Paiste PST5 Cymbal Series

100
| OCTOBER 2014 WWW.RHYTHMMAGAZINE.CO.UK
GEAR REVIEW
Unfortunately, I found the 18" Ride-Crash
slightly less successful – not the most
agreeable of rides and as a crash short-lived
and stubby. In fact, I preferred riding on the
18" Rock crash. It was also better than the
Medium 18" crash at crashing, as the extra
weight for once boosted the tone and
certainly the sustain. Likewise the 16" pair.
So the Rock crashes are probably the better
bets unless you want a particularly dry and
abrupt sound. With respect to tone though,
the Mediums are the equal of the Rock
crashes – slightly softer, where the Rock
crashes will fi ll out your accents more. A
P
aiste’s Sound Technology (PST)
lines have been around since
2005, starting with the brass
PST3 and bronze PST5 series,
which replaced the 502, 402 and 302 lines.
The PST5s have recently been updated and
are Paiste’s entry-level bronze cymbals. Not
just any old bronze though, but Paiste’s
famous CuSn8, 2002 B8 bronze. I had a bash
on the PST7s in August, so let’s see how the
PST5s compare.
Build
For many these will be your fi rst proper
bronze cymbals and they certainly look
the business with their bright and bold,
orange-gold appearance. There are broad
ridged lathing lines on top and smoothed
lathing underneath. Made in Paiste’s German
factory, the company says they have been
slimmed down, but they still have the
stiffness inevitable with budget, minimally-
worked cymbals. They are available singly or
in bargain boxed sets.
Hands On
Generally speaking you want clarity in your
crashes and more harmonic complexity in
your rides. This latter quality often leads to
eye watering overtone clashes, particularly
in budget rides where a lack of extensive
hammering and working means they are left
with some fruity harmonics. Thus, as is often
the case with Paiste (to my ears anyway), the
crashes are superlative, while the rides can’t
quite live with them. Here the crashes sound
refi ned if a little short on sustain. But the
rides suffer from the curse of budget
cymbals that have not been worked enough
to smooth out the unwanted overtones.
So, there’s a tinginess with the 20" Rock
Ride – a thin contact and hard, high pitched
ping. This is relative though – we are talking
about a budget cymbal and it is aggressive,
which will suit more energetic, rockier styles.
And the bell is impressive, loud and clean.
The Medium 20" ride is more pleasant with a
deeper ride tone, a little more adaptable and
subtle. Both rides have good stick
articulation and distinct bells.
From £39 to £125 Paiste’s popular budget B8 PST5 Series gets a
welcome revamp with lighter weights and improved sounds
PAISTE PST5
CYMBALS SERIES
WORDS: GEOFF NICHOLLS
Also try…
1
MEINL MB8
We say: “Meinl has
clearly set out to create
a set of contemporary
sounding cymbals to sit
happily within touching
distance of its pro
ranges.”
2
SABIAN B8 PRO
We say: “B8 Pros are
aimed at drummers
ready to move up to
their fi rst serious set of
cymbals, and their
brilliant fi nish and
intensive hammering
certainly makes them
look like ‘proper’
cymbals.”
PST5
Cymbals are Paiste’s
entry-level metals, made
from CUSn8, 2002
B8 bronze
worked cymbals. They are available singly or
1
2
RHY234.gear_paiste.indd 100 8/29/14 4:27 PM