Equipment suggestions - cymbals (esp Sabian)

[mja61]

Hey Everyone -

Well, I was practicing tonight, and I noticed a half-inch crack in my favorite 18" Zildjian A-Custom crash. [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img]

I have cracked several crashes over the last few years, which I find a tad puzzling. I would not describe myself as a hard hitter. I'm probably a little more heavy handed than Weckl or Simon P, but definitely no where near Vinnie/Virgil/Dennis/Fig territory. I always use a sweeping or rebound action...never playing through the cymbal. I generally play Ambassador weight heads and almost never pit any of them. I played my original crashes for about a dozen years before I cracked one...and those were my "formative years" where I definitely was hitting harder (and practicing more!)

So.........I'm looking for some cymbal recommendations. I've been a life-long Ziljdian man (over 20 years now), but I feel I'm losing confidence in the company these days. I've posted previously that the A and K series "ain't what they used to be" and that, although they have some very nice models currently, you have to pick through a dozen or two before you find one that sounds as good as you would expect.

More recently, the passing of Armand Zildjian, the departure of Lenny D., and the exodus of some big players (Weckl and Peart, obviously, but also other guys like Calhoun, Freese, Brechtlein) are not encouraging signs. I also have been using Zildjian sticks lately, because I find the design of some of their models to be very comfortable, but even the quality of the sticks (straightness, consistency, balance, density) has been a major dissapointment.

I've been very impressed with Sabian lately, and have been thinking about making the switch. Their cymbals certainly seem to be much more consistent, and their AA and Hand Hammered series sound like the A and K Zildjians I remember from 10 or 20 years ago. However, I'm not sure Sabian will ever have anything to compete with some of the more traditional Zildjian sounds, e.g. Constantinople and A CIE series.

I was hoping to hear of your experiences with Zildjian and Sabian, espcially with regard to cracking. Also, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the future of the Zildjian company and the quality of their products.

I love seeing the Zidjian and K logo on my cymbals, but I get the sense they might be slipping. I definitely prefer to keep one brand of cymbals for the entire set. I still think a good Zildjian sounds better than anything, but consistency and durability are important, too.

Would I be out of line to play Zildjian sticks but Sabian cymbals?!?!?!? [img]eek.gif[/img] [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]redface.gif[/img]

Thanks in advance for your comments!

-Mike

[Randy walker]

I play Sabian and have mixed in my setup HH and AAX....They sound awesome together.

[donu]

Are you sure you hit the cymbal correctly ?

You don't have to hit like you hit the head of you drum , to hit a cymbal it must be like a little circle attack , not attack in front but for example start from right , hit in the midle of the course and continue at left side ,( opposite for the other side cymbal ) , and don't constrict you hand on you stick , let that the more free possible

Also to preserve you cymbal you can use the Aquarian spring system

[Pedro G]

I also was very dissapointed with Zildjians a few years ago, especially with the consistency.
When I was in Mexico, it was dificult to find some models, so I couldn't try various cymbals and find the one that I liked... you just buy something and hope that you were lucky.
I was lucky a couple of times but also had some really bad experiences. It seems that the best cymbals stay in the US or are for the endorsers and they send the leftovers to the 3rd world!!!, so it was like playing russian roulet and I got tired.
I've been using Paiste for the last 4 or 5 years and I'm as happy as I could be, they sound beautiful and the consistency is unbeatable. Sabian is definitely an exelent option too [img]wink.gif[/img]

[Derek DeFields]

Paiste's consistency really is pretty amazing. I'm not sure how they do it.

Unfortunately, I've had a hard time getting into the way they sound.

Sabian to me is the new Zildjian, sounds the same with better QC. I was really really impressed with the Sabian stuff this last NAMM.

Having said that, everything I own still says Zildjian. (I have a hard time letting go of what I'm used to I guess)

[hanayalator]

Go with whatever sounds good. Close your eyes and play them...

[Lee Collins]

I'm loving my set of weckl evolutions. So far have the 18" crash, 10" and 12" splashes. They are AWESOME cymbals. Splashes are as trashy as I like,( remind me of istanbul splashes), and the crash is gorgeous, so dark, with plenty of sustain. Most of all, it's the way they feel when struck. Very smooth, and at the lightest touch they sound great. I'm a bit bored of my K crashes. However, I haven't played the evolution ride or hats yet. Zildjian still make great rides, and the K dry light ride is almost identical in sound to Jo jo Mayers fierce 21" which is really nice.

[piccupstix]

I used to only use Zildjian. Years ago, I cracked a crash (no heaviness here) after only one week. I returned it and the guy who sits on a stool and accepts or rejects cracked cymbals rejected it. I was livid and wrote to them that I'd never use another Zildjian long as I live. This apparently alarmed and frightened them into silence. I never heard from them, though I suspected they were still in business. I went with their brother's formula for years after that and recently have been purchasing and using, satisfactorily, Paiste.

[ladanny]

I'm with Derek. Paiste has ALWAYS been known for their consistancy. That was their big sell in the late 70s and early 80s, and they still do it.

Thew new Sabian stuff is GREAT. Reminds me of early 70s Zildjian stuff, but with new technology. HH and HHX is my favorite lines for sure.

Having said that, I play all Zildjian in my setup, other than 1 Paiste Signature splash...sounds like glass.

Danny

[beat Hit]

Paiste... They were also known for breaking easily were they not? I broke my 16" 2002 Crash years back... It now sits underneeth my 20" Zildjian China.

I recently heard Paiste is now much more resistant, as much as Sabian and Zildjian... Is it true?

BTW... I have a 17" Zildjian A Custom Brillant and a 14" Sabian AAX Studio crash and a 12" Zildjian Splash brillant... They sound GREAT together.