Paiste 2002 Big Beat Cymbal Series Review

Nick D'Virgilio presents the Paiste 2002 Big Beat series of cymbals. These cymbals are crafted from Paiste's 2002 bronze (CuSn8) for stage projection and specially hammered to bring out the bronze's darker and smoother characteristics. If you're a dynamic player, you'll love the expressiveness in the 2002 Black Big Beats - particularly if you play a wide range of styles and venues.
Check out the gear used to make this video at the links below!
Paiste 2002 Big Beat Series Cymbals:
18” Crash/Ride - www.sweetwater....
20” Crash/Ride - www.sweetwater....
22” Crash/Ride - www.sweetwater....
15” Hi Hats - www.sweetwater....
Drum kit
Gretsch USA custom from Sweetwater Studios
Snare Drum - 6.5 x 14
Kick Drum - 18 x 20
Rack Tom - 8 x 12
Floor Tom - 16 x 16
Hardware:
DW 9000 Series Cymbal Stands - www.sweetwater....
DW 9000 Series Snare Stand - www.sweetwater....
DW 9000 Series Hi Hat Stand - www.sweetwater....
DW 9000 Series Kick Drum Pedal - www.sweetwater....
Microphones:
Kick drum - Audio Technica ATM250 - www.sweetwater....
Snare drums - Audio Technica AE 2300 - www.sweetwater....
Rack tom - Audio Technica ATM350cW - www.sweetwater....
Floor tom mic - Audio Technica ATM350cW - www.sweetwater....
Overhead mics - Audio Technica AT5045 - www.sweetwater....
Room - AEA N8 - www.sweetwater....
Drumheads:
Remo Ambassador Coated - www.sweetwater....
Drum Sticks
Vic Firth 55A wood tip - www.sweetwater....
Vic Firth Standard Retractable Jazz Brush - www.sweetwater....
T2 Cartwheel timpani mallets - www.sweetwater....
Play-in music:
Bass Guitar - Ernie Ball Music Man's StingRay 4 H - www.sweetwater....
Two Notes Le Bass pedal - www.sweetwater....
Electric Guitar - Fender USA Stratocaster - www.sweetwater....
Two Notes Le Clean pedal - www.sweetwater....
String Pad - Toontrack EZKeys - www.sweetwater....
sound: String Machine - Fat Strings
Synth Arpeggio - AIR Hybrid 3 - www.sweetwater....
sound: 07 Sequenced - 055 Acidifier
Play-out music:
Bass Guitar - Ernie Ball Music Man's StingRay 4 H - www.sweetwater....
Two Notes Le Bass pedal - www.sweetwater....
Electric Guitar - Fender USA Stratocaster - www.sweetwater....
Two Notes Le Lead pedal - www.sweetwater....
Apple 15" MacBook Pro - www.sweetwater....
Antelope Audio Orion Studio Thunderbolt Audio Interface - www.sweetwater....
Avid Pro Tools 12 - www.sweetwater....

[@sbskking]

Paiste is the BEST. NO QUESTION.

[@ibalish0392]

Sunbeom Kim nah man Zildjian all the way

[@hannes1734]

Sunbeom Kim They somehow managed to be the first company to make B8 sound like B20.

[@sbskking]

Ich Und Nicht Du Absolutely.

[@kerrynrudolph6271]

Paiste made B8 sound better than sabian's b20

[@TH4L3G1TK1NG]

paistes are generic and overpriced

[@JohnTerby]

Well done Nick! It's nice to see someone with the knowledge and with such a thorough presentation as yours. Someone who can play well and give the product a fair review. I actually like these cymbals more now and thanks to your explanation of them, I understand better why I like them more.

[@EarthtonesCymbals]

Thanks Nick. Best wishes always to everyone out there!

[@robertlucas9867]

I checked out these cymbals at my local Drum store. They sound amazing. I can't wait to buy them. Especially the 22", and 24" cymbals. They have a nice smokey sound to them.

[@bubinga_basher]

There are some discontinued lines that sound sick too. Paiste Dry Dark 21 inch ride (Sig) In-between Danny Carey, and Stewart Copeland. The 3000’s..eh, too many to write

[@sap7881]

Playing Paiste over 3 decades , damn i'm old

[@RoeShamBoe]

best reviews... thanks for doing all the stuff like testing with the tip of the stick, hitting them solo'd one by one, etc... and im def interested in checking out 15" hats after the Aranoff interview!

[@robwestndrumr7648]

Paistes are awesome. I have 2002 and pst7 crashes and couldnt be happier with the sound.

[@cmswrD]

I got a PST7 Light Ride, sounds amazing for the price!

[@jasperjenkins7729]

Being a pAisTe Freak... I have sets of Masters, 602s. 802s, 5o5s, DarkEnergy, and LOTS of souNd forMulA & 2oo2s. Just bought a 22 & 19 Big Beat Last Week. Gonna ABSOLUTELY get the 21 & 24 Next. They are just AMAZING 🎯🏆

[@tru816indo]

Sweetwater is perfect. Great reviews of all their gear. Hands down the easiest website to navigate on my phone lol. Love this guy too. He zones out for split seconds here and there. Great drummer. Not annoying.

[@MirkkoDeMaio]

Thx for reviewing these- I've a 19" and 21" 2002 Black Beat and i use them as crashes, I just LOVE their tone!

[@ScottyMcYachty]

Very cool. I generally prefer smaller hats, but in context they sound great.

[@MyDyerMaker]

For live rock music there are no better cymbals.

[@TheMatthew5252]

I just got the 20 yesterday. Amazing!!

[@bubinga_basher]

Paiste's B8 lines are far better than any other cymbal cymbal companies B20's. Super consistent, and record perfectly

[@markpichler9070]

That remains a personal taste. Not more not less.

[@cmswrD]

I love the Big Beat series! Particularly the 15" Hats as well as the 20" and the 21"

[@saltykrug]

Again Nick, another well put together review. Great job giving us every aspect to these cymbals to help us form our buying opnion.

[@zeppelinrules1077]

That jam with the brushes was killer

[@travisfalk1241]

Zeppelin rules!!! John Bonham played big beats

[@TheJargonKing]

@@travisfalk1241 Not exactly. Bonham played the Giant Beat line for the first 4 Zeppelin records (with the exception of a few tracks on Zeppelin IV, in which he used Formula 602s, particularly the hi-hats and one of the crashes.) From late '71 to early '73 he shifted towards using the 2002s exclusively as Giant Beats would break easily as they're a thinner cymbal (although he occasionally used some older Giant Beats for a few concerts in the mid - late 70s). Hope this cleared some things up. Cheers!

[@ciaradonnelly4627]

Interesting to see the conversation over "which is best" between Paiste and Zildjian. I have played both and always found them to be VERY different......to me Zildjian are darker and you have to spend on their higher end to get quality (K and Kerope for example) I know the A's are brighter, the A Custom are fantastic. In terms of Paiste I have always found their cymbals brighter and more consistent the 2002 are stand out and for me the Signature are the best they have ever produced. Luckily we the customer have a great choice

[@robwestndrumr7648]

Love my 22 ❤

[@robburgess4556]

Was that a little YYZ I heard when you were playing the bells? :-)

[@billbobaggins801]

I heard.... Go On Take The Money and Run??

[@tonycarpenter-Makzimia]

Nice demo Nick as usual :). I know I am late on this, but about to splash out for a whole new kit, and these are going to be in it.

[@Hawiianlion67]

Oh I love these man

[@DrGray_Drummer]

4 tone deaf fools didn't like this. I have GB sets, 2002's, Sig's, 602's DE's..Can't go wrong w/Paiste. I wish he used the 24 ride, as I don't have the Big's yet. 15 SE 2002's, 18 2002's, 20 GB's, and 24 2002's as my normal setup. All B8 alloy. Amazing, consistent, and durable!

[@bergerdrum]

These are phenomenal when you want that Paiste kind of tone, but need to keep the volume under control for smaller stages or recording. They don't overwhelm a mix.

[@toxievope3617]

The 18" is my pick. very crashy and still sustains.

[@npg68]

I have the 20" and it's a cool cymbal but it doesn't fit in with my Paiste signature series cymbals. If you like the sustain of signature or reflector series then you probably wont dig these. I found the 20" sounds great when not hit hard. I think they would make a nice jazz cymbal - there is a sweet spot with my 20" at least and it is nice and warm.

[@EarthtonesCymbals]

Thanks Doug. I am considering the 20 inch Big Beat as a main ride right now.

[@Thomas-qg5iz]

Hi Nick, could you do a review on the sabian paragon cymbals (whole box)?

[@Mike_Webb78]

I have the 19, 20, 21 and I had the 18. Sold it, it just didn't fit to me for some reason. Plan on getting the 22 and the 15 hi hats next. I'm using Paiste 900 series 15 hats right now and they sound great. The 19 and 21 are my favorite, the 19 is the best crash I've ever played.

[@adolfofrano4656]

MUY LINDOS PLATOS DE PAISTE!!! PERO ME QUEDO CON LOS 2002 ORIGINALES!!! EL HI HAT PAISTE 2002 SOUND EDGE DE 15!!! ES GENIAL!!!

[@estudiotamboril6025]

Great cymbals for studio like the Zildjian A and K

[@moritzmark3418]

Interesting that the 22" pitch is higher than the 20".

[@billbobaggins801]

Probably the best cymbals ever made. 2002.......if BONHAM picked them to play then! Well.......I think you understand?

[@chriswright8464]

Nice

[@Stavros_Meggos]

this is wahat Paiste can do, with just a bronze sheet! cool btw... this guy learn a song for this review! how cool is that! :D

[@markpichler9070]

If they want also Zildjian and Sabian could make really good B8 cymbals. Fact is, that they do not want and prefer anoter strategy of marketing, to sell more their B20. It is only a thing of strategy.

[@manuelsalamancagallardo2079]

Creashes' bells shimmer in a way I can't explain

[@danlc95]

I'd love 13 hats, and a 17 cymbal.

[@josteinv.jordet257]

There's a reason they're called big beats

[@scottlowell493]

The definitely sound better than the basic 2002.

[@billbobaggins801]

Nope......I disagree on that one. Been playing the original 2002 and I always get asked WHAT CYMBALS are using?

[@motobrain4320]

what title of play in music?

[@jimhardiman3836]

This series or the Giant Beats for a more open, darker sound but with the classic Paiste glassy top end?

[@rhythmista7707]

Jim hardiman--Both...But if you want a little darker, these would be the ones.

[@christopherscamby4559]

Giant Beats are definitely glassier and sustain longer than these, but these are phenomenal. I think the Giant Beats are closer to signatures with the glassy tones

[@St_Mindless]

RUDE, 2002, Pst7 👌👌👌

[@TomDichter]

too much "washy" ride sound for my taste - but it's a great series nonetheless!

[@danlc95]

Tomer Dichterman - And too big for me to use as crashes, and hats!

[@Massachamp08]

I have a 22 inch black Paiste ride cymbal from their color line and I cant agree more, it sounds great but theres too much wash to it

[@feelsbadman29]

Where can I purchase these locally?

[@sweetwater]

Hi sam lamb! When you get a chance, give us a call at [phone] or email us at [e-mail]. We're happy to help!

[@feelsbadman29]

SweetwaterSound thank you, will try

[@BoxUpMyBones]

Whoa! One of my favorite KZbinrs is a drummer AND a Paiste guy?! Rad!!

[@princeramirez2047]

Is Nick D'Virgilio a drummer or a vocalist? lol.

[@itsjoeredula7]

Both

[@oshikiri999]

Sounds like Sabians lower by budget B8 line 😅

[@togtoggler1991]

where are these made?

[@ArronP]

paiste the way its pronounced sounds like an Irish british person saying piss damn funny pais

[@ikon8275]

There is 4 diehard Zildjian fans

[@billbobaggins801]

Their loss.......they choose poorly!