Small splashes

[dkerwood]

Back when I was shopping for a splash cymbal, I distinctly remember seeing a hard rock band with a fantastic drummer. The only negative thing about this guy was his tiny splash- either a 6 or 8 inch.

He'd be doing fantastically complex things between the hats and splash, but the splash was totally inaudible over the wash of the band. You could see it moving like crazy, but that was all. Mics didn't help, and I felt like I was missing a huge part of his performance.

So I went out and made sure to buy a 10" splash- something big enough to project where and when I needed it to. Fast forward several years to today. As my cymbal collection grows, I'm seriously considering adding another splash or two.

My question now is this- are there smaller splashes that DO project, or are tiny splash users stuck with softer music?

[TheEndlessObsession]

I have an 8" AAX splash and i find it cuts VERY well through very well. I think it depends on the splash model a decent amount.

[drumtechdad]

To me, anything over 10" is a crash cymbal, not a splash.

Splashes are soft. You use them in soft spots in the music. If your band doesn't ever have any soft spots in the music, don't buy them.

[That Guy]

To me, anything over 10" is a crash cymbal, not a splash.

Splashes are soft. You use them in soft spots in the music. If your band doesn't ever have any soft spots in the music, don't buy them.


I agree with that. A 10" is almost overkill for a splash but still remains in the family.

dkerwood,

Your band doesn't necessarily have to play soft music in order for you to use a small splash successfully. You just have to find the right spot in a song where it can be used or you can create a spot in the song for them. Suggest that to your band. Let them know you would like to try to incorporate the small splash sound into some songs. See how it goes. You guys might find yourselves enjoying the challenge and develop some intimate song structure.

Carter Beauford is a drummer that I have been highly influenced by when it comes to use of a small splash. Though his band does get quite enough at times to use them, I have seen him use them full board.

If you like the sound. Make it work.

[dkerwood]

To me, it's more about timbre than size. Splashes have a specific sound, while crashes have a totally different sound. I was trying out cymbals today, and found some 12 and 14 inchers that sounded more like splashes, and some 10 inch pies voiced more like a small crash.

I bought the 10" A Custom because it did have the splash sound, but could also cut through when I needed that sound. It doesn't necessarily have to be a soft section (I don't really have much occasion to play loud music), but I like to use it as an alternative to an open hi hat sound. Splashes shouldn't HAVE to be soft just because they're small.

[drumtechdad]

Splashes shouldn't HAVE to be soft just because they're small.

Laws of physics.

They can be cuttingly bright and maybe they'll cut through, but who wants that?

Plenty of guys who play in loud bands use them--Gavin Harrison has six or eight of them--but the music has to have some dynamic range. Getting the "splash sound" any louder than it is just isn't a realistic expectation.

[dkerwood]

Laws of physics.

They can be cuttingly bright and maybe they'll cut through, but who wants that?

Plenty of guys who play in loud bands use them--Gavin Harrison has six or eight of them--but the music has to have some dynamic range. Getting the "splash sound" any louder than it is just isn't a realistic expectation.

I'm just saying that splashes shouldn't be so quiet that they're completely unusable. I've seen some 6 and 8" splashes that couldn't be heard even during the quiet spots of amplified music (unmiked drums) in a club.

[b4z]

I've always felt that neil Peart's splashes cut through, even before he went to the paragon line.
And 2 same sized splashes played in unison with double bass is a neat effect.

[Polishdrummer23]

I've always felt that neil Peart's splashes cut through, even before he went to the paragon line.
And 2 same sized splashes played in unison with double bass is a neat effect.

I agree the Paragon splashes have some great cut even for an 8". The Mike Portnoy Max Splashes are also others to be considered.

[mitkoni]

I have an 8" AAX splash and i find it cuts VERY well through very well. I think it depends on the splash model a decent amount.

I second that. I have 6" AAX and it cuts trough everything, but my 10" Roctagon is a different story. I need to be very precise where and how to use it because isn't loud enough.

[jer]

I have an 8" AAX splash and i find it cuts VERY well through very well. I think it depends on the splash model a decent amount.

I guess this ends up being a 3rd for the 8" AAX, I have the 10" AAX as well, they seem to cut through no prob.