Hey guys... i need help choosing cymbals

[Venom99x]

Hey,
Im new to this site and i know its supposed to be only for recording but i was told this was the best place to go for proffesional opinions. I recently cracked my two zildjian ZBT crashes (14'' and 16'') and need to buy new cymbals. I really love the sound of Zildjians and am interested in buying durable cymbals that sound great. I've had my eye on Zildjian Z customs and Zildjian A customs...which is a better cymbal? I was looking at this deal on Musicians friend:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...als?sku=445421

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ash?sku=444497

I am interested in anything you guys have to say so please give me some feedback!!
Thanks!!!

[lumpy]

Z's and A's are both fine cymbals. The Z series is pigeonholed into the metal catagory, due to their weight and agressive bright sound, while A's are more mellow (bullshit) and are supposed to be an all around cymbal for whatever.

The A series (with the exception of A Custom) are available in polished and traditional finishes and the Z's are only available in polished. I like mine green so I use medium A crashes and a heavy A ride in traditional finish.

The best hi-hats I ever owned were a set of 13" K/Z's (thin K on top and a heavy Z on bottom) which are still available. Very popular in the 90's.

Either series, Z or A, will be a vast improvment over those trash can lid ZBT's. Zildjian has never figured out how to make a decent entry level cymbal.

Best bet, go to your local Guitar Center, bash away, and mix em up. There is no rule against that.

Whatever you do, when you buy some good metal, treat it well and it will last forever and only get better sounding with age. My 22" heavy A ride was made in 1953, my 18" med A crash in the 70's and Paiste hats are 70's vintage. Only my 19" med A crash is new.

Good luck.

Lump

[sphinx_uk]

The age old question of which cymbals are best...

I guess its down to personal choice. I personally use A customs and am very happy with them. I have 13" A Cust hats, which i love coz they are nice and tight and give a great 'chik' sound, but can also be played open for heavier songs.

I have 2 Projection crashes a 17" and an 18". You might want to look at these if you are after volume which i assume you are due to cracking you last cymbals.

I have a 12" Advidis Zildjian splash and an 18" K crash ride.

I also have a 20" Paiste ride cymbal with a nice big bell on it, so it just goes to show you dont have to stick to one brand/range.

Either way it looks like youve decided to look at the top line cymbals now so you wont go wrong and you'll probably find that you dont have to beat the hell out of them like the cheeper ZBT's.

If you can, get to your local music store and set some up an a kit and have a play. Each cymbal has its own sound even if its the same size/make etc. so trying before buying is a must in my opinion, thats why i never but them over the net.

My 2p anyway....

[Venom99x]

Alright thanks for posting back guys!! I'm just going to go into a guitar center and check some stuff out...thanks for all ur feedback once again!!

[Jroye82]

Good cymbals sound good...bad ones sound bad.

you can make a bad drum sound good - but a bad cymbal will always sound bad.

I like K Customs