Name your one and only cymbal setup

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Jazzhead

Jazzhead

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Here is the catch:
You are asked to choose only one cymbal setup to play for the rest of your life in any situation (small indoor gig, outdoor, studio, etc.) for any type of song.

The cymbal setup can have the pieces below in your desired sizes and weight.
-1 pair of hats
-2 rides
-2 crashes
You can substitute the crash for a ride and vice versa but keep the total quantity the same.

Name the size and cymbal model of your setup, alternatively you can just mention the characteristics of the cymbals you will choose instead of saying the exact model name etc.
 
I could do with two "top cymbals" of different pitch that are both crashable and rideable. Not sure the setup could cover all kinds of gigs, different playing volume being the biggest issue. I would just say I don't hit hard.
From my arsenal:
20" 60s A crash ride, a wide range of tones.
18" K Custom Dark crash (thin), still rideable when played softly.
14" K Custom Hybrid Limited hi-hats, plus a lighter 60s NB pair as extra, and to mix and match, for lower volume.
Extras:
15" Amedia thin crash
22" Agop TW (heavy)
 
IF I had to narrow it down, today it would be:

15" Paiste 602 medium top/15" 602 heavy bottom hats
18" Modern Essentials crash
20" Modern Essentials crash
22" 2002 ride

Other days, the crashes might vary, but I'm pretty sure the hats and ride would stay the same.
 
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After years of going through loadsa pies I finally have ended up with "my one and only cymbal setup" - - - honestly - these are the only cymbals that I play now (have to figure out whether to offload all the others I have) ...

20" Ziljdian K Istanbul New Stamp 20" (1944g)
18" Zildjian K Istanbul Old Stamp 18" (1342g)
14" Zildjian K Istanbul Old Stamp 14" (942g / 1208g)
 
15" Zildjian A Avedis hats
18" Istanbul Mehmet Sultan crash
17" Zildjian K Custom Dark crash
21" Zildjian K Custom Special Dry (1st gen) w/ 3 Zildjian rivets
21" Istanbul Mehmet Legend
 
Every gig? Forever?

Probably my:
24” 60’s A (2505 g)
22” Trans A (2250 g)
18” Trans A (1350 g) or Nolan 24” swish
15” old A hats (60’s NB top over 50’s BAND)
 
Sorry, I play this:

062325 Cymbal Setup.jpeg


.. and I AIN'T narrowing it down.
 
14” SE 2002 hats
18” 2002 Black Label 2002 Medium
20” 2002 crash
22” 2002 ride

The 18” Medium is in the crash/ride neighborhood. Actually a pretty cool ride for lower volume situations. The 22” is a great all-around ride that can handle my needs (rock, pop, metal, etc).

The only thing I’d like to snag is a 24” GB. Some day.
 
Being a true “Cymbalholic”, I had to think about this for my entire 4.5 hour drive home from a gig. Also, I am basically a drummer for hire and cover a lot of different genres so only having one set to go from acoustic jazz for 30 people in a restaurant to an outdoor stage yacht rock gig…man that’s tough.

Here is where I am landing:


All Paiste:
14” Signature Dark Crisp hats - super versatile, not too loud but can still cut, not too bright, but bright enough.

17” Signature Mellow crash - on the thinner/splashier side and has a nice warmth to it while still sounding a bit “mainstream”.

20” Signature Traditionals Thin crash - complex enough to be a light jazz ride and a dark pop crash.

24” Giant Beat - one of the best rides Paiste makes. Great bell, beautiful spread, holds some definiton even at higher volumes.

22” Signature Rough Ride - nice woody stick and complex overtones when played lightly, good ping for a louder setting.

I wouldn’t tell anyone but I’d transfer ownership of my 22” Masters Swish to my wife so I could sneak it in when needed.
 
14" K Constantinople hihats (maybe a pair on the heavier side, for more versatility)
18" Kerope
22" K Constantinople Medium Thin Low
22" K Constantinople Bounce Ride (a heavier one, for louder gigs)
22" K Constantinople Renaissance Ride

I own a lot of cymbals, but this is pretty much what I use for all of my gigs these days. (I usually only play two cymbals and hihats on gigs, so it’s some combo of the four I listed here.)
 
13" Zildjian ZBT Hi Hats
16" Zildjian ZBT Crash
18" Zildjian ZBT Crash/Ride
I own these cymbals since 2016 but this is what I use for the rehearsal in living hall.(The Zildjian ZBT line of Cymbals has been discontinued in 2020)
 
supertonman2000 said:
13" Zildjian ZBT Hi Hats
16" Zildjian ZBT Crash
18" Zildjian ZBT Crash/Ride
I own these cymbals since 2016 but this is what I use for the rehearsal in living hall.(The Zildjian ZBT line of Cymbals has been discontinued in 2020)
Click to expand...
ZBT is entry level line for Zildjian.

Recently I was at a restaurant and there was a live band playing light music. Piano, bass, violin, cajon player with hihats and a ride, and a singer. I was sitting maybe 30ft away. Instruments were not mic’d. The hats and the ride sounded so clear and cutting, very nice and clean sound. Especially the hats!
So, I go to restroom and decide to pass by the stage and look over to see the cymbals. There they were, the 14” ZBT hats and 20” Sabian XS ride. The hats sounded SO good I couldn’t believe it.
 
I would pretty much just stick with my current set up, but with one addition.

My current set up:
14" Bosphorus Groove hats
18" Bosphorus 1600 crash (or thin traditional crash)
21" Bettis-modded Sabian ride

I would add:
19" mini-bell crash ride
 
Seb77 said:
I could do with two "top cymbals" of different pitch that are both crashable and rideable. Not sure the setup could cover all kinds of gigs, different playing volume being the biggest issue. I would just say I don't hit hard.
From my arsenal:
20" 60s A crash ride, a wide range of tones.
18" K Custom Dark crash (thin), still rideable when played softly.
14" K Custom Hybrid Limited hi-hats, plus a lighter 60s NB pair as extra, and to mix and match, for lower volume.
Extras:
15" Amedia thin crash
22" Agop TW (heavy)
Click to expand...
Forgive my ignorance, but what does "TW" (from Agop) stand for?
 
This...

Heartbeat
Studio hats: 15"
Studio crash: 20"
Custom Dry ride: 22"
Custom Dry crash: 20"

1753886646380.png
 
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