I‘m interested what cymbal brands some of you are playing and what models you own, or what you favorite cymbal is. I‘m a Paiste guy since a few years, but played Meinl and Sabian before.
My all time favorite ride is the 22“ Signature Dry Dark Ride. It took me some time to find one, but it was worth it.
That's a ride I'd love to own.
When I got back into playing coming up on six years ago now, I ordered a mix and match set of what we'd call 'dark' cymbals, lured by the sounds of them on YT videos. They were the first cymbals I'd ever bought myself, so my buying knowledge wasn't what it should be. No one told me basically that such cymbals might as well be inaudible in more 'present' music and I quickly learned they need mechanical sympathy in your playing so as not to turn them into tacos or a pile of splinters. So I started buying other bits...
Now I'd say I have sets for the different genres of music I like to play.
Full set of Meinl Foundry Reserve
Mixed set of Meinl series darker stuff
Almost full set of Paiste 602/602ME (couple more to add)
Started on a set of more straight-down-the-line Turkish stuff - this is likely to end up being largely Todd Sucherman Sabians
Started on a set of Paiste 2002s for the obnoxiously loud music.
I then have my father's original set of Istanbul pre-split cymbals and select extras to fit specific sounds I wanted. An Istanbul 30th, a BW ride, a few Zildjians and select few extra Paiste bits (Twenty Dark Crisp, Copeland Blue Bell etc)
So a lot of variety basically - but the logic is a set of dark, silly dark, straight up Turkish, sparkly Paiste and angry Paiste. Plus odds and sods.
About the only thing I haven't gone for is a set of Zildjians - I have never heard one of their regular lines which don't also have that extra 'doooong' overtone to them like you're hitting a pan lid. I hate that sound. A few independent cymbalsmiths have said that sound is a sign the cymbals are underworked - maybe true, but also they're not impartial. I just don't like it. I have one K Con crash and everything else Zildjian I have is one of their more niche products.
Well that‘s a lot of cymbals haha. But I like the approach.
I‘m looking to get some Istanbul Agop Xist Dry Dark Stuff to have a contrast to my Paiste Stuff. Right now I‘m mostly playing the Rude Series (I wanted those since I saw
Dave Lombardo and Joey Jordison as a child), but only the Thin Crashes in 17“, 18“, 19“ and 20“. I also got 15“ Rude Sound Edge Hats and 15“ regular Rude Hats, both custom made, which I love about Paiste. To complete the set I got a 8“, 10“, 12“ Splash, 18“ Novo China and a 8,5“ Rude Cup Chime.
My other to crashes are the 18“ and 19“ Signature Fast Crash. The matching Dark Crisp hats have been sold a few months ago.
My current ride collection consits of:
22“ Signature Dry Prototype
22“ Sound Creation Bell (1st gen)
22“ Rude Power
22“ Twenty Custom Metal
22“ Signature Dry Dark
22“ Signature Dark Metal
21“ Signature Dark Dry (new Signature)
But I‘m always buying and selling stuff.
Another rare cymbal I love and am lucky to have is a 12“ Signature Flanger Bell.
I‘m sure I forgot some cymbals, but that should be the majority haha.
For the Istanbul Agops I would love to have the 15“ Xist Dry Dark Hats, Crashes from 19“ to 22“ and the 22“ Ride. That would be a sick, trashy and dark setup.