How to Choose a Good Crash Cymbal

[@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.

[@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 ;)

[@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 .

[@hollerhavenfarms24]

Thanks for all the work you did. Good info.

[@jonathanbussey541]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@arnabshahriar]

Loving your videos and discussions... !

[@CrappyProducts]

I always preferred the darker thin cymbals. A's were never a thing for me and I mostly play rock

[@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!

[@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).

[@tripledeluxedday]

Have you given the cymbal mounting any more thought beyond what is in this video?

[@JackNiles]

Thanks. I appreciate the good content 👍

[@JoeIzzo]

Gone cymbal shoppin’!

[@disappt]

Those bosphorus turks are real drumstick amplifiers

[@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.

[@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.

[@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