording in my home studio. While I'm not a drummer, I have used this cymbal a number of times to do recordings and I've generally been quite happy with the results. The size of the Zildjian K Dark Crash cymbal ranges from a few different sizes, but the one I use is the 14" model. The sound of this cymbal is pretty awesome, as it has both the punch and clarity you want in a crash cymbal as well as a nice ping sound to it that isn't often found in crash cymbals. Since it has these qualities it makes for a versatile cymbal that is great for both recording and live shows. I usually record this cymbal with overhead microphones like the Neumann KM184s or if I don't have access to those I use a pair of Rode NT5s. No matter which set of microphones I might be using, I find that I get a clear sounding crash cymbal that is perfect for rock, jazz, and pop. This cymbal does have a good deal of low end presence and as the name states is on the darker sounding side of crash cymbals. Since each cymbal is unique I strongly encourage players who want a cymbal like the Zildjian K Dark Crash to go to your local store and try it out along with some of the other cymbals that Zildjian has to offer so you can really get a good idea of the differences in sounds and of course, in price. In terms of price, the Zildjian K Dark Crash is very reasonably priced and I would even stretch to say that you are getting a very good deal with this good sounding of a cymbal for such a price. Overall, I highly recommend the Zildjian K Dark Crash to drummer of all playing levels.

I have been using the A Custom Mastersound hihats for about 2 months, and these hats are phenomenal. They look amazing and sound great. I have been looking through all the manufacturers and all the different kinds of cymbals to get the perfect hihats, and these were the best sounding hats I have played on. I have played on the K Custom Sessions, A Series Mastersound, New Beats, Sabian AA Rock Hats, and the Paiste Signature series hats, and these hihats blew them all away. The only hats that I am curious to try are the 14” K Custom Dark Hats, but these hats are my babies and I will never get rid of them. The 15” model gives a deeper, louder bang than its 14” brethren. The closed tone is also louder and crisper than with the other master sounds. These hats, when open, give an extremely melodic wash and a bright attack, yet when closed, they give of a loud, distinct chick. The open and closing of the hats gives of a loud swaying sound, good for added background. The open and closing patterns are tight and responsive, as all hihats need to be, with a crisp, bright attack to excel any beat forward. These hats have an amazingly quick response with the rippled edge on the bottom silencing them quickly without that suction noise. These hats are great for anyone, in any music genre. I would suggest the 15” version for anyone who needs or wants more volume and a deeper tone. I did my research and found that these were the best for me, and I was correct. These hats are definitely worth the large price tag attached, as they are a priceless piece of equipment. If I had the option, I would definitely do it all again.

I have been using this cymbal for about 2 months, and it has a good tone. The shimmering sound and the vintage clarity is all there, but I think it might be a touch too high pitch. The sound is great for accents and quick hits, but for prolonged patterns, it is just not the right cymbal for me. I tried most of the A Zildjian and the A Customs, and chose this because I couldn’t afford the Projection Crash. I also used Zildjian Z Customs before this and my A Custom 18” Medium Crash. The sound is all there, but there is an odd similarity to a Splash in my head for some reason. The cymbal sounds good, but just isn’t what I am looking for. It has a traditional finish, so you won’t have as big of a problem with the fading or oxidizing as with some brilliant cymbals, and these age far better than the brilliant. This cymbal is similar to a fast crash as it comes in and cuts out very quickly. As I said before, this is a good accent cymbal, not a lead in my opinion. It is decent for riding though. The value for the price is good, but may be a little too high. The other cymbals of greater thickness were a little more, but this should be cheaper than it is as it takes less material. Overall, this is a good cymbal for jazz, worship, pop and any kind of lighter music, but not for heavier rock and metal. It was my mistake thinking that a thin cymbal would sound good in my set up, but we learn from it. I would wait and buy a Projection crash if I had the chance to go back. I would not buy this cymbal, maybe a medium, but not the medium thin.

The K Custom Medium Ride is, in my opinion, one of the best rides cymbals ever created by Zildjian. I own and play a 20” model for over a decade already, and it has been with me throughout my professional career. Aesthetics-wise, the K Custom Medium is an attractive-looking ride cymbal. It features a traditional-finished lathed top with hammer marks – a distinct feature among K Custom models. Its underside, however, features an unlathed brilliant finish. Viewing this cymbal from underneath, one might think that this is Zildjian’s classic and heavier sibling, the K Custom Ride. But its top surface is the difference maker, in terms of looks and sound. I always thought of the K Custom Medium Ride as a slightly tamed-down version of the K Custom Ride. While the K Custom Ride is a louder and more cutting dark ride, the K Custom Medium Ride has a warmer vibe that beautifully blends in with the music. The hammering, lathing and finishing treatment of the top surface made the difference in terms of sound and feel. The K Custom Medium has a better playability compared to the K Custom Ride. From the softest touch to the most defined stroke, the K Custom Medium responds to a wider range of dynamics. It also has a beautiful tone that is versatile enough for various styles of music. The bell sound is clean, the ride sound is well-defined with just the right amount of overtones, and it can also be a dark, big-sounding crash if you want to crash on it. In studio situations, the K Custom Medium Ride records very well. I’ve recorded pop, R&B and rock tracks using this ride cymbal, and this ride easily fit the music we were working on. I’ve also brought this ride to gigs of varying styles, from rock to jazz and everything in between. Hence, the K Custom Medium Ride is truly one of the most versatile rides. My 20” K Custom Medium Ride is almost 2 decades old (based on the serial number engraving on the cymbal). It still sounds sweet, slightly mellowing as it ages. Despite my ride already having a hairline crack (no thanks to my occasional crash-riding), it still sounds beautiful. There’s magic in that K Custom sound. There are drummers who like collecting several ride cymbals for various musical styles and applications. But if you need to have just one ride that can do everything for you, the Zildjian K Custom Medium Ride is a must-have equipment. Its sound easily fits various musical applications, and it’s an excellent choice for recording and live situations. I would highly recommend it to drummers who want a very versatile ride cymbal with a warm and defined sound.

I own a full set of Zildjian A Custom cymbals. I have a 14", 16", 18", and 19". These are the perfect cymbals for pop or rock music. I don't really play much jazz, so I can't really tell you how well they sound for that style of music. These cymbals sound bright and clear, which is better for pop and rock than for any styles of music that require a more dry sound. On the other hand, if you play metal, you probably want to consider cymbals that sound more thrashy. These are clear sounding cymbals. These cymbals can definitely cut through a mix, either in a loud live gig, or in the recording studio. I find that they sound best even if you don't hit them too hard. The initial 'hit' or transient of the cymbal is crisp and the sustain is very musical. The overtones of these cymbals sound beautiful. The sustain is not too long either, preventing a mix from being "washed out" by too much cymbal sustain. I would definitely buy these cymbals again if something happened to them. I originally started out them 2 crashes (18" and 16") and decided I loved them so much I better get a few more. I use K hi-hits, instead of A Custom. But for crashes and rides, I love the A Customs. I also specially purchased the A Custom 'Fast Crash' cymbals because I like the overtones of the sustain better than the regular A Customs. This is just something to consider when looking at the full range of A Customs. These cymbals really are of the highest quality. If you take good care of them, they should last for a very long time, and even improve their sound the more you play them. Compared to the regular Zildjian A series cymbals, the A Customs have a better sustain/overtones and a much smoother initial crash. I find the the regular A series cymbals are very harsh when you initially hit them. I suppose this would work better for certain styles of music, but it is just not for me.

The Zildjian A Custom Medium Ride is a fantastic cymbal for pop/rock music. It sounds great, looks amazing, and is built with top-quality craftsman shift. The sound is clear and bright. If you want a darker sound, the K series is the way to go. The A Custom Series is best if you want your cymbals to shine and crisp when they project. The overtones of this cymbal are very musical and resonate with a pleasing consonance. The bell is sharp but not overbearing or piercing. The main part of the ride is smooth and distinct (not too pingy, and not too dry). Even the edge of the cymbal sounds good for loud crashes. Not many cymbals have all three articulations (bell, mid, edge) that sound great. This cymbal is well balanced in that respect. This cymbal is awesome for recording. It doesn't drown out a mix, but it does cut through very well. Depending on if you use drums stick with a wooden tip or with a plastic tip you can get very different sounds with this ride cymbal. If you use the plastic tip, there is a nice 'ping'. If you use the wooden tip, the subtle is not a sharp. This alone can make this cymbal very versatile ranging from a loud, bright sound to a more dull, dark sound. For pop/rock music this cymbal is about as good as it gets. Obviously for jazz or heavy metal there are other cymbals that would be better suited for different styles of music. This cymbal is exactly the sound of 'radio' pop or even country drumming. The sustain does not 'wash' out the drum kit and does not build up to an excessive amount. The best part about this cymbal is that I think it sounds better now after years of playing than it did when I first bought it!

I purchased these hihats back in 2008. I picked up the 14" K Hi-hat pair and immediately fell in love with them. Their sound is perfect for so many different styles of music from pop/rock to blues/jazz to funk or anything. What I like about them is that the decay is smooth and not over-powering. Some other hi-hat cymbals can 'wash' or sustain for too long and muddy up a tight drum performance. These cymbals are clear. They sound dark and crisp, but not dull. They are a little bit pricey compared to other zildjian cymbals, but I have never regretted the purchase. The Zildjian A and A Custom hi-hats are much brighter than the K series. I use A Custom crash cymbals, but found that having the K hi-hats contrasts the sound of the A Custom crashes in order to hear a clear distinction between the different cymbal types. I have seen many people use a K series top to the hi-hat and a Z series bottom hi-hat. Initially when I was looking at cymbals I thought I was going to pair the K/Z cymbals in this manner. However, I found that this combination was suitable for 'rock' styles of music, but was too harsh for anything else. Therefore, I decided to get both the top and bottom in the K series. I was really glad that I did this because they sound amazing for all styles of music. I have used these cymbals for recording and also for live performance. They are great in both situations. They sound very detailed on a recording. The all important "chick" sound cuts through a mix. The closed sound of the hi-hats is tight and focused, while the open or semi-open sound has a musical ring. These cymbals are high quality and can with-stand years of playing. In fact, I think they sound better now after years of sessions and gigs than they did when I purchased them. The most important thing is to take good care of them, and they will return the favor to you.