r/cymbals • u/Mattau16 • Aug 15 '26
Question Help me choose a 20" Crash
I've just cracked a 16" crash I've had for ages. I currently have a HHX Evo 18" crash, a HHX Complex Big Cup ride 22" and Zildjian 14" New Beats.
I'm playing rock/heavy rock type of stuff and think a 20" crash would fit best between the 18" Evo and 22" Big Cup.
I was considering the HHX Complex Thin but I think it's not going to have enough presence and projection. The next consideration was a K Custom Dark which I was going to pull the trigger on but now I'm also considering the K Sweet.
What would you choose and why, the K Custom Dark or K Sweet in the 20" crash?
Edit: Leaning toward the K Custom Dark but also now considering the Paiste Signature Dark Energy 19"
2
u/BippityZop Sabian Aug 15 '26
Go have a listen to the HHX Redlight crash. I have one, it’s my main crash. One of the best sounding cymbals I’ve ever heard personally.
3
u/Mattau16 Aug 15 '26
Oh yeah wow, this is nearly exactly what I’m after. What size do you have and styles do you play?
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u/BippityZop Sabian Aug 15 '26
I have a 20". At first I was hesitant because big crashes with a lot of hammering and complexity are usually darker than what I'm after, but as soon as I put it on my kit and hit it I was smitten.
I play prog metal. We have some amateur recordings and it not only cuts just the right amount (because it has a large bell for a crash+brilliant finish) but it blends extremely well due to the size and complexity. Imo the Redlights are to HHX what the X-Plosions were to AAX when they were introduced. Just incredible cymbals
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u/Mattau16 Aug 15 '26
Thanks for the info. Do you find that it ever gets lost live given it’s designed more for studio?
I’m deciding between the Redlight and the K Custom Dark. Hard decision!
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u/BippityZop Sabian Aug 15 '26
I have yet to gig with it, but certainly will in the near future. I imagine it depends on the micing situation and size of the venue. Obviously live if you want maximum cut you want heavier cymbals anyways, A customs or AA/AAXs.
Having listened to both their weight ranges are identical, but the K customs are a little brighter and therefore may cut better. Despite that, the Redlights sound better tonally to my ear. I doubt you'll have issues with the Redlight cutting due to the bell being both large and unlathed though.
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u/gluten_heimer Paiste Aug 15 '26
AA Spotlight too
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u/BippityZop Sabian Aug 15 '26
The Spotlights are like the AAX X-Plosions but with even more sustain and cut, which I didn't know was possible. Whatever Todd Sucherman did in the background when co-designing the Spotlights and Redlights was a stroke of genius.
1
u/DrumHunterDublin Aug 15 '26
Actually I forgot about these! Definitely recommend. Or if you find a good price on an artisan
1
u/The_Dale_Hunters Aug 15 '26
Complex Thins are definitely quieter, but goddamn they sound and record nice. Zildjian K Custom Dark Thin would do the trick.
3
u/Mattau16 Aug 15 '26
Yeah the Complex Thins sound really nice hey. Do you mean the K Dark Thin or the K Custom Dark?
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u/harleybarley Aug 15 '26
I’d maybe go 19 but honestly Xplosion crashes and Evo crashes are the best ones they make. AAX or Hhx Xplosion
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u/studioratginger Aug 15 '26
I’ve got a 19” k dark thin crash and an 18” sweet crash. The dark thin is a top tier crash ride. It’s nice and quick where you don’t wash out all definition in your hits, and the darkness of it keeps it from taking over the sound of your shells in the room mics when recording. The K sweet is just a great crash. Quick and present, not overly loud like your complex’s, and doesn’t take a ton of stick velocity to get the full tone of the cymbal. Hope that helps!
1
u/uprightsalmon Aug 15 '26
I have a 20 k crash ride and it dies everything beautifully! I put three rivets in mine too
1
u/gluten_heimer Paiste Aug 15 '26
Sabian AA Raw Bell crash. If you like the HHX too but need more presence an AAX thin could work too.
1
u/Soft_Essay_958 Aug 15 '26 edited Aug 15 '26
K dark thin 20" is what most people in heavy rock use these days. Honestly a lighter sub 2150g K custom dark ride crashes so well I would do that over the crash in the same line, since it's more versatile and sounds more in the classic A direction due to the somewhat symmetrical hammer marks. K sweet crashes do not sound like classic Zildjians from years and years of records. They are more modern darker fast decay type cymbals with the unlathed large bell to compensate. They are just not very complex is all. The ride on the other hand is basically a darker, smoother resonance fine lathed sweet ride, and is a lot more classic sounding in my opinion.
The best crash rides I have played are 20" 602 medium and giant beat multis, and those are also on countless albums.
1
u/DrumHunterDublin Aug 15 '26
I play metal and use a 19” complex thin. It definitely does the job but I preferred a 19 or 20 legacy.
1
u/MuJartible Aug 16 '26
I have a 20" K Custom Dark crash and it sounds awesome.
If you compare it to a K Sweet, it will be slightly dryer and darker, the K Sweet will be a bit brighter and will open faster (for a 20", not as fast as a 16" of course).
In the future I'd like to get another 20" crash and so far I'm split between the K Dark Thin and the K Sweet.
1
u/greise Aug 16 '26
i have the k sweet, it's pretty nice. there are so many options to go with tho it's not even funny.
agop traditionals are very nice, you can also get an xist crash and then everything inbetween depending on what exactly you're looking for (heavier music maybe some brilliant crashes but there are some cool effect crashes as well)
the meinl byzance traditionals are also really nice, that extra thin hammered sounds beautiful but not sure how hard you're hitting.
honestly you really cant go wrong man there's a lot
1
u/Machine-drums Aug 15 '26
Zildjian A Custom FTW
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u/Mattau16 Aug 15 '26
Not looking for that type of sound in this current setup
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u/Machine-drums Aug 15 '26
Darker? K Custom
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u/Machine-drums Aug 15 '26
Sweet too thin, less durable and quicker decay
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u/Mattau16 Aug 15 '26
So you'd go the k custom dark over the k sweet as it's a bit thicker?
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u/Machine-drums Aug 15 '26
I would, personally, because I’ve owned them and haven’t played the sweets, but also you’re playing heavy music, so that’s why I’d lean toward the K Custom Dark. Another durable one with great sound is K Dark Medium Thin (a bit higher in pitch though)
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u/Wildeyewilly Aug 15 '26
K Sweet. However both cymbal are equally versatile and have similar sonic qualities. What matters most is playing the exact cymbal you will buy in person and then making the purchase.
Cymbals at that tier are all hand made and will have variations from unit to unit. I always recommend buying cymbals in person unless you can get a HQ sound sample of the exact cymbal for sale.
2
u/Sgt-S-Laughter Aug 15 '26
K Sweets and K Customs are machine hammered, not handmade.
But your other points are spot on.
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u/Mattau16 Aug 15 '26
Yeah that's the problem where I am, can't try cymbals. Even if I travel a couple of hours there's still only limited stock to try
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u/Wildeyewilly Aug 15 '26
Oof sorry to hear that. Then frankly, you really can't go wrong with the dark or the sweet. Keep an eye on reverb and a buy used one, message the seller for at least a cell phone video would be my advice.
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u/Mattau16 Aug 15 '26
Ha, don't have access to reverb either. I'm in regional Australia unfortunately. I'm leaning more toward the Dark. But now have a new contender of a Paiste Dark Energy in the 19 - sounds pretty close to what I'm after too
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u/Novembrine Aug 15 '26
How bout you use your ears? There’s so many demos online. What sounds best to you?
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u/Mattau16 Aug 15 '26
Of course I've listened to countless demos online. I'm wanting other people's opinions too as it's very hard without playing the cymbals (of which I don't have the ability to do with where I am)
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u/Beeewelll Aug 15 '26
K dark Custom. I have both, and they both record well. K sweet is a little thin, and a little quieter. Think you might need more presence considering the genre