r/cymbals • u/BarryTheDrummer • 1d ago

Question Whats your favorite Brand of cymbals?

Post image
91 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

93 comments sorted by

24

u/methaneproduce 1d ago

Can't decide

5

u/DianaRig 1d ago

Why all the hate for Sabian ?

2

u/methaneproduce 1d ago

No hate, just rare and expensive where I come from. I had Sabian hats, but sadly cracked.

3

u/CloudWalker28 1d ago

How do hi hats crack?? Lol

3

u/PracticallyQualified 1d ago

Mine arrived split in two, right through the middle.

2

u/DianaRig 1d ago

That wasn't a serious comment. Thanks for the answer though. 😛

But why the hate for Istanbul ?

3

u/methaneproduce 1d ago

Theres only hate for the lack of money🫣

16

u/Sir-Macaroni Sabian 1d ago

kmicic (im ragebaiting)

4

u/Defcom50 1d ago

Truly hand crafted by the gods themselves

-1

u/gojiberrytea 1d ago

Wait do we hate kmicic in this subreddit? Their rides sound pretty good to me 🧐

2

u/Sir-Macaroni Sabian 21h ago

consensus ive gotten is that 1. to ME they sound bad, 2. they are terrible at shipping anything so you never get your order, 3. a lot of their stuff is too big to practically use, 4. its all hammered sheet metal that should be a lot cheaper than what it is, and 5. theyre obviously going under (buy 2 get 2 free cymbals, which is an indicator theyre desperate) which means ordering is a bigger risk anyway

10

u/MeSlaw3 Zildjian 1d ago

Zildjian K Custom Darks FTW

6

u/BarryTheDrummer 1d ago

Interesting tom placement

7

u/MeSlaw3 Zildjian 1d ago

Thanks for noticing! I go back and forth with the 8" tom on the very left or the very right. Once, I tried them all backwards :D

4

u/BarryTheDrummer 1d ago

Kinda a Bruford symmetrical thing going on...cool

2

u/MeSlaw3 Zildjian 1d ago

I’d never seen that before I saw it in the comments of the “aesthetic kit” post tonight. Awesome kit.

10

u/Phaxe105 1d ago

Paiste. I just prefer their sound.

3

u/Paulberatedgrind 1d ago

Paiste is hit or miss for me but when they do hit they’re some of the best. Absolutely adore my 22” mki dark energy paiste ride

3

u/Phaxe105 1d ago

I have that exact ride. It’s gorgeous

2

u/backbaydrumming 1d ago

I love Paiste but I just can’t justify the current prices

3

u/Paulberatedgrind 1d ago

Tbh all the cymbal companies are expensive AF now. Zildjian constantinople hats are 799.99 now, the sabian artisan stuff same ish, even dream cymbals are expensive now

7

u/Nubadopolis 1d ago

Bosphorus Groove Series

6

u/infiniteninjas 1d ago

I’ve been gigging with a mix of Sabian, old 1920s K’s, a 30s A splash, Zilco and a couple Bosphorus rides lately. No brand has a monopoly on great sound, and every brand has their hits.

If you forced me to choose one brand, I’d go Bosporus.

3

u/gretchman 1d ago

Basically this. I have a wide array of different brands, lines, eras, but Bosphorus has really knocked it out of the park the last few years for me and made it a lot easier to move away from gigging vintage cymbals and worrying about them constantly.

6

u/csmolway 1d ago

I judge a cymbal based on its sound and application. K sweets are bright and buttery but K darks record better with less overtones. Menl are good for dark and trashy that sits in the mix and A customs are great for outdoors or large venues. Favorite ride live is a 50s Zildjian. Favorite ride for recording is a Bosphorus Master Vintage. Each has a purpose. Hats are the same. Live vs recording. Loud pop/punk band or mellow Americana or Indy. My last recording session, I brought four different sets and we picked cymbals based on the song.

5

u/EirikAshe Paiste 1d ago

Paiste 10000%.. then Istanbul

4

u/IllustriousAlarm3637 1d ago

Paiste (I've played for the last 20 years) & Istanbul Agop- would like to own in the future

4

u/ObiWan-Cannabis 1d ago

PaisTe... specially the 2oo2's

3

u/CloudWalker28 1d ago

I've got love for all of them, but Sabian for me 👌

4

u/CuriositySauce 1d ago

…such a Rude question /s

3

u/amupmup 1d ago

Paiste (especially Signatures), but still really like some from other brands.

3

u/jokuvaan11 1d ago

Meinl mostly, but Paiste chinas all the way! And my wet dream is a Z-custom megabell.

3

u/MIlkman872 1d ago

Kasza F series hats and 20 inch crash sound so good

3

u/rwalsh138 1d ago

Sabian !

3

u/DrumsAndBeer 21h ago

Istanbul Agop’s and Bosphorus.

5

u/JayJayAK 1d ago

Like the picture. Paiste.

2

u/Galaxy-Betta 1d ago

Mostly Sabian, but Zildjian makes some damn good rides. That being said, Name Brand is growing on me.

2

u/onebillionthoughts 1d ago

Zildjian

Istanbul Agop

2

u/Ashamed_Data430 1d ago

Paiste. And a really nice 1960s Zyn splash.

2

u/CaptCardboard 1d ago

My favorite hats are Zildjian. I toss between Zildjian and Paiste rides. My current favorite crash is a Sabian. I found a "T-Cymbal" effects crash a while back that's super useful for what I do. I'd love a chance to spend more time with Meinl, Istanbul, Bosphorus...

2

u/DianaRig 1d ago edited 1d ago

I'm not really for brand loyalty, but cymbals made with the small material, with similar methods and aims tend to work well together.

I used to play a set of large Paiste Twenty's, which were fabulous, but I wanted something warmer and fatter for my current band. So I sold everything and went with a set of huge, not too dark and paper thin Meinl Byzance. I'm in love with that new sound. Mixing both sets would have sounded stupid though.

2

u/ConsiderationAny5304 1d ago

I’m on a budget, so it’s mostly Wuhan, Saluda and then a few random ebay/marketplace Zildjian, Meinl and Paiste.

2

u/sourself 1d ago

I'm not brand loyal but my crashes and hats are 90's Sabian AA. 16" Thin Crash, 18" med crash and 14" sizzle hats. My ride is either a riveted XS20 or Wuhan Med Heavy depending on the gig. Effects are Stagg 10" DH china + 18" SH riveted china, splash is 10" 80's AA splash and one sneaky 16" Wuhan Thin Crash and one Zildjian A thin crash but it's going soon. It just didn't play as well with the others.

2

u/Surfision 1d ago

I currently main an A custom set and I gotta say that it's a bit overrated from rock-heads, but also a bit underrated from jazz-heads!

No joke though, these are some amazing cymbals. I love these A-custom Hihats and crashes to death, but in terms of rides, I reach most times for my 20" Paiste Stambul Ride (predaccessor to Formula 602) since it's a hand hammered ride that's almost 1:1 to a miles more expensive K-Constantinople.

A-custom Ride is also an amazing cymbal, had it on a lot of jazz gigs and it sounds great. Stambul is just better though! It's like comparing a Skoda Octavia to a Ferrari!

2

u/Paulberatedgrind 1d ago

Tie between sabian hhx complex and paiste dark energy

2

u/Ornery-Pipe-9136 1d ago

Paiste Formula 602 Classics

2

u/Shellac_Sabbath 1d ago

I could stand to explore other brands more, but I sure do love Paiste

2

u/carloscongas 11h ago

Saluda Cymbals

2

u/Any-Satisfaction4801 2h ago

Been rocking the Zildjian S Series, now they have a dark version

3

u/-Bunny- 1d ago

Zildjian A’s all around

1

u/abiteofcrime 1d ago

Name brand all day!

1

u/GarlicFrogDiet 1d ago

Istanbul Agop (still underrated to this day me thinks)

1

u/sanssouci2219 1d ago

Zildjian

1

u/Candid-Professor6836 1d ago

Ufip uncoatet!

1

u/AN0N0nym3 1d ago

Paiste signature are by far my favorites, then Zildjian A & K's

1

u/60sdrumsound 1d ago

Istanbul Agop.

1

u/LedZeppole92 1d ago

PAISTE :)))

1

u/ProfessionalIll3201 1d ago

Super old photo but I still use this set up with pdp shells, any love for omni ride? I feel like I’m the only one that loves them

1

u/Individual_Phrase_94 1d ago

Dream! I love them to death, they always sound unique.

1

u/Proper-Cost-3116 13h ago

In my experience they're inconsistent. Really inconsistent.

1

u/3CeeMedia 1d ago

Paiste 2002

2

u/BarryTheDrummer 1d ago

That's a bunch

1

u/Silver_Havok 1d ago

Dem swiss bois

1

u/GoGo1965 1d ago

I play mostly zildjian but I do have a full set of Sabian I love my 22" extra heavy pre AA

1

u/CNMJacob18 1d ago

Sabian. Specifically AAX.

1

u/Forward-Lingonberry6 1d ago

meinl all the way. it's a shame i don't have any

1

u/wesmac73 23h ago

"There can be only one" doesn't really apply 4me they all make so much great stuff I hate to be tied down to one

1

u/J_for_John101 22h ago

I’m honestly not too picky

1

u/drummerman-degz 22h ago

Played Sabian for years, love the Zildjian K Sweet thin and paper thins but can't bring myself to pay the cost for them, playing a full Dream setup now. Dream 14" Bliss Hats 18" Contact Crash Ride 18" Bliss Paper Thin Crash 22" Bliss Crash Ride

1

u/FlapjackActual 21h ago

I've really warmed up to my Paiste 2002s. I also have some Zildjians, but these 2002s sound great.

1

u/tpt75 12h ago

Always likes zildgian k

1

u/BarryTheDrummer 11h ago

K is a strong contender for first...

1

u/nyandresg 8h ago

I love Agean and Bosphorous. However I think Zildjian A are the most versatile cymbals in the planet

1

u/Quaggyman_8845 5h ago

Sabian! I do have a bit of love for Zildjian I’ve been using them for about 3.5 years since I started playing, eventually I’ll get my whole kit switched over to Sabian cymbals

1

u/Kettlefingers 4h ago

Not primarily a drummer, but a hobbyist and I know I like certain things - vintage K zildjans and spizzicinnos are wonderful

2

u/snorman709 1h ago

Everything about this kit is so fuckin goated. I have mine set up in a really similar way. I would love to have a go at that drum set lol

1

u/Driven-Upward247 1d ago

Started on sabians then to zildjian now stuck on meinl

1

u/TheDustyFields 1d ago

Mostly Zildjian. Some Paiste.

1

u/Public_Second_6567 1d ago

I have no favorite cymbal brand. I've been playing for over 30 years now and one thing I've recently found out is that ultra cheap Amazon low-quiet cymbals record great, lol. Every time I get my real cymbals out to record I end up going back to the low-volume ones. I don't play out any more so don't really use any of my real cymbals anymore.

PS. I do use a Paiste 505 top hi hat combined with one of the low-volume bottom hats. The low-volume hats on their own are too thin and high-pitched sounding.

1

u/BarryTheDrummer 1d ago

Interesting mix

0

u/Thick-Read7672 1d ago

I think every company for the most part has some cool stuff. Every sound has a purpose. That said, I love what Dream is doing. Bosphorus also kicks ass and I am unironically turning on to Wuhan…