10 Crash Cymbals Compared - Which is Best For You? 

exactly my two favorites !! did a blind test, as well ;)

Same! I used to be a huge Zildjian fan until I found Paiste and Sabian. I was like broooo🤣

me too

Meinl is awesome! They have cymbals for all styles of music, and the biggest variations of sizes in the market. ❤

Thanks, Billy.

Yeah! Meinl ❤

Don't get used to it.

Agree 100%

Yeah! Love Meinl too, the Byzance Dark, Vintage and Traditional are my favorites. The Classics Custom Dark is awesome too, so beautiful as gothic style.

I have the 19&20 fast 😍😍😍😍

Yep, agree 16'' and 18'' Paiste Signature Fast Crash are great!

Have them

I agree! Actually I prefer the Odd sizes, 15 hats, 17 and 19 crashes and 21 ride. Although I have A Lot of the even sizes. Paiste are So Musical!!

Thanks for watching, Alan.

The alloy mixture, how it's formed into shape, the thickness, lathing and how it's hammered (by hand or machine)

Size and shape of the bell also.

I agree. When I think crash, my mind's ear looks for what the Paiste Signature delivers. I have a 16" and it's my workhorse. I also have the Zildjian K Custom Dark 18" and that is a perfect lower-pitched counterpoint dark crash sound.

Most def not

Tara Drott some paiste and Sabian and a Meinl too bright. Wish they would have done Meinl byzance.. A little bright but nicer than zildjian A and Byzance really good for rock and pop...

Agreed. However... I've never liked any of the Istanbuls that I've played. A bit too harsh for me.

@@lindamagee3307 .. They did play a Byzance. 6th cymbal. It sounded really nice. As far as A series goes... in my opinion... a 16" thin A series rules the 16" realm. love those things. I've been through 3 in 37 years and logged 10,000 plus ours on them. The best 18" I've ever played is a K Dark Medium Thin. They never mention the weight in this video, but this one sounds brighter than mine.

paiste 2002, crafted better than any for a bright vibrant sound, so many other are just gimmicks.

Thank you

Thank you!!

Best comment ever!

Thank you!

thanks!

I closed my eyes and only opened them if I really like it and it was those two as well. Those were the only ones I opened my eyes for

K Custom and Meinl Sand sounded the most natural and balanced to me as well.👍

Agreed. 100%. 😛

They stand out

quite amazing sound

I have bought 2 and kept the one i liked better. It was the lighter one. Till today it amazes me, how wide spectrum of sounds it has. Not just dry, but depends on how and how hard you hit it. Is also rather quiter..

Ditto!

same for Paiste

Loved the Paiste signature, lovely bright wet sound

I agree!

I'm a Paiste guy and I just bought some Sabian AAs.

I was looking on another screen and turned my head when I heard the Paiste's, sooo good.

I agree 100%. Runner-up Zildjian A Thin. Something about the Meinls that make me go WTF are they trying to do?

I love my 18inch Paiste 2002 but that Signature sounds pretty sweet. The Meinl pure and Sabian HHX sounded good too.

beech drums are the best sounding out there

i knowwwww it sounded fucking awesome

*hole

Agreed! that kit sounded good!

Interesting to hear. It was actually my last favorite, together with the meinl alloy one. Just goes to show how different tastes are. My favorites were the Istanbul agop signature and the meinl sand. I reckon for people who dig bright(ish) crashes, the paiste signature full crash is tough to beat.

Its so buttery, definitly the best one here

Agree

mee too

I didn't know that the Legacy cymbals have brilliant finish... or is this a special series?

Which is better Istanbul Agop or Anatolian cymbals

@@ivanbajovic3476 Ivane, nećeš pogrešiti šta god da uzmeš. Imaš gomilu turskih proizvođača, i svi rokaju ručno kovane činele od B20 legure bronze. Imaš i Istanbul Mehmet, Diril, Murat Diril, Impression, Symrna, Bosphorus, Turkish, Masterwork... U principu ti je svaka činela jedinstvena, čak i iz iste serije, baš zato što su ručno rađene. Ne znam odakle si, ali ovde u Srbiji imaš baš ogroman izbor na kupujemprodajem, jer je dosta ljudi krenulo da uvozi direktno iz Turske, i čini mi se da su jeftinije i u odnosu na Hrvatsku i Sloveniju, a čak i tamo su poprilično povoljnije od ova 4 velika proizvođača (Zidljian, Sabian, Paiste, Meinl). Najbolje ti je da lično isprobaš sve činele koje ti zvuče zanimljivo, jer kao što rekoh, ne postoje dve identične. Nadam se da sam ti malkice pomogao.😃 Pozdrav druže

@@ivanbajovic3476 agop series. Specially i recommend to you agop xist series.

Best cymbals in the world by far come from Turkey.

Have to agree. The sustain of the paper thin is out of this world.

Exactly.. they all sound pretty damn good to me. I listen to so many different bands/ drummers .how could you NOT want as many sound options as possible

Facts

I prefer the A Custom cymbals myself.

zildijan and agop (istanbul cymbals) was borther back then as i remembered. when their father died both decided to go own ways. think about that if they stayed together and crate cymbas ? İstanbul and Zildijan mixed sounds ? omg !!!!

Personally I like the pure alloys but Zildjian is sweeeeeeeeeeeeet

Also K

Had a 17 in. thin A crash about 40 years ago-I can still hear it in my head. It just sounded like the “perfect” crash.👍

Or any other Turkish-made cymbals... There are so many great Turkish companies, and the best thing is that they're much more affordable (at least here in Europe) than Zildjian/Sabian/Paiste/Meinl, but they are on the same level in terms of quality. Another good thing is that they don't make entry level crap, but only professional handmade cymbals made of B20 alloy. Istanbul Mehmet, Diril, Impression, Bosphorus, Istanbul Agop, Anatolian, Symrna... There are so many great options!

Istanbul’s ALL DAY ✊🏾

@@markomarkovic5729 Indeed. My favorite Turkish cymbal brand is Amedia...Their Old School series has insane stick definition and immaculate overtones/wash.

Agop or Mehmet? I like Mehmet stuff more.

@@MyRsHaCKSdUNWORK I've never had the chance to try Amedia cymbals, but I guess they're great. I am currently delighted with some series of Diril cymbals (Silk and Special), and I can't wait to get my hands on them.

Alberto Cubito hands down. Rock, pop, funk, top 40. Makes a nice low volume ride too

I thought the Signature sounded best too

Exactly.

One thing I feel with Paiste is that they are a tad brighter & higher pitched vs what you’d expect from Zildjian & Sabian. (B20 vs B8) Which is neither a pro or a con. Just a matter of personal taste. If you like that Paiste shimmer just keep that in mind as you may want to size up. If your used to 16” & 18” B20s You may want to consider going 18” & 20” with a B8 Paiste to get the pitch your expecting? Probably explains why There are more BIG Paiste cymbals floating around. (both vintage & new) Big cymbals are “trending” now. But there seams to have always been plenty more 15” hats of 20” crashes & 22”/24” rides out there sporting Paiste logos. Or am I imagining the whole thing? 😉

@@Groovedump Signatures are the B15 "Signature Alloy"

I don't know what's the situation in the USA, but Turkish-made cymbals are also much more affordable than Zildjian/Sabian/Paiste/Meinl here in Europe. There are so many great Turkish companies, you just have to choose the cymbal you like.

@@markomarkovic5729 Yes, the major rule is that many Turkish cymbals are a bit cheaper here in Europe. But the Agops are at the same price level with Zildjian, Meinl and Sabian, at least here in Finland. Some of their Anniversary cymbals cost nearly 700 euros. Boshorus is a bit cheaper and then there comes the rest. And Paiste - it has a cloud high price policy as always...

@@seppoinnanen5577 I didn't know that. They are a lot cheaper than the Big 4 here in Serbia, and cost for about 20% less than in EU countries, because there are a lot of people who import cymbals directly from Turkey and then sell them online. Btw, for some reason, here's much bigger selection of Istanbul Mehmet than Agop, and Tony Williams tribute are the most expensive - HH is 500€, and 22" ride is about 400, which is still less than K custom or Paiste Signature. On the other hand, Zildjian/Paiste/Sabian/Meinl cost for about 20-30% more than in other EU countries.

Istanbul the best to me

@Kaan B Mehmet and Agop are about 20-30% cheaper here in Serbia than on Thomann. You probably know better than me that entire Byzance series are hand hammered in Turkey, I think in Diril factory and several Diril series are modeled on Byzance and I would say they sound fantastic. The next cymbals I will buy will surely be Diril Silk or Shehrazad. The only thing that Turkish manufacturers could fix is the logo and the inscription, which quickly fades. Everything else is of exceptional quality. Greetings from Belgrade😀

Thank you for the kind words, and I am glad you are enjoying them!

They are some finely crafted instruments, no doubt! Thanks for watching, John!

Imo anything not made of B20 gives off a "starter box" sound.

totally agree with your list.

Nice on of each!

Who are you... me???? Lol. 👍🙏😛

I agree 100%

I agree sir .

Totally agree!!!! 💯

Did you not hear the byzance?

@@thatguysson8241 a little to dark for me.

Best?

Would you like for paiste to have the signature with a pen or would his bodily fluids for an autograph do? The latter costs about $250 00 more but I'm sure it's not a bad bargain

@David Calderon Some people just don't like standard sizes...relax. For example I don't like most standard sizes for rock, jazz etc.

OMG I didn't know there were other people like me who didn't like 18 inch cymbals!

@David Calderon Some people plays Latin or some sorts of Folk music and use smaller cymbals

Some heavy crashes are only able to open up properly when they reach 18", but if you want a powerful 16" crash that doesn't sound like a gong, try a PAISTE Signature Power Crash.

@David Calderon Actually - amazingly - I have one of those, but it is just a little bit too thin (with a low undertone) to have above my hi-hat. I was thinking of moving it over to the right of my ride cymbal, and having a 16 Power (with a high undertone, but a nice spread for a 16) on the left, as a high crash. Bear in mind, this is for a small set-up, with my very best Twenty Series Full Ride and Hi-hats. I have great respect for the Signature Full range, and I think they stand up against anything the other manufacturers can produce, but they're really expensive, and I'm afraid of breaking them, because I am a bit of a neanderthal. However, my regular set-up has a PAISTE 2002 (black label) Heavy Rock Bottom (!) Hi-hat on top of a Sound Edge Rude Bottom, an 18" Rude Crash/Ride on the left; a 20" Signature Full Ride and an Alpha 18" Rock Crash on the right. It works for me in most situations, apart from jazz-prog, and I would have a completely different set-up for that anyway - more toms and cymbals, bells, splashes and chinas etc. I've even come up with a stack, but it's pretentious bullshit IMHO. I know what you're saying though, the 16" Signature Power Crash does sound a bit like a Rude, though, in my opinion at least, it does have more depth, complexity and musicality than any of the B8s. Thanks for the up.

It sounds great. My cymbals are all Zildjan, but that crash sounds really nice. It's so bright.

I have to agree with you on that comment.

Hands down

Im getting this w my Mapex 1 up 2 down crossover kit. The hats are nice in this vid too..

Using one for 4 years , it's just awesome every time

ludovic leflon I thought drummers don't like the cymbals you've mentioned deu to the darker and dryer sounding trend at the moment. Glad to know that K's still do its job very well. Cheers!

@@rhythmcaster2018 Dark stuff all the way, man ! Tho, the funny thing is that for ages, I used to hate anything that sounds too dark. Used to hate Istanbul's for this reason. Super fast and bright cymbals were my go to for years, Paiste Signature Fast or Full crashes, A-Custom Fast crash, etc. anything bigger than 16" was too low pitched for me. Now I've almost completely reversed myself. Nothing smaller than 17 (except a splash of course), K Dark Thin Crash, Istanbul Mantra's etc. Ears and music perception change over time and only idiots don't change their mind I guess.

That's my choise too! 👍

@@Pentoute45 its good to have a stash of all te different sounds 👍 .. well, thats what i tell myself when i see shiny new things at the store lol

I like dark thin k’s a lot.

I have the 20" K Custom Dark Ride which I have had for 15 years and I love it but I didn't care for the crash in this video. Maybe playing it is a different matter?

Agreed

It's not even that close. I'm going to have to buy some to compliment my 2002's

I agree with you. They're rather expensive but damn do they sound nice.

Yes they've got some guts.....

Yes they sound rich & crisp..

Istanbul Agop paper thin IMO.

Well, it's my favorite too, but I like Sabian Legacy too and Zildjian A isn't too bad as well.

Easily Paiste Signature

interesting how different taste can be.. i liked almost every other cymbal in this video more than the Paiste Signature

The Signature Fast 18 is my all-time fave, but I have had a Full 18 as well and it sounded great too. And I agree, it was head and shoulders above the rest here. The 602 sounded surprisingly good too...isn't 602 one of Paiste's value lines?

@@christiansmyth1466 602 isn't a value line. It is a professional cymbal line.

I love the sound of paiste signature crashes .

Thanks Kevin!

Gotta be with you man!!

Paiste cymbals must be good if drummers like David Silveria (Korn) & Rob Bourdon (Linkin Park) use them!!!

Frank Pisano All day, everyday!

The sound of Tool!

Rick Delair cool man! Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts! And yeah, we can’t go wrong choosing Paiste!!

Thanks for watching, we appreciate you!