Paiste Alpha

[kourso]

I just got a 10" Paiste Alpha thin splash for Father's Day. Anybody know much about it? I think it may be a cast cymbal but I am not sure. I tried other brands and this one seems to be a decent sounding cymbal. The Paiste 12" Prototype splash sounded real nice and the Paiste Signature splash too.
Please let me know what you know about the Alpha thin splash and if you own one.
Thanks

 

[troymiller]

Decent sounding indeed. Alpha is as close as you'll get to 2oo2 without being 2oo2 (the same B8) - very comparable sounding, and they cost less. If I didn't already own/play 2oo2's, I'd play Alphas. (and fwiw, I've got a complement of Alphas, including a 10" splash, on one of my kits - very, very nice.)

 

[kourso]

Thanks Troy for your opinion and knowledge of the 10" Paiste Alpha thin splash. So the Alphas are very close to the 2002s that I heard alot about online. I think it has a fairly good sound and mixs well with my A & K Custom ride and crash cymbals. Good to know that you have one exactly like it, so you know what I've got here.
I appreciate your thoughts on this splash.
Kenny

 

[the_dude]

Thanks Troy for your opinion and knowledge of the 10" Paiste Alpha thin splash. So the Alphas are very close to the 2002s that I heard alot about online. I think it has a fairly good sound and mixs well with my A & K Custom ride and crash cymbals. Good to know that you have one exactly like it, so you know what I've got here.
I appreciate your thoughts on this splash.
Kenny

My 10" Alpha Thin Splash is a nice contrast to my 10" Twenty Splash.
There are some real gems in the Alpha line.

People need to stop paying attention to what is and isn't "pro" level gear and pay attention to the sonic properties of cymbals, etc... and go with what works for their personal taste and the music they play.
(The second paragraph is not directed at you by the way).

 

[Chunchunchun]

I was just gonna say what the_dude said. I'd only be looking for this sort of information BEFORE I buy (online, so I don't get to hear it in person). I do this a lot (as in gather as much info as I can - I don't really have good local music shops to go and try stuff out at). However, you already have this splash. What's important is how it sounds to YOU! Forget the labels, forget other opinions - if you've got a cymbal that sounds great on your kit, then you've got a great cymbal, end of story

 

[kourso]

I was in a hurry to buy a splash otherwise I do research on what I am buying, like my Mapex Meridian Birch drumset and Custom cymbals that I bought recently. It does help to check BEFORE you buy but sometimes you don't have the time to do that. I CAN RETURN the splash if I decide within 30 days I don't want it, so it was like a trial with the Alpha splash. I am playing it and I will make a final decision later.
I just wanted to know if this splash was junk or known to be a good splash.
Next time I buy something, cowbell,tambourine,etc...., I will ask BEFORE I BUY.
Thanks,

 

[Marc M]

If you are looking for a bright clean splash,for quality of sound and expense the Alpha is pretty hard to beat.

 

[kourso]

Thanks guys for all of your thoughts and opinions on the splash. It gives me some insight on this cymbal. As Marc M just said it does have a bright clean sound, you might want to try/buy one yourself.
I appreciate your help, this drum forum is great because of all of you that are members.

 

[slinginit]

Did you get a good price on the splash? You mentioned an urgency for a splash but I suspect your purchase was coupled with urgency and a good deal. Anyway, congrats on your new cymbal! I'd agree with the dude about the Alpha line. There are some real gems in it and Paiste has gradually raised the bar with the Alphas for what "working professional" or "intermediate" cymbals can be. IMHO, they're professional level and have been for at least a decade. They do not have as much workmanship or hammering as the 2002s and above, and the current generation of redesigned Alphas are exclusively brilliant finish with marketing tending toward rock & hard rock bands. But marketing aside, they're still dynamic instruments.

I recall about 10 years ago I tried out some Alpha 13" med hats and 14" sound-edge hats and was blown away by both pairs. They had great bite, strong upper-mid body when open (and highs when played hard), and the closed sound was supremely articulate. A nearby drummer friend (who plays Zildjian almost exclusively) shook his head and commented that good B8 hi-hats rule. I don't know if Paiste has thickened them up now vs. 10 years ago, but some of the previous generation Alphas had lathing that sorta resembled the Signatures. It was almost like the cymbal was a 1/2-done Sig (Signatures are actually hammered and lathed twice).

 

[kourso]

Hey Sling,
I got the Alpha 10" thin splash for $56 w/tax. So it seems to be a $75 cymbal otherwise. I think it was a good deal at GC with 15% off. Not only the price but the sound was pretty nice compared to aquazarian and sabian cymbals that I tried. The only two that sounded better to me were the Paiste Sig and Prototype but they were about double the price after the discounting.
Thanks for the great info. on Paiste Alphas and their quality level, intermediate, pro, etc... That is good to know the real deal on what you are buying or own. Good to see people like you really are into the fine details and history of items of interest.