Sabian vs. Zildjian - which makes the best cymbals

[Gene Smasher]

As above, in your honest opinion if you were given a choice between Sabian and Zildjian, which would you choose? In terms of quality, consistency, volume, sustain, etc...

Personally I'd choose Sabian...

[teejcombos]

extremely broad question......
sabian has their high points, as does zildjian. but it's really really hard to answer a question so broad.

[Walfin]

One word: preference. Both make some good cymbals and some that aren't so great. Neither is better, it's all just opinions. Personally I prefer Sabian out those two, but that's just me.

[hawk9290]

No such thing as the best cymbal- thats why there are so many brands with so many different series- everyone wants a different sound. The best cymbal is going to be the one that you like best on an individual level.

[macmarkus]

sally, billy, andy against kerope or avedis?
hmm, i'd choose toomas ... ;-)

[Drumms]

sally, billy, andy against kerope or avedis?
hmm, i'd choose toomas ... ;-)

Agop and Mehmet have bigger moustaches than them all.

[maddrummr]

One word: preference. Both make some good cymbals and some that aren't so great. Neither is better, it's all just opinions. Personally I prefer Sabian out those two, but that's just me.


Hes 100% right! Cymbals are all about personal taste and style. So the best brand cannot be determained unless its by you.

I like whatever sounds good.

[ahum]

Well, at least sabian still makes some of their cymbals by hand, unlike zildjian. Overall, I'd pick sabian. However, I have not seen a sabian stand up to a K Con.

[forgiven_15]

It all depends on what a person likes, personally i like zildjian.

[DamoSyzygy]

Well, at least sabian still makes some of their cymbals by hand, unlike zildjian. Overall, I'd pick sabian. However, I have not seen a sabian stand up to a K Con.

Havent tried much HH stuff then?

[Mikecore]

I couldn't pick based on sound until I got into the Radia series. Then the difference was night and day, but most people are not looking for anything quite so extreme as a full set of Radias! Still, if Sabian will do THAT, they are probably capable of plenty of other great stuff.

[ahum]

Havent tried much HH stuff then?

Well, I have, but not a whole lot. Don't get me wrong, I'll take sabians over most k's. I just haven't heard a sabian that i thought sounded as good as a k con. (but for the price of k cons, why not just get a truly hand made turkish cymbal for much less rather than paying for name on a machine-made cymbal? that's my thought)

[Ozzy Biz]

Bosphorus and Istanbul.

[drozzy]

Niether... My preference would be Istanbul and Meinl. Best of the european and turkish sounds there!

[Skynman]

Like the other's have said it all depends on the sound that you want but personally for me I prefer Zildjian over all the rest! I am happy with their sound Sabian does make some nice cymbal's but getting a set of them ? I like to have the option of adding to my cymbal's and know that even if I mix series I can find a cymbal or cymbal's that will work and sound good together.

[Rickk]

I have to say they are both great, I also really like the Istanbul and Bosphorous Cymbals,
I was at the Drum Pad last week and tried them all, and really liked the way the Sabians sound. Now a Tip, most of you already know this but I did not learn this until last week.
I have all Zildjian K Custom and also a K Con and a few others, I was actually choking the sound with thick Cymbal felts. A Pro Drummer I know suggested removing the felts to hear the difference and I did. WOW!!. The end result was, I took a razor and cut the felts in half to let the Cymbal move more, I did this on all except my Hi Hats.
I wish I did this long ago. It sounds like new Cymbals, very Nice!!!.

Rick

[tamadrummer132]

naperville x) sweet....

but choking k-customs :'( i feel your pain.


OVERALL cymbals are personall preference.. btw i hate threads like this

[Rickk]

You know it was a beginner mistake, When I started playing and heard so much about Keyhole and cracks on Cymbals, I always bought big Yamaha felts and never gave it a second thought, never thought of taking them out or trimming them down, as time went on and I began to upgrade Cymbals, I never thought I was Choking them , but now I know, hopefully by my posting my mistake someone can learn from this.
Take Care

Rick

[Ozzy Biz]

OVERALL cymbals are personall preference.. btw i hate threads like this

Then don't read them

Ignorance is bliss, remember?

[Steamer]

Let your ears decide what sounds best TO YOU and your musical concept and have fun playing music with other folks that's the bottom line IMHO. All else is mere personal opinion on what cymbals are best.

[Skitch]

Havent tried much HH stuff then?


I have been a Zildjian guy for a long, long, long, time but right now, between these two brands, Sabian has really upped the ante. Zildjian (craggie) is living off the past and I wouldn't be suprised to see her go......


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[Drumms]

Zildjian (craggie) is living off the past and I wouldn't be suprised to see her go......


I have the same feeling about Zildjian.

[tamadrummer132]

Then don't read them

Ignorance is bliss, remember?

stalker....but ok i get u.

[badlydubbedsean]

Zildjian are the older, more original brand. They have oriental history, and the use of cymbals, like pretty much everything ever, was stolen from Arabs. I would always go with the people who invented cymbals.

[Drumms]

Zildjian are the older, more original brand. They have oriental history, and the use of cymbals, like pretty much everything ever, was stolen from Arabs. I would always go with the people who invented cymbals.

Well, Sabian was created by Robert Zildjian...

I really don't think that Zildjian manufacture their cymbals like they did a hundred years ago. You might want to go with real Turkish-made cymbals like Istanbuls or Bos'...

[badlydubbedsean]

You might want to go with real Turkish-made cymbals like Istanbuls or Bos'...

Ya I see your point. I would still choose Zildjian for their large range. And I know their range well, too, compared to Sabian, which I've never used.

[el_frenko]

Sabian for me. not only do they actually sound better (to my ears), but they're even cheaper than zildjian.

[ahum]

Sabian for me. not only do they actually sound better (to my ears), but they're even cheaper than zildjian.

I know, that's what I'm saying! Zildjian is ridiculous. The only thing done by hand in that company is lathing on the K Cons, and they charge out the butt for those. At least Sabian still makes some cymbals by hand. But even then, the turkish cymbals (Bos, Agop, etc) are cheaper but better sounding in my opinion. Shows how much you pay for name with cymbals.

[altered_beast]

Ya I see your point. I would still choose Zildjian for their large range. And I know their range well, too, compared to Sabian, which I've never used.

i hate to sound like an arse, but don't you think that comes off as narrow minded? just cos you don't know something you're not gonna use it? does that mean you only listen to one or two bands cos you don't listen to the bands you've never heard before?

also, sabian has a massive range. i'm not educated enough to know whether or not it's bigger than zildjian's, i just ended up playing sabian cos i bought a cheap sabian ride or something years ago and like it and gradually bought more and more sabians. my personal preference is toward sabian cos i've never had a cymbal from them i've disliked, even tho i've always bought blind cos there's nowhere that's easily accessible enough to try em out.

[Steamer]

I know, that's what I'm saying! Zildjian is ridiculous. The only thing done by hand in that company is lathing on the K Cons, and they charge out the butt for those. At least Sabian still makes some cymbals by hand. But even then, the turkish cymbals (Bos, Agop, etc) are cheaper but better sounding in my opinion. Shows how much you pay for name with cymbals.

I bought my new set of Zildjians because they simply sounded the best based on my own personal taste in direct comparison to several different cymbals from a wide range of companies and they are certainly worth the investment based on quality/sound for what I paid for them regardless of the ever tiring hammering debate on the net. Like I said earlier let your own ears be the judge what is "best" and buy what floats your boat.

[ahum]

I bought my new set of Zildjians because they simply sounded the best based on my own personal taste in direct comparison to several different cymbals from a wide range of companies and they are certainly worth the investment based on quality/sound for what I paid for them regardless of the ever tiring hammering debate on the net. Like I said earlier let your own ears be the judge what is "best" and buy what floats your boat.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I think the K Cons sound absolutely beautiful. My point is that they charge a really high price for machine made cymbals, when you can get a fully hand-made cymbal for 100-200 dollars less.

[Steamer]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I think the K Cons sound absolutely beautiful. My point is that they charge a really high price for machine made cymbals, when you can get a fully hand-made cymbal for 100-200 dollars less.

Price wise many of the local dealers offer some good deals on the K Cons that are quite comparable per $$$ to Istanbul Agop cymbals sold locally at one particular drum shop. Going into my new cymbal pursuit the Istanbul Agops were first on my list but the Zildjians "had it" based on their sound in the end and the price between the two wasn't a huge difference.

Sound wise for what I was hearing going into selecting a new ride and putting the hammering debate on the back burner and using my ears as a guide the 20" K Con light beat out a whole pile of various Istanbul Agops {and others from other makers I might add} for having a particularly standout sound that really caught my ear and in the end my pocketbook.

The other K Zildjian Custom cymbals selected to complete the rest of the new family were standouts too over other offerings I tested over a couple of weeks.

Feel I got what I paid for great cymbals.

[dom]

i would choose sabian, they gave me A FREE, yes FREE 21'' raw bell dry ride and it will be here soon. They have more lines to choose from so finding that one cymbal is so much easier to be just right, and unlike zildjian they are not advertising that someone who died before a cymbal was released used the cymbal when it was not even made yet.

Zildjian is fun to say but i personally dont like them i think they dont have as much to choose from and are WAY overpriced and overrated

[dom]

oops i forgot the most important part....IT IS ALL WHAT YOU WANT WHAT YOU LIKE

dont let a name keep you from getting great sounding stuff its a personal preferance

[Skitch]

Zildjian are the older, more original brand. They have oriental history, and the use of cymbals, like pretty much everything ever, was stolen from Arabs. I would always go with the people who invented cymbals.

Uh, OK - you know that Robert Zildjian owns Sabian due to a family legal battle. Armand Zildjian (who owned Zildjian) was his brother. I am also not certain of what you mean by "oriental history".

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[Skitch]

also, sabian has a massive range. i'm not educated enough to know whether or not it's bigger than zildjian's,

Yes, I think Sabian's range is comprarable to Zildjian's - it is a family thing you know! And what I mean by this, is that this a family which made cymbals and these people were raised knowing about how to make cymbals. So when Zildjian comes out with a new technique or product, don't you think the Sabian guys know how to get it done and vis versa?


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[bojangleman]

all about personal opinion,(but thats been said alot before). but personally i like sabian, cause they are great cymbals and Zildjian charges way to much. but thats me.

[Ironcobra]

i didn't even read anyones posts, cuz the title explains it all..

no one makes the best, its all your personal choice. i suppose thats what other people said