What's your main crash?

[Stalwart_Pandora-Chris]

I'm interested to know what you guys use as your left side crash.
My main crash varies between an 16" Agean Custom Brilliant crash and a 17" Sabian HHX Evolution Crash. I used to use an 18" Zildjian A Custom EFX permanently for a main crash.

Can't wait to hear what you guys have!

[Bonestorm]

I consider the crash above my ride/last rack tom to be my "main"...which is a 20" Paiste Sound Formula power crash.

[Stalwart_Pandora-Chris]

Originally Posted by Bonestorm

I consider the crash above my ride/last rack tom to be my "main"...which is a 20" Paiste Sound Formula power crash.

AH! I wasn't thinking straight haha, left side crash people!

[alparrott]

My crashes in order of use, and their position:
1) 18" Zildjian A Custom; above my first floor tom at about 2:30.
2) 16" Zildjian A Custom Projection crash; flying off my bass drum at about 12:30.
3) 19" Zildjian A Medium-thin crash; over my hi-hat at about 10:30 - 11:00.
4) 18" Zildjian Z Custom medium crash, custom-modded into an Ozone; over my main china and second floor tom at 3:00.

[skunkendilly]

Hi Guys
This is my main crash. I used to ride it too-))
Skunk

[diegobxr]

Zildjian 18" A Medium Thin Crash.

Don't think I'll ever need another one, I find it just perfect.

Cheers.

[MikeM]

I don't get the idea of a main crash.

The one above my hats is sort of the main when I'm riding the hats, unless I just got done hitting it within the last quarter note or so ... or unless I'm playing open handed; at that point, either of the front two could be considered main crashes. The one on my right is probably my main crash when I'm riding the ride cymbal ... unless I'm washing it out, then I go to the far right, where my crash ride sits because it has more volume than either of the front two, or unless I'm hitting the front left crash with my left hand.

Gets very confusing, this whole main crash business. Crashes aren't like rides where traditionally there's a right side (main) and left side ride. Mine are sprinkled around the kit (3 in all) so that one's always in reach with either hand. They're also pretty distinct pitch-wise so that factors into it too.

In any case, I recently found a pair of 19" K Dark Medium Thin Crashes that do pretty well, if a bit heavy. A 19" A Custom Crash does pretty well in front somewhere, too. But I have a couple other Zildjians and some Sabian Xplosions that also work well.

[masonni]

Been seeing that EFX crash used as a main crash by a lot of people the last year or two.
Dave Grohl and Travis Barker both do it.

Live my main crash most of the time is a 20" A Custom ReZo crash.
In the studio it's a 19" A Custom Med. Crash and on lighter gigs it's a 16" A Thin Crash

[Adam B]

This. Actually sounds pretty good to me.

[audiotech]

Originally Posted by Adam B

This. Actually sounds pretty good to me.

What happened to that poor thing?

Dennis

[Bull]

19" AAX Xplosion crash
20" Z Custiom Medium Crash

[Adam B]

Originally Posted by audiotech

What happened to that poor thing?

Dennis

It was abused and left in my garage by another player. Rather than throw it out I took the tin snips to it and gave it life again.

[Drumolator]

The crash I hit the most is a Sabian AA 16" Medium-Thin Crash. I may replace it in a few months with a Sabian 17" AAXpolsion Crash. Peace, goodwill, and blues.

[mxo721]

sabian 16" aa thin crash...or so it says, I sometimes think it's mis-marked because it has a very " thick??" sound when crashed..a close second is my damaged/repaird zildjian 19" thin crash.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Main crash, right side, Zildjian A Medium 16 inch. Left side crash Zildjian A Medium 17 inch

[SticksEasy]

My main crash is an old 18" Zildjian A
I also use a 20" Sabian B8 Pro ride as a crash
and an old 18" Sabian crash ride (series unknown)

[LeftoverPenguin]

I have two left side crashes, a 19" and a 20" A Custom Rezo. I guess the 20" would be the "main" one.

[MikeM]

Originally Posted by LeftoverPenguin

I have two left side crashes, a 19" and a 20" A Custom Rezo. I guess the 20" would be the "main" one.

Cool, I've been eying those but haven't seen the right specimens when out shopping with one of those as a potential. I have a 19" A Custom (thin) and an 18" AC Projection (medium-thin) but have been intrigued by the Rezos (medium-thin) based on a few videos. Any thoughts or comparisons on those?

[caddywumpus]

Originally Posted by diegobxr

Zildjian 18" A Medium Thin Crash.

Don't think I'll ever need another one, I find it just perfect.

Yep. Me too! My 18" A Medium Thin Crash is the standard by which I measure all other crashes...

[Dre25]

17" Ufip Experience Bell crash

(winner)

[Typo]

Originally Posted by MikeM

I don't get the idea of a main crash.

The one above my hats is sort of the main when I'm riding the hats, unless I just got done hitting it within the last quarter note or so ... or unless I'm playing open handed; at that point, either of the front two could be considered main crashes. The one on my right is probably my main crash when I'm riding the ride cymbal ... unless I'm washing it out, then I go to the far right, where my crash ride sits because it has more volume than either of the front two, or unless I'm hitting the front left crash with my left hand.

Gets very confusing, this whole main crash business. Crashes aren't like rides where traditionally there's a right side (main) and left side ride. Mine are sprinkled around the kit (3 in all) so that one's always in reach with either hand. They're also pretty distinct pitch-wise so that factors into it too.

In any case, I recently found a pair of 19" K Dark Medium Thin Crashes that do pretty well, if a bit heavy. A 19" A Custom Crash does pretty well in front somewhere, too. But I have a couple other Zildjians and some Sabian Xplosions that also work well.

Yeah, I, too, have never understood the whole main crash thing. I use two crashes, but I don't consider either a main. What does it mean to be a main crash anyway? The one that's used the most? I just use them.

[Bonestorm]

Originally Posted by Typo

Yeah, I, too, have never understood the whole main crash thing. I use two crashes, but I don't consider either a main. What does it mean to be a main crash anyway? The one that's used the most? I just use them.

Well, for me, I say "main" crash because it's the one I use when crash-riding and...well, yeah...it's my "go-to" crash. Being over that last rack tom makes it my center, most-accessible-to-my-right-arm crash, too.

Also, I have 3 (or sometimes 4) crashes on my kit. They're always arranged lightest-to-heaviest (lightest being over my first rack tom, heaviest being the last one above my floor tom). So the "main" one is the middle weight and best "all around" crash on my kit.

Right now, this is what I have set up (all Paiste):
- 19" Alpha rock: above my first rack tom
- 20" Sound Formula power: above my last rack tom
- 19" RUDE Wild: above my floor tom

When I use a 4th one, it's placed over my main hi hats (I use 2 sets of hats).

[Naigewron]

Don't quite know what to classify as my main crash, but my two front crashes are two 18" Diril Traditional crashes (around 1600 and 1700 grams). My third crash (far right) is an 18" Meinl Byzance Traditional Medium Thin.

[kettles]

An Avedis 18" Medium-Thin traditional finish. Super versatile, works almost anywhere. But it's been my main crash for six years so I'm feeling like a change.

[cky42091]

18" Avedis medium-thin ALL DAY. Mine even has a hole in it and it's still one of the best crashes I've ever heard. Beats the pants off anything sitting on the shelves at guitar center

[MikeM]

Originally Posted by Bonestorm

Also, I have 3 (or sometimes 4) crashes on my kit. They're always arranged lightest-to-heaviest (lightest being over my first rack tom, heaviest being the last one above my floor tom). So the "main" one is the middle weight and best "all around" crash on my kit.

Mine are always arranged sorta like the way Mangini arranges his toms: highest pitch to lowest pitch alternating right-left-right starting with the middle crash (of 3). So my crashes are usually set up 19" 18" 20" moving left to right. I don't try to set them up in descending order like toms, so if I want a big crash, I can put my left hand on the 19" and my right on the 20". Can't do that as easily with the bigun's all over to one side.

Plus, to set them up in descending order makes the kit (and the universe!) feel off balance. To each his own, though.

[Luke50001]

I don't have a main crash per se. I have a 16" Paiste 2002 crash above my hats and a 18" Paiste 2002 Wild Crash by my ride. I use whichever is convenient.

[Mr. Compactness]

My main "crashes" are usually rides. I have an 18" Bosphorus Stanton Moore Smash Crash but I haven't used it in a while. Right now I'm using a 20" Bosphorus Traditional Thin Ride, which is also my main ride. Any other "crashes" I have on my kit lately are either my 22" Bosphorus Traditional Med-Thin Ride, 20" Traditional China (which also serves as a ride), or a 19" Masters Ride.

[Taye-Dyed]

I could not name a main crash either. I use three crashes and try to use them equally / alternately in order to avoid getting the same crash sound over and over. They are:

- Paiste 18" Giant Beat Multi. I do ride it regularly, but I mainly consider it to be a crash.
- Sabian 16" AAXplosion
- Vintage Zildjian (1940's) 13". This one is amazing. At this size, it should sound like a splash but it has such a rich and deep tone and much bigger spread than a 13" crash should achieve.

I have a small-ish drum set up as my band plays mostly acoustic stuff in small venues so my crashes are also fairly small sizes and fast decaying. If I crashed my 20" ride, you could not hear the rest of the band for the next four measures!!!

[LeftoverPenguin]

Originally Posted by MikeM

Cool, I've been eying those but haven't seen the right specimens when out shopping with one of those as a potential. I have a 19" A Custom (thin) and an 18" AC Projection (medium-thin) but have been intrigued by the Rezos (medium-thin) based on a few videos. Any thoughts or comparisons on those?

Until very recently I used to own the 19" A Custom Crash as well. The 19" ReZo Crash is slightly thicker, especially near the bell, so it keeps up better with the rest of my crashes, which are all 20". The ReZo cymbals on the whole are very nice. After listening to many different audio samples and various YouTube videos of the two (and after reading more than a few favorable reviews on the whole ReZo line) I just ordered these from Zildjian through my drum shop somewhat blindly. Very happy I did.

I'd say they're probably closer to the projection crash you have, seeing as my crashes are medium-thin as well. They'd definitely work well with everything you have already. With what you have I'd probably say stick with 18" or smaller, but 19" or 20" wouldn't be out of the question if that's what you're looking for.

[audiotech]

My main crashes are a Zildjian K Custom 18" Dark crash, a Zildjian A Custom 19" crash, a Zildjian A 18" Medium Thin crash, a Sabian Hand Hammered 18" Medium Thin crash or 19" HH Thin crash depending on the venue, a Sabian HHX 18" Evolution crash and a Sabian Hand Hammered 18" Dark crash.

Dennis

[harryconway]

Usually, I have two matched sized crashes, front left and front right. And since no two cymbals are identical, the higher pitched cymbal goes on the left, the lower pitched on the right.

As for brands/sizes ... it varies. Currently, I'm playing 14" Istanbuls. But I also have 16" Istanbuls, 14" Zildjian A customs, 16" Masterworks, and 16" Paiste Colorsound 5's.

[uniin]

18" bosphorus antique medium crash. loud enough to compete with a fender twin reverb (barely) and also dark enough to be a nice jazz ride. great bell, excellent dynamics amazing body. can't ask for more in a crash IMO.

[Bonestorm]

Originally Posted by MikeM

Mine are always arranged sorta like the way Mangini arranges his toms: highest pitch to lowest pitch alternating right-left-right starting with the middle crash (of 3). So my crashes are usually set up 19" 18" 20" moving left to right. I don't try to set them up in descending order like toms, so if I want a big crash, I can put my left hand on the 19" and my right on the 20". Can't do that as easily with the bigun's all over to one side.

Plus, to set them up in descending order makes the kit (and the universe!) feel off balance. To each his own, though.

Well, in reality, all of my crashes are bigun's. It's just that the first one in line is a little less bigun than the rest haha.

I'm a metal drummer, so having the heaviest (or in my case - the "harshest") in the last spot is a great landing point after long fills and whatnot.

[Bad Tempered Clavier]

Sabian 16" AAXplosion for a big old loud CRASH
Sabian 16" AAX El Sabor Picante Hand Crash for use with brushes and mallets

Actually, as far as punctuation goes (i.e. accenting the first beat of the bar after a fill or something) - I'm more likely to use my splashes. Never used splashes much until I got 10" and 12" Dream Bliss splashes a few months ago. The 12" especially now is my preferred go-to cymbal and it cuts through the rest of the band like no crash I've ever had. I've never been one for wash-riding on crash cymbals, so to me a splash is just a high-pitched crash.

[bruin21]

17", 18" and 19" Mehmet Sultans. Great sounding crashes.

[Drumolator]

Originally Posted by mxo721

sabian 16" aa thin crash...or so it says, I sometimes think it's mis-marked because it has a very " thick??" sound when crashed..a close second is my damaged/repaird zildjian 19" thin crash.

I know exactly what you mean. I had an AA 17" Thin Crash that is in between a thin and a medium-thin crash. Now it is at church paired with an AAX 18" Studio Crash. The last AA 16" Thin Crash I had sounds more like a splash than a crash. All of this shows why one should try out cymbals in person. Peace.

[dwdrummerky]

My "main" kit has 3 crash cymbals that I use about equally.

16" Signature Full Crash - for splashy accents or lower volume playing
20" Signature Full Crash - my favorite all around crash. I LOVE this pie
19" Signature Power Crash - a great companion to the sig fulls with slightly more oomph

[longgun]

Originally Posted by LeftoverPenguin

Until very recently I used to own the 19" A Custom Crash as well. The 19" ReZo Crash is slightly thicker, especially near the bell, so it keeps up better with the rest of my crashes, which are all 20". The ReZo cymbals on the whole are very nice. After listening to many different audio samples and various YouTube videos of the two (and after reading more than a few favorable reviews on the whole ReZo line) I just ordered these from Zildjian through my drum shop somewhat blindly. Very happy I did.

I'd say they're probably closer to the projection crash you have, seeing as my crashes are medium-thin as well. They'd definitely work well with everything you have already. With what you have I'd probably say stick with 18" or smaller, but 19" or 20" wouldn't be out of the question if that's what you're looking for.

...I too exchanged my standard A customs to the Rezo line....bought a 16" initially and loved it....now I have a mix of Rezo's, A Customs and regular A's......but my main is the 16 inch Rezo