Mixing and matching cymbals

Pollyanna · #1 10-13-2010, 01:47 PM

Currently using 20" Zild A med ride and 19" Sabian HH C/R (use both as crash rides). The Sabian is a dryer, brighter and with a less defined ping. They go together pretty well, nothing special. Previously had a Paiste 16" 2002 crash but it was way too bright and didn't "talk" well with the Zild.

What cymbal combinations have you found to be great? Which combos didn't work out so well?

Cheers

P

brady · #2 10-13-2010, 02:20 PM

Are you looking for a crash?

I went to see a friend of mine play a few months ago (jazz/blues/swing setting) and he had actually used a 17" A Custom crash with his Sweet ride and Constantinople ride. It didn't sound super bright at all.
However, a K/K Custom crash or HH/HHX crash would probably be better if your playing mostly acoustic gigs.
You might even find a regular A Series crash that would work well.
Either way, you may want to look for 'thin' or 'medium-thin' crashes for the softer setting. (I keep thinking you play mostly acoustic gigs...)

alparrott · #3 10-13-2010, 03:15 PM

I'll just throw in $.02.. the HHX Evolution 18" crash sounds great at any volume.

Pollyanna · #4 10-13-2010, 07:09 PM

Cheers guys. I'm actually relaxed with what I have for now, although nothing I do is set in stone.

I just figure that between DW members there'd be a lot of trial and error done that could be good to share ...

keep it simple · #5 10-13-2010, 11:26 PM

Hmm, well, I am a bit weird on this. I both value complementary opposites, & complimentary sets. I'll happily marry Black Sea cymbals with B8 Ozone. It really doesn't get more polar opposite than that, yet I've been told I craft a family feel to these uneasy bedfellows. My new pies are a mixture of three different cymbal families but by the same maker. Almost all are multi lathed, allowing me to amplify the different tones you get from striking different parts of the cymbal. I can get away with such a mix on the new pies because they're all very complexed sounding beasties. Cymbals with a clear voice are more difficult to partner when coming from different ends of the DNA spectrum. Safe is something I never do.

MikeM · #6 10-14-2010, 01:15 AM

I've never been one to stay within one family of anything and I've always mixed Paiste 2oo2s and Signatures with As, A Customs, and Ks.

I've always had trouble warming up to Sabian because there was a clang factor I couldn't help but hear with just about all their cymbals. However, more recently, I've been hearing the newer Sabians in new lights and now have several AAXs and a couple HHXs. I've come to like Sabians on their own and not mixed with Zildjian since the latter seem bright enough to make the former sound downright dull. At least as far as crashes are concerned. Something in the metal, or the way it's worked, makes Sabian and Zildjian crashes seem incompatible to me.

I'd like to get a Sabian ride that I liked and a good pair of hats so I could have a stand-alone set of Zildjians and Sabians.

Always liked the 2oo2s, and still have a ride but that's it. I think I'm becoming exclusive to b20 in my dotage.

Mandala · #7 10-14-2010, 02:54 PM

I've actually had plenty of good experiences with mixmatching cymbals.
Just the other day I played a 16" K Dark Crash, with a 19" Dream Bliss Crash/Ride and a 20" Dream Energy Ride.
The dynamics between the three different crashes was awesome. And they were all dark enough to mix just right.

Pollyanna · #8 10-15-2010, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeM

I've never been one to stay within one family of anything and I've always mixed Paiste 2oo2s and Signatures with As, A Customs, and Ks.

What Paiste/Zil combo sizes worked for you, Mike? As I said, the 20" Zil didn't get along with the 2002 crash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeM

I've always had trouble warming up to Sabian because there was a clang factor I couldn't help but hear with just about all their cymbals. However, more recently, I've been hearing the newer Sabians in new lights

Yeah, I had trouble with the clang factor for a long time too. A friend sold me mine at a good price and I'm still not fully used to mine, but I feel more comfy with it than I did at first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandala

IJust the other day I played a 16" K Dark Crash, with a 19" Dream Bliss Crash/Ride and a 20" Dream Energy Ride.
The dynamics between the three different crashes was awesome. And they were all dark enough to mix just right.

I guess it gets harder when mixing bright and dark cymbals ...

MikeM · #9 10-15-2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pollyanna

What Paiste/Zil combo sizes worked for you, Mike? As I said, the 20" Zil didn't get along with the 2002 crash.

...Yeah, I had trouble with the clang factor for a long time too. A friend sold me mine at a good price and I'm still not fully used to mine, but I feel more comfy with it than I did at first.

I've been attracted to cymbal sizes and weights more than I have alloys or brands for the most part, so I used an 18" Medium 2oo2 Crash for years next to one or more of: 18" or 19" A Med-Thin Crash, 17" or 18" K Med-Thin, and 18" and 19" A Customs and A Custom Projections.

The 2oo2 Medium was much more heavy than any other of the crashes I've owned but it was a special case; that particular cymbal is the schiznit, IMO. But I stopped using it after I started dabbling in Sabians. I just can't hear those two brands together for some reason.

I also think my tastes may be changing since I'm developing a stronger preference for the complexity of B20 over the super clean 2oo2 or signature alloys.

Pollyanna · #10 10-16-2010, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeM

I've been attracted to cymbal sizes and weights more than I have alloys or brands for the most part, so I used an 18" Medium 2oo2 Crash for years next to one or more of: 18" or 19" A Med-Thin Crash, 17" or 18" K Med-Thin, and 18" and 19" A Customs and A Custom Projections.

The 2oo2 Medium was much more heavy than any other of the crashes I've owned but it was a special case; that particular cymbal is the schiznit, IMO. But I stopped using it after I started dabbling in Sabians. I just can't hear those two brands together for some reason.

I also think my tastes may be changing since I'm developing a stronger preference for the complexity of B20 over the super clean 2oo2 or signature alloys.

Thanks Mike. I've heard it said here that as we get older we develop a taste for darker cymbals and that's been my experience. Back in the day only 2002s would do and now I don't use any ... I have a 16" 2002 crash decorating a shelf in my living room.

I'm wondering if 2002s only mix well with other brands if the 2002 is the same size or larger than the others - that way the bright/dark contrast is less. Just speculating ...

My 19" Sabian is weird ... there's an unpleasant clang to it when lightly crashed with a glancing blow but the clang isn't picked up when recorded - it sounds good. It has a fantastic, rich roar when swelled with mallets too. I find it's discordant with my Paiste too.