I would recommend Dream Bliss.

I don't know much about these. Could you tell me anything about them? Are they a "no name" cymbal?

What about Mid-East? They are not very easy to find, but the hammering on them looks top notch. What say you, Bill? I am about to pull the trigger on a 20 for less than hunski...new.

Or possibly the Wuhans.

http://www.drumfactorydirect.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13_300

If you hate the ones you have, look em up on the usual avenues and see what they are going for, then get rid of them. This will pad your bankroll for your new score and maybe put you behind a better cymbal than you thought you could afford to begin with. Just a thought.

Another thought is this. I have noticed you have a tendecy to lean towards a cautious stance on most things drums. I say let 'er rip dude. I wouldn't hesitate to buy used cymbals if they sounded good and looked like they weren't played with claw hammers. Mastro says he buys used cracked cymbals because that means they sounded so good that somebody played the hell out of them. Not at all the worst logic I have ever heard. See where I am going with this? If you get burned bad on junk cymbals and they take your bankroll at least you will have a good story to tell the guy, just like you, asking a similair question in twenty years...LOL.

toodles

drumhack Mallet Player2Jump For JoyGuitar Dude Manx-mas2electricit

For good cymbals on a tight budget, used really is the way to go. It's not too hard to find good deals from reputable sellers who aren't trying to sell you a pie with a big ol' crack in it. You can find good bargains in the "for sale" forum on boards like this one and the sellers there often have a pretty well-established reputation. Good sellers will generally provide high-quality pics so you can see the condition of the cymbal. Some will provide sound clips or video, too.

Another benefit of buying good used cymbals: If you don't like them or someday decide you don't need that particular cymbal anymore, you can sell it and essentially get your money back.

But if you want new cymbals... Dream cymbals, particularly the Bliss line, have a good reputation. Sabian's XS20 line could be the least expensive line from the big cymbal companies with decent sound. They're definitely among the cheapest cymbals made from B20 bronze, which is what most cymbal companies use for their pro-quality cymbal lines.

There's also a sorta-new option in Sabian's SR2 line. They're "factory renewed" cymbals (returns, prototypes, etc.) that have been refinished and offered for sale. All of the SR2 cymbals start off as pro-line B20 cymbals. They've got some really low prices, but since you don't know what kind of cymbal an SR2 pie started off as, you've really gotta shop with your ears. If you can't find them in person, Memphis Drum Shop had a bunch of them with some great video clips on their mycymbal.com web site.

Jonni: I bought a 20" Mid-East crash/ride from Mountainhick. It's a little bit on the trashy side, but I really like it. It's got plenty of wash and is a MUCH "jazzier" cymbal than my Sabian AA medium ride. He and some of the guys over at Cymbalholic have posted a bit about Mid-East cymbals HERE, HERE, and HERE. I think the Mid-East cymbals might've been made by Amedia. Amedia has done other "house brand" cymbals before, the hammering looks right, and the printing seems to match. It seems to be silkscreened (not stamped) and the typeface of the word "Classic" seems to be a match.

Oh, and UPS should be bringing me a 16" Mid-East crash tomorrow. :-)

I noodled around on some Stagg cymbals from China at the late, great West Coast Drum Shop. They didn't sound bad at all. I wish I could remember the series (there are at least seven), but I recall being surprised by how low the price was.

Used really is the way to go, especially if you have an extensive selection from Craigslist and/or pawn shops in your area that will enable you to try before you buy (and inspect for damage).

Another thread on this site features a discussion of older wood versus new and how the molecules are pre-vibrated or some such thing. I think that is equally apt for cymbals ... to me, new cymbals seem clangy and stiff. I don't want to wait two years to get a cymbal dialed in.

My MO when buying used cymbals is to warn the seller that I'll be bringing a few from my collection for comparison purposes and that there will be no sale if I don't think his cymbal meshes well with what I already have. I also inspect for cracks ... I can live with hairline cracks around the hole, but I'll reject a cymbal with an edge crack.

I am obviously not privy to your financial situation, so pardon this suggestion. But if you can handle it, acquiring a little short-term debt may be worth your while for something that is potentially a lifetime investment. If your credit is good, you may be able to convince one of your credit card companies to extend a low interest rate for a year or so. If you get balance transfer offers in the mail, the one-time interest fee may be worth it to lock in a 0 or 1 percent rate for 12 to 18 months.

Generally, I've found that you have to pay for quality cymbals. It is, however, all about the sound. I have a friend who has 1960s-era A crashes and hats but uses a ZXT ride. He could afford any ride he wants, but he loves the sound of what he has. If you find something cheap that sounds good to you (from the throne and from the floor), then more power to you.

Good luck!

Honestly, if you want the sound of top notch cymbals but can't afford them, used is really the only way to go. If a cymbal doesn't look abused, if you don't see any cracks near the edge or bell and the hole is not badly keyholed, than its most likely the cymbal will be fine for years. We (my son and I) own 40 or more cymbals of various types and sizes, most of which are used. Not only are they generally cheaper than new cymbals (except the old K's of course), IMHO they sound significantly better than much of what's currently available . Even great vintage A's can often be found for less than $100 or so. If you want new, you might want to consider Wuhan cymbals. The ones I've heard are much much better than ZBTs.

I own the 22" Dream Bliss ride. I love that cymbal. Has a kinda of jazzy feel to it. They have other types of cymbals as well. They are reasonally priced as far as cymbals go. I also owned a 16" inch Meinl crash that sounded really good.

$135 for the Dream(sale price)

$80 for the Meinl(sale price)

I try not to pay full price wheneve possible. I wait for sales, I do my home work and find out about the items I want and try to get the best price I can. Buying used is also good, but you have to know what you're looking for.

I also owned some 13" ZBT hats that sounded really good, but the 18" ZBT crash/ride I did not like at all.

Used is best. However buying without trying is risky. Dream cymbals, same story. Even more important to hear them first. Craigslist. Then buy with your ears.