I see a lot of threads about people asking for cymbal recommendations, so I thought it would be a good idea to make sort of a template as a centralized resource where people can gather information and then ask questions from there. I figured it'd be easier than completely starting from scratch. I'll start off with a brief description of each class of cymbal and then proceed to the different upgrade options afterwards. So without further ado, here we go.
Stock cymbals
These are the brass discs you generally get stuck with when you buy a beginner shell pack. The only thing about them that remotely resembles a cymbal is it's shape. Avoid these at all costs.
Beginner cymbals
Sheet bronze cymbals are your basic entry level cymbals. They're geared towards beginner drummers who want something better than the previously mentioned stock cymbals. Being made of B8, they have a bright, cutting sound, and are very reasonably priced for aspiring drummers, as well as people who want to experiment with some new sounds without killing their bank account. Why are they so (comparably) inexpensive? They are made by taking a big sheet of bronze and stamping the cymbals out of the sheet like a cookie cutter. Every cymbal is just a copy of the next, which keeps costs down. Here are some examples of beginner cymbals:
ZBT/ZXT (Zildjian): Both are in a brilliant finish.
B8/B8 Pro (Sabian): B8's are in a traditional finish, B8 Pro's are brilliant.
PST5 (Paiste): Natural finish.
Intermediate cymbals
Intermediate cymbals fall in between beginner and pro level cymbals. They have some more individual attention paid to them and/or different metals, which raises their quality level. They aren't as cut and dry as beginner sheet cymbals, which allows for some more variety and choice when selecting this level. Here are some examples of intermediate cymbals:
ZHT (Zildjian): Made of B12 bronze. B12 is a good middle point between B8 and B20 (cast) cymbals. It has a warmer sound than B8, but not as warm as B20.
XS20 (Sabian): Intermediate cymbals made of B20 bronze. They are the only full line of cast cymbals offered at such a low price point. They're made the same way as professional cast cymbals, but they aren't hammered. Less work to make them means less money you have to spend on them.
Alpha (Paiste): Intermediate/Semi pro cymbals made of B8. They're basically PST5's with more attention paid to them.
New Traditional (Wuhan): And you thought Wuhan only made chinas. Nope! They have an extensive line of professional quality B20 cymbals at a fraction of the cost, fitting them perfectly into this category.
Professional (cast) cymbals
Cast cymbals are what dreams are made of in a drummers world. Each cymbal is made through an individual process of hammering and lathing, giving each cymbal a more unique sound (albeit, some more than others). B20 is generally a warm, middle of the road sounding cymbal, but how it's worked on ultimately defines its sound. Of course, with individual attention comes a higher price point. Something to keep in mind when searching for a new sound. Here are some examples of cast cymbals:
A/A Custom (Zildjian): These cymbals offer a wonderful bright while still maintaining nice warm undertones. These are usually the go to cymbals for people looking to upgrade.
K/K Custom (Zildjian): Very dark and dry cymbals. They're hammered more than the A/A Customs, which gives them their darker sound.
AA/AAX (Sabian): These are Sabian's vintage and modern bright cymbal lines, respectively.
HH/HHX (Sabian): These are Sabian's vintage and modern dark cymbal lines, respectively. They are one of the few lines from a major company that still incorporates hand hammering in the process.
2002 (Paiste): While made of B8 bronze as opposed to B20, these are still just as much a professional cymbal as the cast lines. They stand out more in terms of sound when compared to Sabian and Zildjian's lines, which sound more similar.
Upgrade paths
This is where I think most of you would come in. Here are some different upgrade paths and an explanation of why they work or don't work.
Stock cymbals>Beginner cymbals
If you've been playing on stock cymbals and want something more real to play, you should try to avoid buying a beginner pack unless you're on a budget. In this case, you would want to go for an intermediate line.
Stock cymbals>Intermediate cymbals
This is a better path to go down as opposed to buying beginner stuff. XS20's and New Traditional's are great values and will be able to hold you over for quite some time until you're ready to move forward to cast cymbals.
Beginner cymbals>Intermediate cymbals
This is very rarely recommended unless you're on a budget. Going from ZBT's to ZHT's won't yield very many results. In a case like this, you'd want to look into XS20's or New Traditional's since they are a cut above the rest in terms of quality. But this really only happens if you're on a tight budget and can't afford to go into the pro line.
Beginner cymbals>Professional cymbals
This is generally the best path to go down. Once you feel you've had enough of your entry level stuff and you want to upgrade, you should really look into cast cymbals. Visit your local music shop and/or listen to sound samples online to find the sound you want. There's also a huge market on Craigslist and eBay for used cymbals, so you can find the cymbals you want at a price you can afford.
Intermediate cymbals>Professional cymbals
This one's pretty self explanatory. A good intermediate line can hold you over for quite a while, but you'll know where to go when the time comes.
In the end, it all comes down to the sound you're looking for. But I figured this would be a good starting place for people looking for cymbal upgrade info. Feel free to add on any information you'd like and thanks for reading
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