Paiste Masters Extra Thin 18" Bent/Wavy. Normal?

[Gunnellett]

I bought this cymbal from Guitar Center online. It is used and was labeled as "great" condition. There was only one slightly blurry picture which did not show the shape of the cymbal.

The cymbal I received does look great as far as sharp labels, no real scratches to speak of, no edge chips, etc.

However, it is the waviest cymbal I have ever seen that was not manufactured to be wavy.

I was pretty shocked when I opened the box. Just about as equally shocking was how thin and bendy the cymbal is when held from the edge. The cymbal can't support it's weight when held from one part of the cymbal edge. It starts to fold/flop down. Definitely the thinnest cymbal I've had my hands on. I was looking for thin so I'm ok with that. I weighed the cymbal but didn't write the weight down. I think it was 1148 grams which seemed in line with others I saw online.

I am wondering if this wavyness with this cymbal is inherent to the Paiste Masters Extra Thin line or if this is an outlier. It almost looks like someone bent it purposefully or else beat the heck out of it causingit to deform.

I have never played an Extra Thin before so I'm not sure if the sound has been affected much by the waves or not. To me it hits quickly and gets out of the way quickly with a definite low ceiling with the volume. It has a little trash to it that I'm wondering if it is due to the bends or if that is normal for this cymbal line. It is almost like a large splash.

I got a hold of Guitar Center and can return it. Part of me wants to return it because I'm not impressed the condition was not disclosed with the ad. Part of me thinks it is a little bit of a unique sound that I've actually been kind of looking for. A large splashy trashy crash that isn't too much of either.

The cost was $240 plus shipping and tax so the total was about $280. I tried to see if they would reimburse a little on the price to which I would then just keep it.

Anyway, have others seen this with the Paiste Masters Extra Thins?

 

[michaelg]

I'd return that, it's been badly abused

 

[KillinBill66]

I'd return that, it's been badly abused

+1

Shocking they'd call this great condition

 

[type85]

This is VERY WRONG!
Get your money back!

 

[TPC]

I have an 18” Dark Energy crash that has a bunch of metal removed due to major cracking. On paper, it’s probably worth about $50. But it’s now my favorite crash; it sounds spectacular - quick, trashy, perfect. I definitely wouldn’t sell it for the going rate of an undamaged version.

My point is that if your 18” Masters Extra Thin has the SOUND you love, keep it and play it. If you’d prefer the sound of an “undamaged” one, return it.

 

[Gcort49]

Return it...
My GC Horror story...they had a Paiste Traditional flat for sale I had my eye on for $310/excellent condition..but the picture was of a Paiste 505 20" ride, worth about $150...called store to verify it was actual flat..they confirmed it was. So, grabbed it.
When it arrived, guess what it was??
Returned that sucker and never bought online from GC again

 

[MrDrums2112]

That is just ridiculous. The Masters line is a Paiste flagship. That cymbal has certainly been damaged. Amazing how some people just do not take care of their instruments. I have played drums for over 45 years and I feel horrible if I even break a stick! Smdh

 

[Tama CW]

Regardless of how it got that way, it's worth about 1/3 to 1/2 of a normal one. No doubt it must be pretty "unique" in sound with that shape and weight.
The warping would make it faster, darker, and trashier than normal.....and probably significantly so.....in essence a "China like splash/crash"
If it still sounds pretty good to you then I'd figure it's worth about half the price of new. You should definitely get some money back on that on OR just return it at their expense.

I've seen some significantly warped Zildjians from the 30's to 50's. But yours is the most warped cymbal I've ever seen....and it's a very modern one to boot.
Sound-wise it could be a Holy Grail cymbal to a touring or recording drummer who would love that sound.

 

[Gunnellett]

Regardless of how it got that way, it's worth about 1/3 to 1/2 of a normal one. No doubt it must be pretty "unique" in sound with that shape and weight.
The warping would make it faster, darker, and trashier than normal.....and probably significantly so.....in essence a "China like splash/crash"
If it still sounds pretty good to you then I'd figure it's worth about half the price of new. You should definitely get some money back on that on OR just return it at their expense.

I've seen some significantly warped Zildjians from the 30's to 50's. But yours is the most warped cymbal I've ever seen....and it's a very modern one to boot.
Sound-wise it could be a Holy Grail cymbal to a touring or recording drummer who would love that sound.

You have hit all of the points.

I'm actually digging the sound of it. Like a really good mix of a larger trashy, splashy, crash (which I've been looking for but just haven't found - maybe this is the one found by mistake). I haven't been able to sit down with it to see how it fits in with my other Masters cymbals which consist of a 20" Thin, 22" Dark Crash/Ride, and the 22" Swish. Hopefully in the next day or 2.

The rub for me is Guitar Center will not discount it for the condition. They wanted me to eat the shipping costs to send it back of which a politely told them there was no way I should be paying the shipping back.

I'll play it with my Masters set and report back. I may end up keeping it if the sound is right and just move on even though I'd be a little "bent" over it as I could regret sending it back. If it doesn't work it will definitely be going back.

 

[DavedrumsTX]

I bought this cymbal from Guitar Center online. It is used and was labeled as "great" condition. There was only one slightly blurry picture which did not show the shape of the cymbal.

The cymbal I received does look great as far as sharp labels, no real scratches to speak of, no edge chips, etc.

However, it is the waviest cymbal I have ever seen that was not manufactured to be wavy.

I was pretty shocked when I opened the box. Just about as equally shocking was how thin and bendy the cymbal is when held from the edge. The cymbal can't support it's weight when held from one part of the cymbal edge. It starts to fold/flop down. Definitely the thinnest cymbal I've had my hands on. I was looking for thin so I'm ok with that. I weighed the cymbal but didn't write the weight down. I think it was 1148 grams which seemed in line with others I saw online.

I am wondering if this wavyness with this cymbal is inherent to the Paiste Masters Extra Thin line or if this is an outlier. It almost looks like someone bent it purposefully or else beat the heck out of it causingit to deform.

I have never played an Extra Thin before so I'm not sure if the sound has been affected much by the waves or not. To me it hits quickly and gets out of the way quickly with a definite low ceiling with the volume. It has a little trash to it that I'm wondering if it is due to the bends or if that is normal for this cymbal line. It is almost like a large splash.

I got a hold of Guitar Center and can return it. Part of me wants to return it because I'm not impressed the condition was not disclosed with the ad. Part of me thinks it is a little bit of a unique sound that I've actually been kind of looking for. A large splashy trashy crash that isn't too much of either.

The cost was $240 plus shipping and tax so the total was about $280. I tried to see if they would reimburse a little on the price to which I would then just keep it.

Anyway, have others seen this with the Paiste Masters Extra Thins?

Return it!!!! This is not normal. Someone abused that cymbal. I own a large collection of Paistes including Masters and this is damaged

 

[ppfd]

Looks like the very first cymbal my folks bought me.
Some cheap Chinese thing, I was 12 maybe, hour later and it looked like that.

 

[Fess]

I bought a Black Swamp titanium snare from GC online. What arrived was clearly not titanium. I even called Black Swamp to confirm it was steel. I returned it to the local GC store and explained they made a mistake. They agreed and returned my money.
I week later it was back on their website as a titanium snare

 

[Fess]

I have an 18” Dark Energy crash that has a bunch of metal removed due to major cracking. On paper, it’s probably worth about $50. But it’s now my favorite crash; it sounds spectacular - quick, trashy, perfect. I definitely wouldn’t sell it for the going rate of an undamaged version.

My point is that if your 18” Masters Extra Thin has the SOUND you love, keep it and play it. If you’d prefer the sound of an “undamaged” one, return it.

I have a 19 DE crash with 3 small cracks working their way in from the edge. I love that cymbal. Debating whether to drill or not. The cracks are growing very slowly; less than 1/4 “ in the last year

 

[nuthinmuffin]

well, I have a Paiste extra thin cymbal that I use for theater shows and it does have a slight wave in it from being so thin...Paiste's tend to be like that because of the softer Signature alloy that they use. however, your cymbal appears to have been played to death by a heavy handed player.
send it back...

 

[TPC]

I have a 19 DE crash with 3 small cracks working their way in from the edge. I love that cymbal. Debating whether to drill or not. The cracks are growing very slowly; less than 1/4 “ in the last year

I'd Dremel it/them out. Mine had a 3/4" perpendicular edge crack that I smoothly notched out and it sounds better than ever. Almost no chance of it spreading. It's a spectacularly versatile cymbal. Glad to hear someone else loves theirs.

 

[jtpaistegeist]

That's really bad. I might pay $14, not sure. I have owned these before, they are very soft and dent if you breathe on them. I have a Byzance extra thin 18" jazz crash that weighs less than 1200g and it not only sounds better, but stands up to normal playing.

 

[foxy_shazamtastic]

I actually love cymbals that are played in in this way and would pay to have a pre-played in cymbal like this, but morally this is obviously wrong on guitar center’s part. I say keep the cymbal and demand a partial refund.