The Coolest Cymbals You Can't Buy Anymore

[@ColeParamore]

CLARIFICATION - all of you have been kind enough to provide more background on these and, it seems, this is in no way the full set. As far as we've gathered, there were 13/14/15 hats, 16-18 crashes (possibly a 15 crash), 21 ride, and a few other sizes via the "rarities" collection.

[@moonodude17]

I actually have firsthand experience with the 1st Gen Special Drys! In high school Jazz Band, the band kit had 14" Hi-Hats, 16" and 18" Crashes, and the 21" Ride, and I was fortunate to play them all 4 years of high school. Zildjian also made a pair of 13"s, and I believe I remember seeing an ancient vid of Aaron Spears (RIP to the GOAT) doing a quick cymbal tour on his phone, and showing off a pair of 15" SD Hi-Hats, the only 1st Gen 15s I've seen to my knowledge.

[@ColeParamore]

Never knew they had the crashes! Come to think of it I was aware of 13s being out there, but forgot about Aaron's 15s. Great info!

[@WillCharlesRoss]

Great video. Really enjoyed it. I have a first edition 16" Special Dry Crash. Was lucky to get it from a sales person (who also played as a session drummer) at a music store for $81. From his personal collection. To my surprise he "had no use for it anymore".

[@ColeParamore]

That sounds like half of a really cool pair of hats to me.

[@Satanicdrummer]

The new ones remind me more of meinl byzance dry cymbals with the dark/trashy stick articulation and tones, the older ones have more of that bright zildjian stick articulation with less dark/trashy tones

[@owdrumssessions]

Have had a lot of experience with the newer gen special dry series and I’ve never not been disappointed unfortunately. Compared to other companies that have a “dry” range they are DRY. The rides especially being a let down as someone who’s into washier ride cymbals. These older ones sound fantastic though.

[@hamilstarr4292]

You should definitely contact Paul Francis at Cymbal craftsman. He definitely has first hand knowledge on how & why they are now different. He could also make some very accurate replicas of them too

[@ColeParamore]

That's a great idea!

[@t0nyloaf]

My high school had the same hats and I greatly miss them

[@DALTRON666]

I agree with you. I had original K dry customs back in the early 2000s and LOVED how heavy some were. Eventually sold them and moved on. Years later I went to get back into them and I was appalled to hear they re released the line but revamped it to compete with Meinl trash cymbals and make them super thin. I was devastated. I moved directly on to Paiste, due to how crazy consistent their cymbals are and how they DO NOT follow trends. Never been happy with any cymbals released in the past 12 years from the following; Meinl, Zildjian, Istanbul, Sabian (esspecially not them, new logo YUCK). Paiste has always been top! Amazing to record with too....

[@johnmckenna1776]

The old generation Special Dry is sought after because they are more versatile in my opinion. They have a nice clarity, but with a dark/dry edge to their line. The new generation is almost the opposite, what with its washy/trashy roar underneath the dry stick definition, the integrated/washy bell, and short decay after crashing them. They're both one of Zildjian's better lines of cymbals, so it's just a matter of personal preference. I do like the old generation better, as I like the clear bell that the old generation had, as well as the better stick definition. Just today I checked Reverb, and they had a SD old gen ride up for sale, so if you're patient you'll find one in time, just get a sound file first to see if the cymbal meets your expectations. Cheers!

[@alejandrocontreras3072]

Yes, 13” and 15” hats were made too. I had both for some years. Sounded really good. You can hear the 15s on Aaron Spear’s Dvd Beyond The Chops. He used them for a long time and it is the reason why I bought them

[@ColeParamore]

NEED those 15s! I forgot I was aware of the 13s but didn't know about Aaron's 15s.

[@djyeah-nah9781]

I've got a few of the 1st gen, 15 & 16" crashes, 14" hats, 19" crash-ride. They're excellent. I now have the 2nd gen 21" ride, 22" crash and 10" splash. You're spot on in your critique. Great video. That 19" crash-ride you and I have isnt technically 1st gen, it was part of the Rarities offering which was in 2011 only. I got mine through Tony at CymbalsOnly. The original crashes ran 14 through to 18, and then were discontinued (along with the hats) approx 2008, then did a special release in 2011 like they're now doing with the annual Custom Shop releases.

[@ColeParamore]

Great info!

[@KiddiAgnars]

taste is a funny thing. I never connected with the original versions but I loove the new versions. :=)

[@borispopovic2570]

Interesting! I do like the new ones more! But i agree Zildjian should offer both lines and in general way more lines like Meinl does. They're waiting so long to release new stuff. The new special drys could be a bit louder though, but i like the trashy character a lot. The old ones don't speak to me, but sure would be a great variety to choose from Zildjian.

[@vincenzoa2929]

I actually like both.

[@BaffleTube]

It’s so funny how much the older K’s sound like Byzance Meinl cymbals. Which explains why you like them so much. 😊

[@ColeParamore]

You know, I haven't gotten that impression but that's interesting to hear!

[@ArthurDent33]

Totally different but yet all unique

[@gillespittet8705]

I agree Man. The original style and sound was way better

[@jarrep05]

2011 zildjian rarities flyer offers 16" 17" 18" special dry crash and 19" special dry crash ride. You can find videos Paul Francis talking and playing them. Dennis Chambers used this special dry crash at this time

[@ColeParamore]

Great info!

[@KoiYokan]

saw aaron with old gen 15" special drys. i remember seeing an offering of 17s from the rarities thing though im only getting this info from a very old demo from memphis drum shop lol

[@KoiYokan]

i also really like the old versions. the only thing i think i really like from the newer special dry ones was the 23" ride but they discontinued lolol edit: maybe also the 15" hi hats too, but i wonder how the old gen 15s would be

[@SONORSQ2guy]

I love the original ones. The new ones are just horrible. I still have The original two 18 inch crashes and my 21 inch ride. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@demonicsweaters]

The old ones are worlds better for sure! Did you weigh them? The old ones sound heavier to me, which would make sense given how trashy the new ones are.

[@mattbennett9467]

I've been playing since the 80s and remember the fanfare when these came out. They never really took off in an era of smaller, brighter and heavier cymbals. For example, in the early 90s, the K thin brilliant crashes in 15" & 17" were standard. From memory the og Special Dries came in 13 & 14 hats, 15 - 18 crashes and a 21" ride. I don't remember the 19" crash ride being part of the original line up, but maybe my memory fails me. Interesting to know the ages of your cymbals. Zildjian includes the year the cymbal left the factory on the serial number of every cymbal since the mid 90s. Its the first 2 letters, e.g. 'JA' would be 2001.

[@ColeParamore]

Good info! I'll have to check.

[@matthewsherman9765]

I get the new generation isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but the 15” hi hats have barely left my stand on the 7 or so years I’ve had them.

[@That0T]

I like the old ones are more. I cant get over the duck-tape on the ride though, the sound has been tampered with...

[@ColeParamore]

*improved!

[@alsdrumhang]

Like you, I prefer the older generation cymbals. The new ones just sound like white noise... they might fit into some lo-fi or electronic genres, but they're nowhere near as versatile as the old style ones. These would fit nicely into my lineup.

[@tobiaswinter1358]

As if Zildjian cymbals from the same line and production run even sounded close to one another ;)

[@GZuraman]

Hi there Cole. 2 things here: I like those cymbals. How much would you be asking for them? And I like your snare sound. What are you playing? Thank you.

[@ColeParamore]

Thanks! The snare is a 5x14 birch my dad made. I'd be looking for just the same price I paid for the cymbals. I think it was $350 for the hats and $275 for the crash-ride.

[@af7119]

I want that snare tuning technique

[@ColeParamore]

In short - high! It's a 5x14 birch and the HD Dry head + dampening are really doing the work.

[@davidsutter1846]

Cole- What snare are you using? Sounds great!!!!

[@ColeParamore]

5x14 birch my dad made!

[@jc3drums916]

I prefer the newer set, even if they're less versatile. They have more complexity and I prefer the way they decay. The old ones sound a little one-dimensional to me. Maybe they come across better when heard live and up close.

[@christophervane8369]

The 1st generation also came with 16” and 18 crashes

[@ColeParamore]

Thanks!

[@markdombrowski6942]

I like the trashy! Gen2

[@tsbdgaming69s96]

It’s all fun and games until one of those cymbals break. Lol I have a history of breaking Zildjian cymbals… I’ve switched to everything but (minus the hats, those hats are older than I am, and I’m 20)

[@williammayer6829]

Angle your cymbals and play em, bashing be fun but if Ginger only needed one set for his whole life then I think it’s not the cymbals

[@tsbdgaming69s96]

@ oh I do angle them. I break the rides more than anything and my ride is angled the most. Honestly I think it’s cymbal durability, because I love the sound when you crash a ride. I’ve had a 22” Paiste 2002 ride for several years now and it hasn’t broken on me yet, not a single crack at all

[@DannyDrummer-q7f]

I'll take the new generation hats. Not a fan of either crash ride 19's. The older 21 ride is to die for.

[@PrinceAsmodeus]

Zildjian has been sub par for a good while

[@mattnieri1202]

The best cymbals that you can't buy anymore are the original Traditional series of Wuhan's western cymbals. They were made for only a few years, starting around maybe 1999 or so. What they've made the last 20 or more years totally suck. I have the 20" medium ride and was planning to buy the other size, which was either 21" or 22",when they had quit making them =(

[@wilkinsnl]

The newer ones suck. I have that ride as well.

[@ronaldjeurissen7335]

This goes for about any Z series. The older versions are better.

[@krusher74]

I prefer the old set, as you said the new ones are trashy and drier. But as as 70/80's Zildjian A player I think the old set sound a lot like my A's. Maybe they found that old set sound was not different enough to what they already make in other lines. Or did one of the Endorcees hone the new set sound to their personal taste? Were the old old ones Steve Gadd designed? (the Dialtune snare sound amazing)

[@ColeParamore]

I know a lot of those sets back in the day had artist input (Vinnie with the A Customs I believe) but I'm not sure about the Special Drys. Gadd would totally make sense though. Personally I feel like they sound different than anything else on the market right now or back then, but maybe that's just me. Snare is actually a 5x14 birch my dad made!

[@jc3drums916]

Steve Gadd cymbals were K Custom Session series...unless he designed more than one set.

[@luanurbec]

do you you think patina has anything to do with sound

[@ColeParamore]

Not much, typically.

[@Catinthehackmatrix]

Why do the older ones sound better, thicker? is it just me, but do the older ones have more hammering on the top, with less depth, and not spaced out like the new K, looking at the hi-hats...

[@ColeParamore]

Yep, totally different manufacturing process.

[@wilkinsnl]

How are you going to A/B these with a piece of gaffer tape on the ride? What the hell

[@tmappe]

Man the new ones sounds nasty. The new hi hats are ok but the other two really did not sound great. The older cymbals sound pretty awesome.

[@davidwolford473]

I love the old gen. The new ones are way too trashy sounding for me.

[@drummercarson896]

I'm a Sabian guy but I make an exception for the Zildjian Z Customs