I was thinking the same thing. Are cymbal weights consistent with each model or do you just get lucky? What is an ideal weight?

I've had vintage Zildjian cymbals marked "THIN" that were Medium Heavy, as well as cymbals marked "MEDIUM" that were pretty light. I don't think Zildjian based it entirely on the weight...probably the shape and how it played were also contributing factors.

Here's a link to a nice calculator that will tell you the category of a cymbal if you know the gram weight and diameter:

CYMBAL CALCULATOR

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Paiste also had/has the thin, medium, heavy description. Back in the early days drummers weren't so concerned about what to call their cymbals....crash/ride/splash. They just bought cymbals which worked with the music that they played and their setup. The cymbal was bought for the sonic properties it provided. The weight descriptors were just guidelines to help musician narrow things down.

Thanks for the helpful replies. That calculator is great, is there some way we can get that info onto this site in a simple chart? Back to searching for a Thin 18" cymbal......

By today's standards, everything can get pretty confusing with cymbals. Overwhelming numbers of types and styles makes everything different from one to the next.

For practical purposes, there is a basic chart to go by here, culminated by and borrowed from my brothers at Cymbalholics :

Weight Range Table for 22 Inch cymbals:

extra light ------- 1900-2100g

light ------------- 2100-2300g

medium light ---- 2300-2500g

medium --------- 2500-2800g

medium heavy -- 2800-3100g

heavy ----------- 3100-3500g

very heavy ------ 3500 and up

Weight Range Table for 20 Inch cymbals:

extra light ------- 1570-1735g

light ------------- 1735-1900g

medium light ---- 1900-2066g

medium --------- 2066-2314g

medium heavy -- 2314-2561g

heavy ----------- 2561-2892g

very heavy ------ 2892 and up

Weight Range Table for 18 Inch cymbals:

extra light ------- 1272-1405g

light ------------- 1405-1539g

medium light ---- 1539-1673g

medium --------- 1673-1874g

medium heavy -- 1874-2075g

heavy ----------- 2075-2342g

very heavy ------ 2342 and up

For 16" and smaller, you'll have to do your own math. Basically, these weights are pretty much ball-park figures, because different cymbals from the SAME maker cane vary in any particular size & weight class -- and so different cymbals from DIFFERENT makers, all the more so.

Hope this helps.

Dig it !

Just wanted to mention, Josh, that your style of music and playing ought to help dictate what sizes and weights of cymbals might be best suited for you.

You'd mentioned seeking an 18" thin (a crash, I presume).

Remember that larger cymbals equal deeper (and louder) tones - - thicker cymbals equal brighter (and louder) tones.

Thinner cymbals generally are lower in pitch, and usually also less in sustain. Great for jazz and light blues. Short-lived in heavy rock at stage volumes.

Larger, heavier cymbals cut through amplified music and offer a bit more wash before they're drowned out by the music. But they're no good for quiet quartets or studio work.

Dig it !