This is what I am reading about them, and that intrigues me for sure. I mean, all I have known intimately is the A's that I have. Sort of like growing up in a small town where you don't know what's out there until you get off the couch and check it out!

I have a feeling I can find some sweet ones if I dig deep enough, but there are not 'piles' of them around the usual suspects to dig through- other than at Zildjian... This plan is looking better and better, but I'm sure I would be paying full boat to walk in and get cymbals there... On the other hand, they'd be the best of what they have to offer (to my ears) and therefore probably worth every damn penny. I'd only need hats, a ride and a couple crashes.

Again, in the parlance of this site, American K's from the '80s are not generally thought of as vintage.

The K Con's are available. A new 22" K Con is far from cheap. They go for around $500 or more with a list price of around $900. Carrying them depends on the quality of your local drum shop and the type of clinical they serve. If they basically stock lower end or entry level drums, they probably won't carry many K cons.

i have one 'real' drum shop near me (Dynamic Percussion) but Art Benson (a friend of mine) does not own it any longer. Art's store was 5-star and he had (or could get) whatever you needed and was always competitive with the pricing. The new guy? He's fine but it's not the shop it was for sure.

Then there is Sam Ass and Guitar Splinter. They actually carry some decent drums (DW Collectors, Yamaha whatever, but not PHX of course) and their cymbal selection is not horrible usually. I stopped in Sam Ass in Long Island yesterday (was back to the main plant for a few hours) and they had K Cons and A Cie. in stock but I did not have the time to give them a fair shake. They also have a very sweet 20-12-14-sn Rodgers silver sparkle holiday kit for just shy of two grand... But that is another topic.

Anyway, I THINK the A Cie. line might be a good fit for me, but when/if I get to Zildjian I am going to work with someone (mid-week, mid-day to get the attention I want) and really find out exactly what I want for a "new" sound for me. With them so close, I'm a fool not to exploit that resource. I have a drummer friend who also wants to check it out, so it should be a fun day.

I have K constantinople in 13 hats, 16, 17, 18 crash, 20 flat, 19 c/r, 12 splash, and a home made 5 inch splash from a trimmed down cracked 16. I absolutely love the sound of these cymbals. Don't buy them. I'd like to keep these sounds as "my" sound. I have a whole set of K cymbals that I'm going to try and trade/sell on this site, just haven't gotten around to it. I like the sound of the K, but since I've gotten the K constantinoples, I don't even take them down from my cymbal wall. Every once in a while I hear a cymbal that I do like more than mine, but they are usually the odd cymbal out in another manufacturer's range of cymbals. As a whole, this range of K cons sound great together.

Well, at the moment Rik you have nothing to fear!

But, you never know what may happen in the future with me...Excited

I hope you are wildly successful at drumming someday, and remember that there's this dreamer out there trying to make it too!

Well, I've been waiting for about 37 years for that to happen...Violin

I'm quite sure they would sound different due to the nature of being entirely handmade.

You better jump at those A & Cie's quick if you like them. The word is they have been discontinued.

I hope you find what you're looking for!

Lynn

Thank you Lynn, Me too.

As cymbals are cymbals, I won't know what I want, until I hear it. Maybe it will be a vintage piece, maybe it will be some of the 'new' vintage stuff.

I always keep my eyes peeled for those 80's vintage A's because I am familiar with them. I agree some can be gongy, clangy, too metallic, or all of the above (18" rock crash anyone??DOH). Thin is good; paper thin is better. However I play new beats and I run them upside down so the heavy cymbal is on top- I have since I got these new, so go figure!

I just feel that something 'different' for this old kit I'm working on would be more appropriate. I can always use whatever cymbals I have, depending on the venue and music type (I have more than enough for two kits); however I want the option of a very different sound to compliment the old kit when I feel that is appropriate. BUT, A different sound I relate to somehow...

The further word is that A & Cie were discontinued some years ago when the Armand series came out. Later they reappeared for one year (I can't remember which: 2010?) in the Rarities program. Some shops still have them in stock.

A & Cie were trying to recreate the late 40s 50s vibe. I've just gone and bought some A Zildjians of that era rather than chase A & Cie.

Armands are trying to recreate the 60s vibe. You can usually find real 60s Zidljians cheaper. I certainly have, and I live at the end of the supply line. Yes real 60s ones aren't as shiny.