What is your Main cymbal setup for gigs

[Ptrick]

I’ve switched predominately to Paiste Masters, and only wish I’d done it sooner. (Funk/blues/rock band).

15” Masters Dark hats (modified by Timothy Roberts at MOD cymbals-bottom lathed thinner)
18” or 19” Masters dark crash
22” modern essentials 602 ride or 22” Masters Prototype ride
20” prototype masters crash (I have two, approx 100 grams apart depending on volume of gig)
22” Modern essentials China

For jazz, man, I don’t think I’ve EVER had a go to setup. I pick and choose between a ton of cymbals based on need. Some current favorites:

15” old k top over 15” Agop OM top (used as a bottom)
20” Timothy Roberts signature patina ride, or 20” modified Paiste masters dark crash/ride
22” Zildjian Renaissance (have 3 different weights to choose from)
23” Bosphorus 25th anniversary prototype
23” Agop Matt Chamberlain (original, fully lathed, high profile model [have 4 to choose from]
22” Agop trash hit
20 Bosphorus trash crash (25th anniversary prototype patina)

 

[TPC]

For jazz, man, I don’t think I’ve EVER had a go to setup. I pick and choose …

That’s half the fun, right?

I’ve been using my Paistes for jazz, too. Recording sessions. Masters and DE’s mostly. I love my old K’s, A’s, boutique stuff, etc., but the P’s just seem to have all that and one other level.

 

[curly]

Not gigging right now, but if I were for a hypothetical gig I'd most likely use the following. For specific situations I might swap in/out a bunch of different cymbals depending on context and volume, but these three do pretty much anything I need.

24 60s A that is mediumish with rivets
20 Lauritsen Rusitco
14 Sabian HH Manhattan Groove hats (original design of these).

 

[Christopher]

Hats, ride, two crashes, a splash, and a china are my standard config. Can cover just about any type of music with those.

14" Zildjian A Custom top with a 14" Zildjian Z bottom
20" Zildjian K Ride
17" Zildjian A Custom Crash
19" Zildjian A Custom Crash
10" SaBian HHX Evolution Splash
18" Sabian B8X China

(there's an extra crash in the pic below. A 18" Zildjian A Custom Crash)

 

[lossforgain]

@NobleCooleyNut
If I read into your question, "what would be your setup be if someone you have never played with have you a call to sub ?" I would answer with a setup that would be a good middle of the road for a lot of different genres. Probably some old As. Right now I have those in 14 or 15 hats, a couple of 20" crash/rides, and an 18" crash that I could use.

But my go-to stuff for enjoyment is a mix of Ks and Bosphorus.
14" Stanton Moore Fat Hats
19" Traditional crash
19" K Dark Thin crash ride
22" K Dark Thin SLP ride

 

[Steech]

Hats, ride, two crashes, a splash, and a china are my standard config. Can cover just about any type of music with those.

14" Zildjian A Custom top with a 14" Zildjian Z bottom
20" Zildjian K Ride
17" Zildjian A Custom Crash
19" Zildjian A Custom Crash
10" SaBian HHX Evolution Splash
18" Sabian B8X China

(there's an extra crash in the pic below. A 18" Zildjian A Custom Crash)

View attachment 538909

How do you get to that China that’s mounted 12” above your floor toms?

 

[dcrigger]

20" Zildjian A Ride (1968)
16" A Custom crash
17" K Dark Crash
20" Zildjian Swish (70's)
14" New Beat Hats (70's)

 

[philmets]

I'm digging the Meinl Byzance Traditionals right now, heavier than I'm used to but very inspiring to play...

14" Medium Hats
20" Extra Thin Hammered Crash
10" Splash
22" Medium Ride
18" China

 

[k_50]

I don't play a lot of gigs, and whenever I have one I try to pick out the best setup for the context. But I could cover a lot of ground with this one (it got me through 2x60 minutes of Disney covers):
16" Trans Stamp A hats (light top, heavy bottom with 4 rivets)
18" Hollow Block Stamp A crash/ride
21" Ufip Natural Series crash/ride
17" A Custom crash

 

[JDA]

Bosphorus set#1
14" Dark Trad. hi hats (910/1110)
19" Turk Paper Thin (1610g)
20" Trad. Thin Ride (1943g)
20" Trad. Swish (1620g)

B set#2
same 14" Trad. Dark hihats
19" Antique Thin Ride (1630g)
22" Jeff Hamilton Hammer Ride(2520g)
same 20" Trad. Swish.

set#3
Old K 14s
Old K 18
Old K 20

set#4
Old K 14s
Old K 16
AK 22" DM

set#5
22" old K
18" old A
Old A 14s

set#6
22A
18A
14A

set#7
20 old A
20 old A
14 A or 16 A
20 A swish

extras
20 A Flat
20 A Custom Flat
20 Bos Trad Flat
16 Antique mt crash
8" and 10" Istanbul splashes

all depends of who how and when
better the band better the cymbals
rougher the band rougher the cymbals

 

[Steech]

Bosphorus set#1
14" Dark Trad. hi hats (910/1110)
19" Turk Paper Thin (1610g)
20" Trad. Thin Ride (1943g)
20" Trad. Swish (1620g)

B set#2
same 14" Trad. Dark hihats
19" Antique Thin Ride (1630g)
22" Jeff Hamilton Hammer Ride(2520g)
same 20" Trad. Swish.

set#3
Old K 14s
Old K 18
Old K 20

set#4
Old K 14s
Old K 16
AK 22" DM

set#5
22" old K
18" old A
Old A 14s

set#6
22A
18A
14A

set#7
20 old A
20 old A
14 A or 16 A
20 A swish

extras
20 A Flat
20 A Custom Flat
20 Bos Trad Flat
16 Antique mt crash
8" and 10" Istanbul splashes

all depends of who how and when
better the band better the cymbals
rougher the band rougher the cymbals

Woah. That’s a lotta pies.

 

[Christopher]

How do you get to that China that’s mounted 12” above your floor toms?

It’s about shoulder height or so.

 

[stevil]

15" New Beats
18" K Cluster
20" A Custom EFX or 21" K Sweet Ride
24" A Medium Ride
Since the pandemic started I added a 22" China Boy Low with a 12" Spiral Stacker, but frankly, it probably won't come with me once I start playing gigs again because I hardly use it enough to justify the bother of carrying it. My rig often bloats when I go a long time without playing live.

 

[bbshams]

I change it up, but it’s primarily new Ks, old As, old Ks and combinations of those.

Jazz setup, Vintage 24 A. Spizz 22. Old A 15s or 16s. Zildjian K con light.

My church gigs, it varies…
22 K Con Renn, 20 K Con MTL. Crash hats. Other rides I use are K Light, K Dark Med, K Heavy.

Sometimes a swish or china in there, or another crash. Mostly K family crashes, but also a 16” CIE.

Judging by your jazz set up, i’d say you’re a fellow Brian Blade fanatic? haha!

 

[AtlantaDrumGuy]

Judging by your jazz set up, i’d say you’re a fellow Brian Blade fanatic? haha!

For sure. I’ve always enjoyed his sounds. The good news is that despite being kinda similar, it still sounds like me! (Since I’m the one making the strokes). My wife and I have met him a few times as well, and such a nice guy.

 

[melatony]

15" 30th
20" Paiste masters dark crash/ride
22" Zildjian K prototype (profile/shape similar to complex dry but without underneath lathing, sound wider)

Not gigging.

 

[BennyK]

Paiste

15" Giant Beat hats
20" 602 pre serial med.ride
18" Giant Beat
17" 2002 thin

 

[michaelg]

2 set ups

For general gigs
Paiste 15" ME hats or 14" Zildjian 70's new beats.
Paiste 20" ME ride or Paiste 20" trad medium ride
Zildjian older 18" thin Fast crash

For jazzy lower volume gigs
Johan VDS 14" Hats
Bosphorus 20" turk ride
Paiste 18" masters dark crash.

 

[MacDaddy]

Lately, most live situations have been the same setup from Paiste:

15" Formula 602 Modern Essentials Hats
18" Dark Energy Crash
22" Formula 602 Modern Essentials Ride (or 22" Twenty Ride for more definition)
19" Dark Energy Crash

plus: 20" Traditionals Medium Ride for a crash, if the stage allows and an 18" Sound Formula Reflector Thin China for stacking or swapping.

For recording anything goes!

 

[fitzsy]

Very simple. Mostly Bosphorus.
14” hats (have a few 14s I can swap around)
18” crash (have a thin and med thin)
20” ride (have 4 in various weights, plus one two from other brands)
One of the other 18” or 20” used as far right cymbal.