... better than Saccharin or flax milk

I think I will just look around everywhere I go and use my ears. Thanks gents.

Plus 1! Since I was a kid, I'd dreamed of getting a big a$$ Zildy Earth Ride. Found one in a shop (22" I think) for $100 and bought it. It was the worst cymbal I'd ever bought!...it was a 22" bell!...it also weighed about a metric ton. Really disappointed me! On the flip side, a few years back bought a Cindy Blackman Signature K ride out of a rep bag...signed & numbered. It was the best Zildy I'd ever had by far!...hated letting that one go.

I guess that's why I like Paiste, consistancy...I know what to expect when dipping into the pockets to fork out the cash.

Though I'm far from an expert, I've been building and refining my cymbal collection over the past 2 years via pawn shop, craigs list and trading and feel the need to share.

My first kit, $75 PDP 5 piece made in china and missing parts, came with trash can lid sounding hats and crash. My local pawn had a bunch of Sabian B8's and some of the other brands mentioned in above posts. I hit each cymbal mounted on 2 fingers pinched together. Primitive, but I could tell which I liked. I chose my first crash, Zildjian A Custom 17" fast crash for its sound only: bright and a little ringy with a fast decay. $129. Found 14" Zil hats at another pawn, best sounding I could afford.$90. got a B8 ride cause at $60 i could afford it at the time, but i knew it was a place holder. That was it, and these cymbals (junky sounding pies if you are a connoisseur or so I've read above) made my cheap kit sound respectable...along with some good drum heads and a thorough tuning. I now have a second 17" Zil A fast crash($119 private seller), a late 50's 22" Zil light ride & a 80's 16" Zil A Med Crash(in a trade for some percussion gear). I'll be getting rid of the Med Crash cause it's not quite right for me. While I know there are much better sounding cymbals, I've recorded with these and played live (original, edgy roots rock and honky tonk) and they sound fantastic. I've upgraded to a cool looking and great sounding '66 Star kit (some connoisseurs feel these drums are junky also) and the cymbals compliment it very nicely.

So my input is hit every cymbal you consider and buy the ones that sound good to you. If you've got lots of cash hit the expensive ones in music stores and if you don't have lots of cash, hit all of 'em in pawn shops, yard sales, thrift stores or less expensive & used ones in music stores. Look on CL if you like the sound of some in music stores and you'll likely find a better price. I don't have the experience to compare what some of the gurus here have compared, but I've found Zildjian A cymbals, vintage and new, to sound excellent almost every time.

I'll be on the lookout for a nice sounding 19" crash soon, but as my teacher's salary supports my family of 4 in So. Cal., you can bet it'll be a nice sounding 19" crash with the brand name, "found used and got a good deal on."

Hearing like the other senses are dependent on your point of reference, experience and range of appreciation. Opinion, popularity, name, etc...don't affect what you hear, only what you think.

There's my :2Cents: in a big bag.

I hope you have fun finding just the right cymbal sound for your cool new/old drum set!

Happy crashing,

Brian

Nearly Brian I am definitely taking the advice here to use my ears. Yeah my kit came with Sabian b8 and while better than some old junk it's not the best for my ear I might not even like old k Zildjian for all I know. My wife said I am in touch with my inner Fred Sanford and she's right with me hitting yard sales pawn shops and resale stores. I am an outside salesman and things are not like they used to be but I still have a job and still have customers. Thanks for the advice.

My kit is 73 Slingerlands the cymbals that go with them are late 60's early 70's Zildjians. Paiste mad cymbals back then but at least in the USA Zildjian was the only choice.

They were available. Don't you count the Paiste cymbals Ludwig had in their catalogs back then to go with their kits? They did sell them separately. Or are you saying Zildjian is the only choice if you have Slignerlands?

[img]http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/images/ludwig_sets/super_classic/1967_super_classic.jpg[/img]

disclaimer: I've got both old 602s and old Zildjians which I love. I'm just talking about accuracy of historical information here.