A singleton 14" cymbal would have an expected price of half of a hi-hat pair on eBay. That's half of $225 aka $112 with fairly wide margins of error (more on that later). If it were just plain old cracked then take 50% off which is around $56. However, it isn't yet clear to me from the pictures whether than is a manufacturing flaw which has been around for years and never moved, or something more recent.

Does it even show on the back? Get out your magnifying glass and have a close look.

Does it have any sound of rattling when you play it?

If it is minor (and especially if it doesn't show on the back) then you might still get $100 having revealed the flaw, but it is really hard to say. The expected values all come with a plus or minus 10-20% and you get what you get on the day with eBay. But this case is even more difficult to assess.

Note also it is worth a lot more if it weights 600 grams rather than 900 grams so you should make sure of the accuracy of your weighing equipment. If in doubt you can visit your local Post Office or Shipping place and weigh it there.

reference to my work published on Cymbalholic:

http://www.cymbalholic.com/forums/showthread.php?30271-New-Paiste-602-SC-value-rule-of-thumb

The analysis is a bit old now and I've been collecting data ever since, but there don't seem to be too many changes. I can do a more up to date analysis on anything somebody wants to know, but in this case of a flaw it won't get much clearer. Also the spreadsheet containing all the data is always available on request. 1650 entires and counting...

Not trying to insult you, but that market data is about two years old. Kinda hard to reference it with any solid footing. It's based on numbers from the previous conclusive time frame, meaning it is quite a bit older than that. Have you any more recent numbers?

Please don't take this as anything other than my interest in the data. I'm not refuting your findings or your quotes given here. I'm just naturally curious and am genuinely interested in what the market shows more recently than what you have posted.

Fair question.

I have done some analysis including the next two years but not on all the cymbal types (there are a lot). I've checked enough to be happy that the market hasn't changed significantly. I was (as you might guess) particularly looking for evidence of the GFC and possible dip then recovery of prices. And I was looking at the most common cymbals (20" ride, 22" ride, 14" hats) where the data is richest. Now that 2010 is finished I will be doing another complete analysis.

This is, so far as I know, the longest running and most comprehensive data set on Paiste 602 and Sound Creation prices in the world. You can have it for free if you want and start doing your own analysis. Or if you want to know numbers for a specific kind of cymbal right away just ask.

However, as I said before, analysis of the more recent time periods can't really help pin down the question that was asked given the condition this cymbal is in.

Steve Black, PhD

Retired Statistician :)

That is a brilliant bit of work. It's something that needs to be followed and traced. You are a serious asset here. If I had to ask on one cymbal ... it would be the Sound Formula line. I've watched them for years (because I played them) and noted a gradual increase in value over the past few years.

Man, I'm geeking out over this stuff! Thank you, big time.

Thanks.

I've only really collected 602 and Sound Creation prices. Every once in a while I note a Sound Formula sale, but nothing consistent. Sorry. It's just too much data collection to track given the number of cymbals which turn over worldwide on eBay.

This project started when I bought a 20" 602 pre serial flat ride, and then wondered if I paid the right sort of price for it. Since 2005 a beautiful pre serial pair of 14" Sound Edge hats and a 20" medium ride found me as well. So it seems I nearly have the complete set which Paiste has just re-introduced. It will be really interesting to see just how the re-issue might ripple through to changes in the prices of the originals. Interesting times.

Oh, and I have a couple of Sound Creations so they had to be included as well...