What is the best sounding Zildjian K crash out there right now ?
More options that there used to be.
What is the best sounding Zildjian K crash out there right now ?
More options that there used to be.
Gretsch USA & Zildjian(What Else Would I Ever Need ?)
My 15" and 17" K Hybrids are pretty spectacular. I get a lot of compliments on those and I never received compliments before on any of my crashes. They are bright with a quick decay. Plus they look fantastic. Those are the only K's I have experience with though.
Ludwig Classic Maple 22x16,10x8,12x9,16x16
7" Moon Gel Practice Pad
Sabian HHX Legacy
Decide whether this is love for the craft or simply an ego thing
http://www.redskymary.com/ NOT MY BAND, JUST A GREAT LOCAL BAND WHO SHOULD BE SOOO MUCH BIGGER IMO
I don't have any other K cymbals to compare but my favorite K crash right now is the 16" K Custom Dark which I have mounted above the 1st rack tom. I found an 18" in the same line and make that compliments the 16" and I have that one mounted over the 3rd rack tom. Before the K's entered my life, my go-to crash was a 16" Zildjian A Custom that I use at my weekly jam sessions.
The "Dark" designation is a bit misleading in my opinion for the 16". That one has a bit of brightness to it which makes it versatile for a lot of genres but the 18" truly sounds dark (gloomy) with tons of mid to low overtones in the wash.
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Last edited by late8; 02-07-2018 at 08:44 AM.
I would LOVE to take that kit out for a test drive Late! I just love it
I have never had the opportunity to hit one of those hybrids......................and I like bright with quick decay.
Since I'm looking for a 17", you just got me interested.
I don't have any of the K Customs either.
My K crashes are the conventional dark-thin................I have a 15 that is awesome...............and a medium-thin 16 for a little more weight.
I also have a set of K 13 hats that I'll never let go of.
Gretsch USA & Zildjian(What Else Would I Ever Need ?)
I have no "K" experience either, but I would suggest what has generally worked for me. For crash cymbals the basic sweet spot is 16" to 18" and on the thinner side for bright and quick. Adjust thickness/weight for white noise to darker more toneyness. I flesh out the crash arena with a China, a Pang, and a couple (thin) splashes.
For me, the Kerope's hands down, but might not be rocky enough. Classic dark sound with a sustaining musical shimmer.
all the best...
Here's my experience:
K Dark Thin - warm, a touch of trash, blend very well with the music. Very soft feel, opens up quickly, even with a light strike. The larger diameters can get pretty dark. You'll want to hear them in person.
K Dark Medium Thin - just as you would expect - very similar to KDT but with a little more body, projection, a bit higher pitched, feels a little heavier than the KDT but still pretty thin
K Custom - These have grown on me. More cut than the traditional K, louder, The "Fast" version has a real quick, almost white noise in the mix.
K Custom Session - love the hats. Nice cut with a touch of darkness so they aren't overbearing. The crashes don't excite me as much - they sound a little heavy or metallic or something.
Kerope - love these for their purpose. Kind of like a traditional K with tape on it. Quieter, very mellow. Beautiful sound. Perfect for acoustic singer-songwriter stuff
K Sweet - I've only played the ride and it sounds like a dark A Sweet ride which, I suppose, is what it was designed to sound like. all I know about the crashes is that they are lathed and hammered like traditional Ks, but are thinner and have an unlathed bell.
I've settled on K's - they have a somewhat bright initial attack and wash out with the dark decay. And the feel is fantastic - like butter.
I have a k custom dark 18" crash I love the sound but wish it was louder I really have to hit it to get the volume I want
Thanks G.................
I've been listening to a lot of the options on a vendor website that allows you to purchase the very same cymbal in the sound file (so there might be a variable number of sound files for a specific size cymbal -- one for each in stock)......................based on the accuracy (inaccuracy ?) of those clips, the K Dark Thin Crash sounds the best to my ears.
Gretsch USA & Zildjian(What Else Would I Ever Need ?)
The only K I have is the 15" K Custom Dark Crash. I got it in a pawn shop for $25! I love the sound of it and it blends well with my A Customs.
Acoustic Kits:
Ludwig Maple 3ply White Cortex 4 pc
Rukus Mod Orange Club 4 pc
DW Design 6 pc
Tama Silverstar Limited Edition Mirage 5 pc
Tama Superstar 5 pc
Tama Rockstar 4 pc
Gretsch Catalina Ash 4 pc
Slingerland 7 pc
Electronic Kits:
Yamaha DTX532k
Roland TD-27, Roland PD-85 (x4), PD-125, KD9, CY-8 (x2) VH-10, Lemon 15 and 18 cymbals
Roland SPD-SX Sample Pad
Snares:
Tama SLP Black Brass
Tama SLP G Maple
Rukus Santos/Bubinga/Poplar/Wenge
Rukus Avodire/Maple/Mahogany
1972 Ludwig Supraphonic
Hardware:
Tama, DW, Yamaha and Sonor
Cymbals:
Zildjian A Series, A Custom and K Custom
Microphones:
Miktek, Audix and Shure
I was able to sell two cymbals that were not quite fitting in with my set-up and with that cash I was able to buy a cymbal I really like.
I decided to add another Zildjian K Dark thin crash -- 16 inch (I also considered the 17 inch version for a long time).
My second choice was the K Custom Hybrid in the same size......................but I decided on the traditional cymbal.
I have two other crash cymbals from the K Dark series (one thin and one medium-thin), as well as a set of 13-inch hats................all of these cymbals are top-notch.
And to answer the main question.....................they sound terrific.
The cost is a bit more than some of the other choices but, in my case, the K series is worth the difference.
Thanks to everyone here for the input.
Gretsch USA & Zildjian(What Else Would I Ever Need ?)
I have one 18 K dark thin crash and works well with my vintage 70's 17 A thin crash.
Agreed.................those 70s vintage A Zildjians were better than what is offered today and they mix well with the current line of K Zildjians.
I have a 1976 A Zildjian thin crash (16) that is outstanding................I have never played a gig without it (since '76).
I also have a 1973 A Zildjian 22" heavy ride that is super too.
Gretsch USA & Zildjian(What Else Would I Ever Need ?)
That is all I ever played where my Vintage A's since I bought them back in the 70's then purchased my 18 K dark 4 years ago after a lot of review reading and sound samples I decided it would be the best companion for my A's
17 A thin
14 new beats h hats
21 Sweet crash/ride.
Great family of Zildjians which are versatile to any genre of music.
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