Zildjian Impulse(s)

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When they came out I don't think I was interested. I think they were supposed to be Z's answer to Rudes and I didn't have much need for either.
But I did like how they looked.

I recently acquired a 15" HH bottom...it looks like its a gear (to prevent choke).

A guy on Ebay is selling one, and though he lives close he won't do a local pick up...its an 18" crash. I saw a few youtube clips and i actually liked what I heard.

Anyone use them....got one now.

Thoughts?
 
I bought one when they came out. Pretty crummy cymbal, not at all as good as a Rude. Rudes have an edge to them, the Impulse just sounded muddy. Might be good for something, just not really comparable to a Rude in anything but appearance.
 
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The Pearl CX-600 and later CX-900s did a pretty good of being rude boys, but you can't top the originals.
 
Paiste RUDES are better made. Tim Alexander might still be using his 22” impulse ride so guess it suited him. I had 15” hi hats and thought they were ok but imho paiste rudes are the better deal.
 
I used a 20" Impulse ride for 2 years. Strong ping and great bell. Nice affordable workhorse. Worked great for funk/pop/rock.
Heard a guy playing one in a big room and thought for sure it was a Paiste. Picked one up that week and it sounded just as good.
 
I still have my 20" ride, my first cymbal purchase back in the 80s. Great for high volume music, loud ping and not much wash. I have a Rude 16" crash, I never tried the Impulse crashes.
 
toddlittle827 said:
The Pearl CX-600 and later CX-900s did a pretty good of being rude boys, but you can't top the originals.
Click to expand...

Not to derail the topic, but I'd like to find out more about these. I've picked up a few and as a poor man's Rude, they do alright. But I can't find out much info about 'em except: made by Pearl, MIJ, likely B8, from the 80s and some Japanese pro-players played 'em.
 
I had zildjian Amir crashes with my first real kit.
They were pretty decent I thought.
I wanted the impulse ride, China and hats
Then the original Z line came out! :headbang:
 
BrentonVintage said:
Bun E, do you believe that though? That'd be interesting. Cymbal wars!!!
Click to expand...
I recall I thought at the time....As a drum collector I had heard stories of WF Ludwig, once in a while, calling Bud Slingerland for a few sheets of wrap for a special order, even though they were rivals.
So it didn't seem unusual cymbal companies might try the opponents raw materials once in a while?
 
Rob G. said:
Not to derail the topic, but I'd like to find out more about these. I've picked up a few and as a poor man's Rude, they do alright. But I can't find out much info about 'em except: made by Pearl, MIJ, likely B8, from the 80s and some Japanese pro-players played 'em.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's really all there is to know. They were made by Pearl in Pearl's cymbal factory and made of B8 alloy. The 600 (1981/2ish to 86) and 900 (87-89) series were the good ones, those were Pearl top cymbals with the series pertaining to different parts of the decade. The CX-500 Wilds were the ones that were way more plentiful especially in the US but those were strictly intermediate level cymbals.

I have some old catalog scans and ads. I can post them if you'd like.
 
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I had a 20" back in the day - it served its purpose for the style of music I was into at that time - Heavy Metal, Thrash
 
toddlittle827 said:
Yes, that's really all there is to know. The were made by Pearl in Pearl's cymbal factory and made of B8 alloy. The 600 (1981/2ish to 86) and 900 (87-89) series were the good ones, those were Pearl top cymbals with the series pertaining to different parts of the decade. The CX-500 Wilds were the ones that were way more plentiful especially in the US but those were strictly intermediate level cymbals.

I have some old catalog scans and ads. I can post them if you'd like.
Click to expand...
Love to see them. Maybe it's the era I came up in, but the Rude/Wild/Impulse/etc. cymbals always have appeal for me.
 
Your first reaction will be "no way", but look it up...Buddy Rich used a 20" Impulse ride on occasion! He was using one when I saw him live, 1984 (I believe?) at Cedar Shoals High School, on a "night off" from the Sinatra tour, if memory serves me! (oh, and I own one as well; like others have said, very clear ping, and a KILLER bell sound!)
 
I've seen videos of some Japanese drummers using the CX-900 Wild ride in jazz settings and it works
 
Rob G. said:
Love to see them. Maybe it's the era I came up in, but the Rude/Wild/Impulse/etc. cymbals always have appeal for me.
Click to expand...
here's one sheet I found. I have more Pearl cymbals material somewhere but I am having trouble locating it among all my Paiste research. This is from the earlier part of the 80s when Pearl's top line was the CX-600. That line was replaced by the CX-900 in 1987.
 

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toddlittle827 said:
here's one sheet I found. I have more Pearl cymbals material somewhere but I am having trouble locating it among all my Paiste research. This is from the earlier part of the 80s when Pearl's top line was the CX-600. That line was replaced by the CX-900 in 1987.
Click to expand...
Here's a Pearl Wild CX-600 ad from 1984
 

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