I still don't get what the fuss is about them. Someone has yet to explain it to me. The one's I've heard don't sound a whole lot different from early Zildjian A's (pre 1970's) to my ears. In which case, I don't see the need to spend the added expense that a 602 would bring over an A......I just don't get why the market dictates that a 602 should be more valuable than an A or even some of the K's Eye Ball

they're only worth what someone is willing to pay for them.

and they're are a lot less of 602's out there then there are A's.

but in my eyes..each have to be "hand-picked" although the 602's are much more closer to each-other in sound..A's are a hit or miss and of course so are K's.

all in the eye of the beholder my friend!

for example you don't see why people spend that much for 602's.

were i would trade my A's for them any day of the week.

but think about K's!

the K's i've came in contact with were garbage! but that doesn't stop them from being worth up to three-grand. it's because of their rarity/where/how they were made. and the same can be said for 602's.

to me you can find a 602 that sounds GREAT a lot faster then you'll find an A that sounds "as good"

Yes Sir

I am friends (as is Drumaholic) with a good friend of Joe Morello; this is someone that worked with him for a number of years and is still very close to Joe. The "Take Five" Avedis Zildjians were sold off a number of years ago; Joe had said that they were "played out".

Very cool and very good to know info. I sincerely appreciate the inside bit. Man, I love this forum!

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I tend to agree with you. After years of buying and playing way too many vintage cymbals...I have to say....

602's can be very good.

But...

I have had so many old A's which were just plain....better.... than any 602 I have played, be it pre-serial, black-label, blue-label....that it's fair to say there's a fair amount of hype going on in the market. I find it absurd that any 602 can fetch an old-K like pricetag, IMHO....although I do recall seeing some 'hats here and there which did....

With that said, some of their Flats are downright sweeeet.

I think part of the answer is that these were discontinued. A very finite production run.

By comparison, old A's are ubiquitous.....hell, most other lines are ubiquitous by comparison...

It was also, arguably, Paistes BEST line of B20 alloy (an alloy they do not dabble in very often).

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Jaye I'm with you on this one......I go for sound over anything else...I am NOT a vintage cymbal snob, if I find something that was made yesterday (literally) and I like the sound of it and it fits with what I already have, then I buy it! I just can't justify spending crazy money on something because its some rare old cymbal that is priced through the roof....It can be ALL of that and STILL sound HORRIBLE to my ears!

Some of the best sounding cymbals I've heard of late are current offerings from Zildjian, Sabian and Paiste.....but the one that beats them all lately I have to say is Dream cymbals.....the Bliss series and especially the Vintage Bliss series are just amazing sounding.....as good as an old K that Elvin (or whoever else!) ever played, and get this....they are REASONABLY PRICED!! :p

It's all supply and demand. There is far less demand for 602's than old A's. There are also far fewer 602's than old A's. So it works out.

I find with customers that a large majority prefer A Zildjians to Paistes 602's. It seems to be the way people hear cymbals...602's have a certain quality that a small percentage of drummers greatly prefer over the Avedis sound. I've heard 602 fans describe the Avedis sound as "too harsh". Avedis fans will describe the 602 sound as "too tinny" or "too bright". REAL cymbal freaks usually like and appreciate both.

Thanks,

Bill

I recently bought a 602 20" ride from Poppy. My first Paiste in over 30 years. It is different from any other ride I have. Very clear controlled stick. When you crash it, either with the shank of the stick or on the edge, you get a quick decent sounding crash that then gets out of the way of the ride beat. I like a lot of things about this cymbal. What I don't like is the relatively high pitch of the ride pattern. I'm used to the dark sound of my Istanbul. I can, however, understand why they command a little higher price than A Zildjians.

Bill just reiterated what i said!

DOH

but yes..i do agree!

My 50s Avedis sounds a little "too harsh" but only from behind the kit, not in the mix. I'd never describe the 602 sound as "too tinny" but I sometimes find my pre serial 602 a little "too bright" behind the kit, even though it has a chocolate patina which tones it down a tad. So now I'm trying out a Sound Creation Medium Dark Ride. And it's a little eenie weenie "too harsh" behind the kit but not in the mix, and it certainly isn't "too bright". So now I have to keep all three. And all the other ones. I guess I'm a REAL cymbal freak, then. :)