How to Choose a Good Crash Cymbal

In this video I show you the qualities I look for when purchasing crash cymbals. I demonstrate several different vintage and modern ride cymbals and tell you what I like and don't like about them.
Here are the models and weights not in any specific order.
Paiste 16" Signature Mellow Crash Weight = 947 grams
Avedis Zildjian 18" 1970's Crash Ride Weight= 1348 grams
Avedis Zildjian 18" 1960's Crash Ride Weight= 1439 grams
Avedis Zildjian 16" 1970's Crash Weight= 1063 grams
Avedis Zildjian 15" 1960's Crash Weight= 816 grams
Avedis Zildjian 16" 1980's Crash Weight= 1116 grams
Paiste Traditional 14" Crash Weight = 650 grams
Sabian Vault Artisan 16" Crash Weight = 959 grams
K Zildjian 17" Crash Weight =1130 grams
K Zildjian 1960's 18" Crash Weight =1427 grams
K Zildjian 1960's 16" Crash Weight =1109 grams
Paiste Traditional 17" Thin Crash Weight = 1100 grams
Paiste Traditional 17" Extra Thin Crash Weight = 1020 grams
Paiste Traditional 18" Thin Crash Weight = 1310 grams
Paiste Traditional 18" Extra Thin Crash Weight = 1220 grams
Paiste Traditional 16" Thin Crash Weight = 930 grams
Sabian El Sabor 18" Crash Weight = 1465 grams
Sabian El Sabor 15" Crash Weight = 938 grams
Dream Bliss 18" Crash Ride Weight = 1464
Paiste Signature Symphonic 19" Crash Weight=1587
Paiste Traditional 16" Extra Thin Crash Weight = 872 grams
Bosphorus 16" Thin Crash Weight = 853grams
Bosphorus 18" Thin Crash Weight = 1177 grams
Drums are Craviotto Private Reserve
20'x15", 10 x 8, 12x 8, 14x14 floor tom, 14x 6.5 Snare Drum
The Hi Hats are Sabian 13" HH Regular
Sticks are my custom Vic Firth Signature set stick in maple. These are available only from me at [e-mail]. They are also available in Hickory.
The microphones are Neumann U89 overheads and a Shure Beta 52 on the bass drum.

[@ryanwelsh3834]

I want a solo Rick Dior album. Just you groovin for ~1 hour It’s what we all need really

[@DogAfraidOfUmbrellas]

Thank you for another fantastic video, Rick. Those traditionals are unlike any other crash cymbal, almost miraculously well designed. Complex in midrange character but shimmery and clean in overtones because of the alloy. That 18" Sabor is great too. Like how you'd want an A to sound, bright but not annoying. I think Paiste makes by far the best larger crashes and rock crash rides. Because they are shimmery and clean, not too much sustain and have no hum, unlike a lot of large crashes/crash rides. They sound so good sitting within a mix and with more complex smaller crash cymbals. Thinking of the 20" 602 thin crash especially. I agree the smaller 602s are kind of boring (the older ones less so), but that said Charlie Watts used a 16" for 40 years, and they were popular in LA studios in the 70s. The 20" giant beat multi has the B8 telephone zing, but is instant Zeppelin style crash sound along with the 18" heard on immigrant song. Bonzoleum has a bunch of videos on Giant Beats that are great. My favorite all around 18" crash for recording that is not too dark but not too bright, fast but not splashy is a Zildjian k sweet 18" in mid 1200s. Lately though with more complex rides I really like an 18" Istanbul paper thin. The Istanbuls have a little more body than most paper thins.

[@radokostadinov4890]

What you played at the end took me to a fairytale land ,thank you for all the great knowledge you are sharing with us .

[@DynamicRockers]

Thanks Rick for all the infos, I really like this series "How to chose a good _ cymbal". Can't wait for the HH one ;)

[@arnabshahriar]

Loving your videos and discussions... !

[@rhythmcaster2018]

Thanks for the video. You giving me a smile and hope on a generic Thursday morning.

[@timcline2799]

The cymbal videos tremendous guide. Thank you!

[@JackNiles]

Thanks. I appreciate the good content 👍

[@jauntyj3257]

Thank you Rick! I find the 18 AAX Omni very good as a Crash as it is vert fast and also as a dark Ride with clear stick definition, plus it has an amazing bell. I am curious to hear your optinion on it; I don't have that many other cymbals to compare it to.

[@jonathanbussey541]

The hi hats video should be really good. Thanks for all you do.

[@nealixd.3011]

I hear ya, I have never broken a cymbal since 1968-69 when I commenced playing. It blows my mind to be in church and see the drummers on the worship team just crashing or smashing the smithereens out of the ride cymbal much of the song. Just don't understand that approach and lack of dynamics. Ride cymbals are supposed to be a beautiful thing, think I have about 11 or more, the gold to my ears. As far as crashes go, I have 8. My favorite five are the original Paiste Signature Series, made in Switzerland, they just sound amazing and respond immediately, very musical. I advise folks to try those when they see them. Somehow all of mine I bought miraculously for $200 on down, including two new ones in the early 2000s (about $235 at the time or more), although they are now $320 to 400 new price range normally. Nonetheless, worth every penny. I also have two Zildjian and one Sabian crash. I sold off two of my Zildjian A series crashes, just didn't sound good to me. Fortunately, I had acquired those two used and didn't lose money on them as I recall, I think I broke even or so between them. Seriously, check out the Paiste Signature Series, they are the bomb. I'm not a heavy hitter, mainly a MOR pop-rock player.

[@nealixd.3011]

PS I started typing early. I see you call the Signature Series, the traditional Paistes. Usually on the bottom side they say Signature Series, made in Switzerland. I have two 16" Fast Crashes, one 16" Full Crash, One 16" Mellow Crash, and one 18" Mellow Crash. They are gold to my ears when it comes to crashes. I also have a Paiste 20" Signature Series Dry Heavy Ride, and a 21" Prototype (high, clean pitch).

[@nealixd.3011]

PPS back in the day in the family way, I sold a Paiste 22" Signature Series Dry Heavy Ride for a very good deal my drummer made me, he had to have it, when I was running my own band as the front man singer/lead guitarist. I am looking for one again. I think it was the best ride cymbal I have heard in my entire life, just sounded so amazing. He still has it and won't sell it back, ha. I don't blame him. He made me a very good deal back in the day to acquire it. I had bought it new on an amazing deal for $200, when it was $265 turn of the century. He gave me $120 and a Zildjian K 20" Heavy Ride that I still have (I have a strange love-hate relationship with that one, but decided it's just too cool to sell, ha).

[@HermanIvanov]

I have Bosphorus Traditional, Gold and Antique series, they are great multi-purpose cymbals. And they're much cheaper than Zildjian in my country. Turk series for me is too dry, but sometimes it's really cool!

[@JoeIzzo]

Gone cymbal shoppin’!

[@JoeDuffus]

Really enjoying the series! You said you were going to do hats next, and that'll be good and practical. But what I'm really looking forward to is a video on splashes, because I bet you have about 1,000 of them in that room somewhere! 🙂 Something that's always intrigued me is the crash cymbals with various cutouts in the metal. Some are round. Some are cigar shaped. What does that do and why would I want one?

[@rickdior]

Thanks Joe I have already done the hihat video. I will post it this weekend.

[@oscarsacchetti5215]

Very nice video, as always! Every time I watch one of your videos dedicated to cymbals I end up telling myself how bad - or maybe how uneducated - my ears are! I barely hear or notice some of the aspects you mention and after so many years of drumming - obviously pure amateur - I feel a little ashamed … A question: you play almost all major and minor cymbal brands, but if memory serves I never saw you playing UFIP cymbals: any particular reason for that?

[@rickdior]

Hi Oscar I have had several of the Ufip cymbals over the years but never much cared for them. They were either too heavy or just had some annoying overtones that were not fun to deal with. I do still have a few of their icebells, though.

[@giuseppelongo6088]

Simply amazing!! Thank you for your advices......ended!!!! Master ❤❤❤❤❤

[@gacdrums6685]

What makes me mad is you try to look up weight on a cymbal , like at sweet water for instance and they have ,thin, medium, heavy , or medium thin …. That’s crazy … the only way i pick out a cymbal is to go and try it out … I don’t know how they expect you order one on line ??? I’m done ranting now … great job rick .

[@rickdior]

For me weight is a big factor. I always think that all the cymbals for sale should have the weight in grams stamped in ink under the bell. It's much more important than someone's signature.

[@disappt]

Those bosphorus turks are real drumstick amplifiers

[@elithepitbulldog2209]

Too many younger plays play through the cymbal, or drum like they are playing for the floor. If you are leaving whelps or divots on your drum head, you are playing it wrong