Do Zildian cymbal names mean anything?

[OldHippy]

Like A, K, A Custom, K Custom. Is there a basic difference between them? Like these are cast and the ZXTs are sheet, something like that. The choices are overwhelming and there are quite a few that I could accept. Even the descriptions are almost the same. I'm looking for new jazz hats and am trying to narrow down the selections, hopefully to 3 or 4 that the local store will have. Price isn't a concern right now.

Sabians look even more confusing, but that will be for another day.

[tynn]

Yes:

A= versatile
A Custom= Rock and Pop but also used in metal and other.
K = Jazz, but also used in rock and funk
K Custom = basically the same as K, i think?
Z custom = Metal/ rock/ heavy stuff.

[willem36]

If you need a pair of jazz hats you should try the new K Light Hats. I love them in 14".

[jayp]

ZHT
ZXT are both sheet crappy cymbals

The others are cast
A - Versatile
A Custom - Versatile and bright with a brilliant finish
K - Dark nice for jazz, and rock applications
K Custom - Dark and complex very jazzy style of cymbals again like the A customs in brilliant finish
Z - Heavy cymbals great durability great for metal rock punk but IMO they sound like crap
For hats, I just picked up a pair of 14" K Hats and I love them! They are very jazzy but yet versatile.

Or for the discription on the website check out http://www.zildjian.com/en-US/products/default.ad2?catalogID=1000&useID=0&typeID=0

[Deathmetalconga]

Like A, K, A Custom, K Custom. Is there a basic difference between them? Like these are cast and the ZXTs are sheet, something like that. The choices are overwhelming and there are quite a few that I could accept. Even the descriptions are almost the same. I'm looking for new jazz hats and am trying to narrow down the selections, hopefully to 3 or 4 that the local store will have. Price isn't a concern right now.

Sabians look even more confusing, but that will be for another day.

I agree, the marketing material isn't very helpful. According to the company, each and every line is the best sounding cymbal ever made, perfect for every application. They're too paranoid about losing a sale that they don't give you any concrete, consumer-oriented reasons for buying anything, so there's a lot of word-of-mouth and urban myths about the lines. Maybe the company thinks that adds to the mystery, but it just makes it hard to compare stuff.

I play A Customs because they're the best sounding cymbals ever made, perfect for every application. Ha, just kidding. I've heard the A Customs have a more refined, mellower sound, so I checked them out and I like them.

[Steamer]

I've always found a nice pair of hats in the K or K Custom lines from Zildjian for jazz. I currently own a pair of 13" K. Light hats and a 14" pair of K Custom Special Dry hats. Both are outstanding offerings from Zildjian in the jazz high hat department IMO.

[ZDrums24]

i love zildjian, but (at least a few months ago) the general consensous among the jazzers on the forum was that zildjian had pretty much abandoned jazz drummers. the complaint was too much focus on a 'dark' sound and not a complex sound in the k lines. this may have changed recently (i havent been on for a while). most of the jazzers who complained advocated buying from the turkish companies (bosphorus? istanbul?) or hand hammering your own cymbals after you bought them.

im not a jazzer, so i really can't say.

[Steamer]

i love zildjian, but (at least a few months ago) the general consensous among the jazzers on the forum was that zildjian had pretty much abandoned jazz drummers. the complaint was too much focus on a 'dark' sound and not a complex sound in the k lines. this may have changed recently (i havent been on for a while). most of the jazzers who complained advocated buying from the turkish companies (bosphorus? istanbul?) or hand hammering your own cymbals after you bought them.

im not a jazzer, so i really can't say.


Well I am and pretty darn pleased with all my latest Zildjian purchases. Look at some of their latest offerings including the 22" K Dark Medium ride or the K Light hats or the K Custom Special dry hats as examples of great current Zildjian offerings for jazz players. The 22" K Dark Medium ride in particular is the best jazz ride i've heard from any company as of late IMO.

[Steamer]

Oh and before I forget speaking of other deadly sounding modern K's to add to my last comments the combo of my 22" K Custom Dark ride [right hand ride},20" K Constantinople Light {left hand crash/ride} and 14" K Custom Special Dry hats makes for a wonderful combo for small group jazz situations leaving nothing in need of want or desire to improve upon sound wise for this jazz player. The 14" K Custom Special Dry hats are a dream to hear with that cymbal combo in particular.

[radiofriendlyunitshifter]

Sabians look even more confusing, but that will be for another day.

a = aa
a custom = aax
hh = k
hhx = k custom

[figure_02]

aa = a
aax = a custom
hh = k
hhx = k custom
aa metal X = z custom

Fixed.

1234567890+7689

[Johnny from the block]

If you want jazz-hats, check out the HHX legacy hats! (At least if you got a few bucks) I'm not a jazz-drummer but I adore the sound of them. Shame I haven't the money :p

[fooleeze]

I think something everyone should keep in mind about the Zildjian model/type markings. . . back in the day (early zildjian history, 30s, 40s, etc. up until the 70s) Zildjian didn't have any distinction between different lines / models / types (a few small exceptions). They had 'weight' descriptors that was used 95% of the time (Thin, Medium-Thin, Medium). So you could buy a A Zildjian 20" Thin. Or an A Zildjian 14" Medium. They did have a few things like the 'Bounce' or 'Dance' cymbals.

Now, they have everything from "Rock" "Jazz" "Dark" "Ping" "Fast" A, A Custom, Z Custom, etc. There is a lot of marketing mumbo-jumbo that they have added to these cymbals over the years. Now, there are some manufacturing differences in the different lines, but within those lines (All 'A' cymbals for example) are manufactured the same, they just put a name on it based on the weight and sound characteristics.

The morale of the story. . . just listen to the cymbals, and quit reading them.

[tooldrums1000]

ZBT= Zildjian Bronze Technology
ZXT= Zildjian ___?___ Technology
ZHT=ZIldjian ___?___ Technology

[Skitch]

I think something everyone should keep in mind about the Zildjian model/type markings. . . back in the day (early zildjian history, 30s, 40s, etc. up until the 70s) Zildjian didn't have any distinction between different lines / models / types (a few small exceptions). They had 'weight' descriptors that was used 95% of the time (Thin, Medium-Thin, Medium). So you could buy a A Zildjian 20" Thin. Or an A Zildjian 14" Medium. They did have a few things like the 'Bounce' or 'Dance' cymbals.

Now, they have everything from "Rock" "Jazz" "Dark" "Ping" "Fast" A, A Custom, Z Custom, etc. There is a lot of marketing mumbo-jumbo that they have added to these cymbals over the years. Now, there are some manufacturing differences in the different lines, but within those lines (All 'A' cymbals for example) are manufactured the same, they just put a name on it based on the weight and sound characteristics.

The morale of the story. . . just listen to the cymbals, and quit reading them.

Excellent point, Todd, leaving me with only the point on top of my head! Actually, the A does stand for something - or someone - Aveids. The K stands for Kerope, who left Turkey in the 1980s for the United States.

Mike

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

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

[HHxplorer]

A stands for Avedis.

[fooleeze]

I think something everyone should keep in mind about the Zildjian model/type markings. . . back in the day (early zildjian history, 30s, 40s, etc. up until the 70s) Zildjian didn't have any distinction between different lines / models / types (a few small exceptions). They had 'weight' descriptors that was used 95% of the time (Thin, Medium-Thin, Medium). So you could buy a A Zildjian 20" Thin. Or an A Zildjian 14" Medium. They did have a few things like the 'Bounce' or 'Dance' cymbals.

Now, they have everything from "Rock" "Jazz" "Dark" "Ping" "Fast" A, A Custom, Z Custom, etc. There is a lot of marketing mumbo-jumbo that they have added to these cymbals over the years. Now, there are some manufacturing differences in the different lines, but within those lines (All 'A' cymbals for example) are manufactured the same, they just put a name on it based on the weight and sound characteristics.

The morale of the story. . . just listen to the cymbals, and quit reading them.

You know, to clarify a little more on my point above. . . they didn't distinguish between 'ride' or 'crash' back then. That was the big difference.