Quality & Price

Paiste Innovation pro cymbal

 

Sabian Hand Hammered pro cymbal

 The quality and price of a cymbal is determined by the metal the cymbal is made from and the processes used to form and shape the metal.

Very inexpensive cymbals are made from brass or nickel silver and are either machine stamped or spun into shape. They may not be as durable and are duller sounding than more expensive cymbals. The no-name cymbals included with many low-priced drum kits fall into this category. If you are a beginner who needs very affordable cymbals to "serve the purpose" until you can purchase higher-quality cymbals, try these brands: Headliner, Solar series by Sabian, 302 & 402 series by Paiste. All three series include starter box sets and are superior in sound to the no-name cymbals.

Entry-level cymbals are made of B8 Bronze. These are usually stamped into shape by machines. Machine processes can also add additional hammering (dimples, or indentations) or lathing (tonal grooves around the cymbal). Hammering and lathing enhance the sound, response and projection of a cymbal. Entry-level cymbals are perfect for the beginner, student, casual player and semi-pro who needs an affordable cymbal. They are a good choice for the first-time buyer:

Low Entry Level Very good sound on a budget. Examples: Sabian B8, Zildjian ZBT, Paiste 502. All three series include starter box sets.
Mid Entry Level A "better" investment that won't need to be upgraded soon. Examples: Sabian B8 Pro, Paiste 802. Both series include starter box sets.
High entry Level Near pro-quality sound at almost half the price. Examples: Sabian Pro, Paiste Alpha.

Professional cymbals are made from B8 or B20 Bronze and sometimes proprietary cymbal alloys. Professional cymbals are typically cast into their basic shape and then hand worked into a more complex and refined instrument. Hand hammering personalizes the sound, making it a one-of-a-kind for players who appreciate a "voice" of their own. The more labor intensive the manufacturing of a cymbal is, the higher its cost. A professional cymbal that combines machine processes with hand work will have more complex overtones than one that is all machine made.