The vintage bliss series are very nice....I had a 22" crash/ride model....but found I wasn't using it too often so I parted ways with it.....good sounding cymbal though

I love those things. Most sound really nice with that tinge of Chinese riding underneath. Definitely worth the light dough to experiment with. I would suggest going online to a dealer that allows you to see/hear them on video. If you are lucky enough, you might have a local dealer that carries them and you can try them in person. Nice cymbals.

Well, I have been toying with the idea of stocking them at my store. Reviews and other blogs and forums have been very positive on the cymbals, but I think a lot of those guys are 'bashers' who just got excited on hearing their first dark washy cymbal! I wanted to know what real players, who are more likely to fall into their 'target market' think of the cymbals.

What's interesting is I found 2 online dealers with sound bites. One company's sounded better and more authentic than the other's, so I just stuck with listening to their files. I liked most of everything but the sticking on the hi hats. Then, I found that Dream had some files of their cymbals and heard them. Haha, I liked the hi hats much better than everything else!

Any more suggestions or comments? Thanks already to Ludwig-dude and Mcjnic!

Kevin

Well....I can say this....the Vintage Bliss I owned was similar to an Istanbul Mel Lewis ride I owned.....I've had both Agop and Mehmet versions.....I lean toward the Mehmet version as it sounds more musical to my tastes....anyway, the Dream was similar to the Agop, dark, warm, shimmery. However the bliss had a slighly china cymbal wash to it once you got it roaring, which wasn't hard to do. The Agop had a similar quality to it, a bit on the trashy side. The Mehmet was not like that at all....one I should've kept....so if you're looking for a more authentic vintage K sound, I'd go Mehmet anyday (or an actual vintage K) Not a huge fan of the Agops, and while I did like the Dream, it took going through a stack of them before finding the one I bought. So in a way the Dreams are a lot like the old vintage K's......you need to do some sifting to find a real special one and you remember it is a price point thing with these Dreams.......its as reasonable as you can get pricewise for that old K sound, just be prepared to keep looking for "the one" just like an old K......LOL

I came at these not searching for the K sound. I came at them as a new cymbal line (so to speak). I really like the results. It's the same mindset I used when the HHX line came out. It's new and so I had no preconceptions. I think it's a mistake to compare one cymbal line to another. That's shooting yourself in the foot. If you come up short or have unusual sonic qualities then you "fail" in the eyes of the consumer. Whereas, if you allow the user to draw their own conclusions, you can't lose. I like the dark nature, the willingness to open up at the slightest swipe, the sustain, the definition and separation of ping to wash, the bell, the varied areas on the bow for different sounds, the soft feel (oh yeah!), and the overall sonic mixtures. They just speak to me. I am not a one company guy and mix and match lots of different "brands". Like Luddydude inferred, there's lots of really cool things out there to hit. These come up pleasant each time.

That's good to hear what you two had to say. When I was speaking with one of the partners from Dream, he kept pointing out that they were being compared to all the old K's and A's, and kind of just kept pointing out that they were a third the price of those old favorites. And like Ludwig-dude said, if you can sift through a bunch and find that right sound, then that truely is a great find!

I on the other hand am wanting and trying to approach this line as 'a new line'. Go in fresh, and see what I like and don't like. I've worked it out so that if I get a batch that just aren't up to my expectations, Dream will take them back and send something new...that's something no one else does for free! Dream is also doing a 2 year warranty on the cymbals, so from me the seller's point of view, this is a line I can offer and truely stand behind with confidence.

Thanks for the help!

-Kevin

When you get a few you love, post some sound/video files of them. That would be a bit educational for all.

Actually Bosphorus, Istanbul Mehmet, and Zildjian would do that for a VERY good customer.......my late friend, Joe Winakur, owner of Joe's Drum Shop in Beverly Massachusetts, was able to do this. If HE didn't like it he could send them back for another batch that he could sift through. I never found a cymbal I DIDN'T like at Joe's. Also, Joe was one of the few that could go to the Zildjian factory in Norwell and pick out his own cymbals to sell at the shop, including some rare prototype cymbals that may or may not have made it into production. Man I miss Joe and his shop. Why do the good one's always have to leave us early.....

That's great that your friend Joe was able to do this. I love hearing the stores of REAL drum shops of the past! I have never been a fan of Sam Ash and Guitar Center. Anymore, Zildjian charges a 10% restocking fee, no matter how great the customer I think. We have 7 stores in the midwest and currently only sell Zildjian and Sabian. Actually, now that I remember, we had some higher pieces from Sabian that didn't go over, and we sent them back for credit with no charge.

I was in Norwell and Boston last March and got to visit Zildjian! It was the trip of a lifetime! The fact that I was standing inches away from all the work and stoves and everything else was a little overwhelming. And the thing about it, EVERYONE was so nice to us! Even the intern from Berkley! And, I of course came home with a few very nice pieces.

And yes, if I get some Dream in that I am digging, I would love to put up a video/audio recording of them.