I play Zildjian cymbals. Started with them in 5th grade. I had a New
Beat hi-hat and one 18 inch crash. That's it. Maybe because of those lean early years, I never became a big cymbal freak.
Have you ever heard another musician say something like this? "Hey drummer
- dude, you really need to add a bunch more splashes and 20 inch China cymbals back there." I'll tell you a good way
to get on a singer's bad side - get a 24 inch ride and play it with Vic Firth ThunderRock sticks.
Steve Gadd is a great example for any drummer - a couple of cymbals and
a hi-hat. Let's play.
I try to keep it reasonably basic yet hopefully cover a lot of sonic ground.
I never liked having cymbals that were only real useful for one style of music. The 20 inch K Ride I have, for instance, sounds
good to me for just about anything. Ok, but if you insist on a more piercing sound, I'll grab my old Rock Ride.
A lot of drummers play a lot of cymbals, a lot of the time. I
fight that urge - with only a moderate degree of success!
Cymbals, left to right (from behind the kit):
10" K Splash (brilliant)
13" A Custom top, Z Dynobeat bottom hi-hat
14" A Custom Fast Crash (or 16" A Custom Crash)
8" A Custom Splash
17" K Medium-thin Dark Crash
20" K Ride
14"A New Beat (or 15" Paiste Sound-Edge) mounted, no pedal
14" Sound Effects Oriental China Trash
Also available: '60s vintage Zildjian 20" A. cymbal, 21" A Rock
Ride, and WuHaun 20" China - immediate hearing loss guaranteed.
