Zildjian Z Customs

[Pearldrummer13]

Just recently I bought brand new Z rock customs. I bought the 16in and the 18in. I really like these cymbals, but out of the 16in i get a very bright, almost "pingy" or "tingy" high end. The 18in doesn't do it as much.
Why is that? And is this normal for these cymbals?

[pastor_bob]

Hi Pearldrummer! Welcome to Drum Chat. Since I don't play the Z Customs (I'm more of an A Custom guy), I'll leave you question for some others to comment on, but I did want to give you a welcome to the site! You'll find that others will come along and help you with this before long. I know we've got other Z Custom fans in here.

I hope you'll take some time to look aeound, and feel free to offer your opinions, general thoughts, and advice where ever you feel like it. Enjoy the Chat Pearldrummer!

[Pearldrummer13]

thank you bob
its nice to be here

[Drummerbock]

you prob get that higher pitch because the cymbal is smaller, and smaller cymbals are higher pitch. it might also be the way the cymbal was made. cause no two cymbals are exactly the same. or there might be a crack in the cymbal. and welcome 2 the site

[Pearldrummer13]

thanks

there isnt any cracks in the cymbals becuase they really are brand new

is there anyway to get rid of that high pitch?

[Andreeew]

I have the 18' Z custom projection crash. Its really pingy and a little clangy. I guess they were made that way

[Yom]

As far as I know the Z Customs are designed by Zildjian to be loud, raw and aggressive, suited to Hard Rock or Metal genres.

They are very thick cymbals with lots of high end. This is so they can cut through as loud as possible.

I'm with PB in that I prefer the A Customs. I'm not sure what you could do to try and reduce it... Is it a massively different sound to the 18"? Because what with them being from the same series they should compliment each other...

I've got the 15", 17" and 19" A Customs and while the larger two out do the smaller 15" in terms of projection and decay (the 15" is quicker, but then its smaller so that's to be expected) they fundamentally share the same sound...

[jimbolimbo99]

All new cymbals take some time to mellow out- give it some time and preferably dont clean it and the ringy sound should mellow out more, Z customs are supposed to be very cutting and somewhat clangy but they should be ok after some time spent playing them.

[Pearldrummer13]

thats why i bought them
i wanted them to be loud

I was going to ask if there is such a thing as a "break in" period for new cymbals

and it does produce a noticably different, not extremly, but it is noticable

[coke_can]

welcome to drumchat pearl drummer. im sure you will love it here.

when i first bought my cymbals they sounded really high pitched and ringy, but overtime dust collected on them and general aging of the cymbal caused it to sound much warmer.

my advice: wait it out without cleaning it and see if it sounds any better, if not take it back

[Pearldrummer13]

I do know that if they aren't cleaned for a while they will start to lose some tone and become a little dull

I'll do that and see how it goes
And they probably do just need played on a little more also

[Ch33zz]

thats why i bought them
i wanted them to be loud

I was going to ask if there is such a thing as a "break in" period for new cymbals

and it does produce a noticably different, not extremly, but it is noticable

Yes there is, every cymbal gets better over time

As for your issue, yes, teh Z customs were meant for the heavy music, they were meant to be a "raw" cymbal, no other tastes like the other lines, And their thick, the thicker the cymbal, the higher the sound, thast why rock cymbals are so thick, and so high pitched, while jazz cymbals are very dark (low) and thin

[funkymcstain]

what i thought was strange was that you had a z custom that wasn't high pitched and clangy not to worry, it will mellow out a little but they are pretty much made to sound that way. it can be annoying when playing by yourself, or in a small practice space. but on a stage in a loud amped situation, they will sound just like what your after.

[Pearldrummer13]

yea it is a little annoying when playing by myself
when I played with one of the guitarists in my band though, it did blend in with the sound

[koopa]

Yom summed it up nicely.....


I sometimes use a z custom dyno beat w/ hexagonal hammer pattern 13" hihat bottom when looking for a more solid "chick" sound with my k custom 13" hihat top.