How can I get this cymbal sound?

[Can of worms]

Throughout the track in this clip and to be honest it could've been any one of a number of early to mid seventies pop wallahs,not strictly the bay city rollers.

It seems to have a sharp attack,a rapid decay and is somehow pronounced from the rest of the kit sound.It seems to be very widespread within the gendre but somehow back in the day,I can't quite imagine ten mikes on the kit.Am I wrong,any clues?

Many thanks.

YouTube - Summer love sensation...BAY CITY ROLLERS

[bozmillar]

I can hardly hear the cymbals in that clip.

[garageband]

If we're talking about the same thing, it sounds like a slapsick with a ton of reverb. That sound on 2 & 4 in the choruses?

[awaken1]

If you're talking about the sound on 2 n 4 like GB said, it not a cymbal..
Heres a little bit cleaner clip..you can hear it better at 2:25..


YouTube - Bay City Rollers????????Summerlove Sensation

[garageband]

I meant "slapstick".

[bozmillar]

I went to look up what a sapstick was and couldn't find anything.

[awaken1]

it's two small boards hinged together and you kind of give it a whiping motion resulting in a 'crack' or gunshot kind of sound when the two pieces of wood come together..
http://www.music-academy.co.uk/slapstick%20pp280.jpg

[garageband]

That was an unfortunate time for a typo. The most famous usage of the slapstick I can think of is in Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride".

Curiously enough, I was thinking this would be a better impulse response trigger than popping a balloon or a starter pistol. I'll probably get around to it now that we're talking about it.

[awaken1]

I like Neil Pearts version on YYZ.
"Well you wear gloves so as not to get splinters, you take a piece of 1/4" plywood, and smack it down HARD on the top of a wooden stool. Very demanding, technically - took years of practice." - Neil Peart

[Post Toastie]

try a Meinl HCS 16" crash. $50 at Guitar Center. it is an entry level cymbal that has a fast decay. here are a few clips.

YouTube - Meinl HCS series 16" crash cymbal test

YouTube - Meinl HCS Crash 16"

with a little eq i think you can get that sound from the Rollers' video.

it is an entry level cymbal. it doesn't sound great when played by itself, but once the music comes in it is quite serviceable and with a little eq even better. notice how it sounds in clip one by itself then later with the drum set. with added music it sounds even better.

clip 2 is not really representative of how it sounds by itself, but it can sound this good in the mix.

if you have more expensive tastes Sabian makes AA and AAX Fast Crashes. $209 and $219 respectively. AA's are smoother and vintage sounding. AAX's are grainier (integrated ?) and modern sounding.

if none of these are to your liking, you can ask around for fast crashes and try a few.

here's a better representation (with a better drummer to boot) although he says his is a 14". Tama Imperialstar's come with Meinl HCS cymbals stock.

YouTube - New Tama Imperialstar Drumset

this one appears to be a 16"
YouTube - Some Simple Drum Beats

hope this helps.