Big Cymbals..Yes, or No?

Paul Blood said:
Those of you that use large rides, crashes and hi hats, is it for more volume or lower pitch? Both? Neither? Enlighten me.
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I just like it when the crashes last a little longer. I have a 16 and a 20, and in a mix the 16 gets out of the way a little too quickly. Good sound, and I will keep it up there, but the 20 rings more so I like it. I’m less picky about rides…mine is a 21 and I can dig a little smaller if it has a sound I like, but I do like the bigger crashes.
 
Paul Blood said:
Those of you that use large rides, crashes and hi hats, is it for more volume or lower pitch? Both? Neither? Enlighten me.
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For me its how they sound to my ears, and in a recording/live situation.

Smaller sizes are more accents, where the bigger ones are almost like drones.

They lay a carpet in a song.

Mostly my previous Brilliant IAK’s were too cutting, to overpowering in basically any style.

Especially when mic’ed.
 
Paul Blood said:
Those of you that use large rides, crashes and hi hats, is it for more volume or lower pitch? Both? Neither? Enlighten me.
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In the studio smaller crashes can come
across a little too high up in the mix and can cut through a little too much from their attack.

Larger cymbals tend to bleed better and are less prominent, without needing to comprise sonically as much.

For live, there’s especially less rhyme or reason I’d say. Mostly down to personal preference.

Also, it depends on the cymbals too.
 
JimmyM said:
I just like it when the crashes last a little longer. I have a 16 and a 20, and in a mix the 16 gets out of the way a little too quickly. Good sound, and I will keep it up there, but the 20 rings more so I like it. I’m less picky about rides…mine is a 21 and I can dig a little smaller if it has a sound I like, but I do like the bigger crashes.
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So for you it’s about sustain. That makes sense!
 
wraub said:
For me, it's about character- the overtones from big cymbals please me, there's just so much sonically going on when you hit 'em, and imo their sound works well with my playing.


Currently it's all As (more or less) with a 70s 20", a 60s 22" and a late 50s 20", combined with a 90s 17". I'd say the 17" is good, but I think an 18" or 19" may fit better in the mix. I still have 14" hats though, because I like the ones I have.
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Thanks Wraub, I can see how larger cymbals would more pleasing overtones and not necessarily louder volume. You got me curious !
 
My "comfort" zone, for crashes ..... has always been in the 14, 16, 18 inch range. (until recently;))

So I currently have Sabian HHX Extreme and X-plosion crash sets, in 14, 16, & 18 inch sets.

When I want to add a darker element, I have a 18" XSR crash, and a 18" HH King Crash.

Then ..... I fell in love with the HH Vanguard series crash/rides. So, I've got those, in 16, 18, 20, 21, 22 inch ...... with the 16 "not" being used so much a ride ..... and the 22 "not" being used so much as a crash.
 
alparrott said:
In my opinion, big cymbals are more versatile. You can take a big cymbal to any gig and play it appropriately.
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This.
I have 15" hats, 18-20" crashes & a 21" ride. I choose how to play them depending on the musical situation. Dynamics are a crucial skill for a drummer to learn & when they don't have it, it's quickly apparent.
 
Paul Blood said:
Those of you that use large rides, crashes and hi hats, is it for more volume or lower pitch? Both? Neither? Enlighten me.
Click to expand...
All else being equal (same series different sizes), the lower pitch of larger cymbals is more pleasant to my ears. I like that they can fill up more space in the mix, and blend better rather than cut through like a smaller one can. The classic rock style I play isn't very technical, so these characteristics are preferred whereas other genres may want the cut and fast response/decay of smaller cymbals.
 
I absolutely love big crashes, right now it’s a 20 on my left and a 22 on my right :)
 
Redbeard said:
All else being equal (same series different sizes), the lower pitch of larger cymbals is more pleasant to my ears. I like that they can fill up more space in the mix, and blend better rather than cut through like a smaller one can. The classic rock style I play isn't very technical, so these characteristics are preferred whereas other genres may want the cut and fast response/decay of smaller cymbals.
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This is part of why I have settled on 20"s and a 22", but have a 17" crash also. It's the accent, almost like a big splash cymbal, that sets off the "carpet" laid by the bigger cymbals (it really brings the boom together :D ) although tbh I sometimes think a 18" or 19" crash cymbal might work better overall, but for now I enjoy what I have, so I'm content.
 
I don’t crash anything below 18”…it’s a throwback to my flailing days when I’d destroy 16” crashes…I love the sound of my handpicked 18”s and 19”…and my 20” ride/crash! They give me everything I need…:)(y)
 
porter said:
I'm really looking forward to trying a gig with my new 20" Byzance Jazz Medium Thin ride and 21" Byzance Transition ride as crashes. I remember playing a gig with my buttrock band a couple years ago where I used a 20" HHX Omni and a 21" HHX Legacy and that was really interesting, despite having the two 18" Byzance extra thins I usually would use for "rock".

Here are demos of those first two cymbals if anyone's interested... 20" Jazz and 21" Transition
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I use the thin jazz ride as a crash. It is about 300g lighter then yours and makes an awesome rock crash.
 
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