If you go B8 you might want to consider Sabian B8 or better yet B8Pro. These are certainly going to be more plentiful in your area than Zildjians. I just checked out your local CL ads - that's brutal! Looks like here (forums) or Ebay are your best options!

I recently bought a Sabian XS20 18" medium thin crash to use for one-cymbal gigs [ride/crash]. I have to keep going back to it to hit it and see if I was dreaming but nope - it really does sound great. It was $150.00 new from the store, couldn't believe it actually....

Generally though I would look for a used Zildjian, I think it's the right approach. I just had some bad luck buying used Zildjians in parking lots - when I got em home they didn't sound as good lol

Mitch

Good call, John. I picked up another parts kit at one time that had a Sabian 20" B8 (medium lightish) ride and a 20" B8 Pro medium ride with it. The regular B8 is not so pretty sounding. The B8 Pro sounded pretty close to ZBT Plus I had at the same time. My ears liked the ZBT better, but they were quite similar. I gave the ZBT to a family member with a starter kit and the I sold the B8 Pro to a guy who has been gigging since the mid 60s. $30-40? He likes them and bought the one I had as a backup for his main ride (another B8 Pro.) And the guy works at the local music store, so with his access to things coming in the door and employee discount I'm sure that he wasn't just buying out of financial concerns.

Hey Brian - not sure if you can buy something in the US - but this is crazy cheap (selling price).

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/msg/5509094655.html

Thanks, John! I'll check into it. All of you have been really helpful! It's good to know that there are so many good people on the forum. Amazing!

Brian

A friend plays a ZBT ride in his country swing band. Sounds terrible !!

It is to bright and loud. He just won't get a mellow ride . Or put some Moon gel on it. They might be good for rock n roll but not Jazz or mellow stuff. My lame opinion of coarse V

In my opinion, the best B8 Ride for genres other than loud rock (that I have had) would be a 404. They have the pretty element, but since it is thinner and the lathing such as it is, it has a nice warmer well-rounded quality to it. It is not the loudest cymbal - not good to cut through loud guitars, but other than that - perhaps a great all around cymbal - if B8 is what you want without getting too bright.

$80 or less is a good deal. Of course the closer you get to the $100 mark, the more you have to consider a standard Zilly A.

404 20" ...cool cymbal. I picked one up a few weeks ago after reading a thread with many positive opinions... including one from Drummerjohn333. Thanks John!!! I really like it. Yes, very light with the 'pretty element.' Very crashable. Not loud. I have no experience with it live. I was working through something the other day. The set was mic-ed up. Sabian AAX 21" stage ride (found in a pawn shop for $50! Nice cymbal) in the 'ride' position. 404 20" in the right hand crash position. Rockabilly type song. Goes from a pingy ride in the verse to a crashy ride build up to a crash in the chorus. AAX 21" verse> 404 20" chorus. Recorded it and played it back. Definite difference in perceived sound levels. Good sound. not loud.

Cymbals,no matter what brand or line should only be judged while playing with the band. Also consider how different they sound in different rooms too.I have a ton of orphans and not afraid to swap several out to be the final judge.

I got a whole set of like 6 or 7 Paiste Alpha cymbals in a CL deal, which are probably similar to the Zildjan ZBT's.

You hit them hard, they make a lot of noise. Perfect. guitar3

I vote grab a ZBT and play the hell out of it!

toodles

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