I need some help buying cymbals

[KONA]

I've looked around a bit - not in a hurry though. I'm looking for something I can play that has excellent sound in a close environment - maybe 30x40 feet at the most - (not a large venue). I'm thinking maybe:

13 or14"hats
20 or 21"ride
15&16" or 16&17" crashes
and a 10" splash. I may add some Ice Bells too - they're cool.

I'm new at this and a little overwhelmed with the choices out there. I like Zildjian, looked at some Sabian and I really like Paiste - but wow - the price!

They all sound great........that's my problem - I like them all. I don't even have a drum kit yet - ordered it yesterday - the drums will take about 3-4 months to get to me. hense the not-in-a-hurry mode.

Any help here would be great.
Any links to sites would be helpful too.
I was thinking I could get these cymbals for under $1,000 - what do you think?

I'm in Canada - we have the Canadian Paso - but we're catching up!

PM me anyone if you like.

Kona.

[Ozzy Biz]

The advice I'll give you is to check out Bosphorus & Istanbul cymbals. They're my two favourite brands, followed by Paiste. I'm in love with Bosphorus; their traditional series cymbals are all I'm playing at the moment. Being completely hand-made, they seem to get more of that 'wobble' in rides and they feel a bit more malleable. Being not as stiff as Zildjians/etc I find they're easier to play at softer dynamics, yet can still wail loud if needed. They seem a bit more versatile. Mine seem to be dark with some brilliance in the mix. It's hard to explain, kind of a mix of K, A and something else. But better ;)

[KONA]

I'll check them out .
I had some nice old, very old, Zildjians (found a 22" sizzle in a ditch in 1965 - don't know how long it had been buried there!). Those old cymbals had that nice hand crafted feel/sound - ya - it was great. Should never have traded them.................
I'll check those Bosphorus cymbals out for sure...........

Thanks,

[harryconway]

Let me add a few more names to the list Ozzy Biz started: Turkish http://www.turkishcymbals.com/ Masterwork http://www.masterworkcymbal.com/ and Soultone http://www.soultonecymbals.com/ not to say anything againts Zildjian, Paiste, Sabian, Meinl or Ufip...'cause I got plates from all those people too.

[KONA]

Thanks for the links you guys - I've been busy checking all these out on-line.

Kona

[aceman]

As far as hats go, 14" will be more versatile. I really like Sabians Paragon series. I have a 8" &10" paragon splash that are fabulous. Also a paragon 19" china and 18" and 16" Sabian AAXplosion crashes that are my favorites. Although my favorite ride still remains Zildjians 21" sweet ride. Just try out as many as possible and buy what sounds good. You'll know it when you hear it.

[Saponi Boy]

Check these guys out too...http://www.trxcymbals.com...I made a post about these a couple of days ago. I played some earlier this week, and theyre great. Theyre new, (well, I was told that Bosphorus owns them), but anywayz, they got some good deals going on. Im going to check them out again today and try to get a price list...if so I'll post later

[tamadrummer132]

www.drumgearonline.com

www.saludacymbals.com

[Cymbalrider]

Bosphorus Traditionals are still my vote but there are a few models from the other companies that aren't that bad. The Zildjian Sweet Ride is great, I've got one and it's wonderful for my jazz quartet as well as the school big band. The A Zildjian "vintage" series are nice as well. The Sabian HHX Legacy are very nice as well. They are similar to Constantinoples and a little cheaper. The Bosphorus Traditionals have a sound like 1950s-1960s A Zildjians. You can get the effects cymbals with those too, if you wanted a swish or splash. In addition to cymbalsonly.com, mycymbal.com has a few sound files as well. Keep in mind though that cymbals will sound different with music, and at the 30 ft distance you spoke of. My Zildjian Medium 20" ride that I thought of as being too bright isn't really in context even with my jazz quartet. Where I have my kit in my house it seems louder though.

[d.c.drummer]

What style do you play?

[drumbandit]

It depends on what style you play, you can get used zildjian from cymbalcellar.com for good good prices. Take a look there, and try cymbals in shops, just to see what sizes feels comfortable.

Tom

[fourstringdrums]

I'm another Bosphorus convert. Check out www.cymbalsonly.com Great prices, and you can hear the exact cymbal that you would buy online first. Tony is a great guy to deal with as well. He also sells Istanbul which I'd recommend, and some models of Meinl, Paiste, and Sabian. I'd personally recommend Bosphorus, then Istanbul, then Meinl, then Sabian. I love how Paistes sound and look but they're took expensive. I'm no longer a Zildjian fan, I don't even consider them anymore.

[Mr. Pasquini]

Look at Dream Cymbals for a nice all around ride if you don't have the cash for Zildjians or other brass. I have a 20" Contact "Crash/Ride" which really is just a thin ride. It's better than a Constantinople for crashing but it's no crash cymbal. I also have a Paiste 2002 crash that I would marry (My girlfriend would get mad, though).