Zildjian K Custom Special Dry Cymbals

94
GEAR REVIEW
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W
hen Zildjian released its
original K Custom Special
Dry range back in 2003,
despite some success with
the Special Dry ride in particular, the unique
style didn’t seem to catch on in a big way with
drummers. In more recent years, however,
Meinl has had considerable success with the
popularity of its Byzance Extra Dry series,
with drummers including Benny Greb and
Anika Nilles leading the movement. Now,
using the slogan ‘Dry Done Right’, Zildjian
has revealed its newly remastered and
expanded Special Dry range under the
K Custom umbrella.
Build
The Special Dry range is made up of a total
of 17 models, which can be broken down into
13", 14" and 15" hi-hats (with bottom and top
cymbals also available individually), 16", 18",
19", 20" and 22" crashes, 17", 18", 19" and 21"
Trash crashes, 21" and 23" rides, a 10" splash
and a 14" FX hi-hat top. We have been
provided with a modest assortment of
cymbals from that monster collection for the
purposes of this review, including the 13” and
14" hi-hats, along with the 14" FX hi-hat top,
17" Trash crash, 18" crash, 18" Trash china and
the 21" ride.
Each cymbal is cast from Zildjian’s secret
80/20 bronze alloy, hand-hammered and
then treated to a unique lathing process.
The top surface of each cymbal is left with
a natural ‘baked on’ fi nish except for small,
rustic lathing lines spaced less than a
centimetre apart, which run from the edge
to just short of the bell. These slightly wavy
lines not only assist the tonal characteristics
of the cymbals but also lend them a certain
quirky visual charm. Some appear so fi lthy
that they even have a green tinge to them in
places. Due to this unique fi nish, no two
cymbals will be quite the same; some are
very dark in appearance while others appear
slightly lighter.
From £155 Zildjian remasters its Special
Dry collection for the modern market
ZILDJIAN
K CUSTOM SPECIAL
DRY CYMBALS
WORDS: TOM BRADLEY
Unlike the ride, crash and hi-hats, the Trash
crash, Trash china and FX hi-hat top each
feature several circular cut-outs across the
bow, designed to sharpen the attack and dry
out the sound even further. The Trash crash
uses a mixture of large and small holes
running parallel to each other from bell to
edge; arranged in sets of three, four or fi ve.
The Trash china uses the same confi guration,
which leaves both cymbals with almost as
much air as actual metal. Noticeably more so,
in fact, than Zildjian’s similar A Custom or K
THE STICK DEFINITION IS IMPECCABLY
CLEAR WHILE THE CYMBAL STILL
MAINTAINS A DECENT LEVEL OF
WASH, DESPITE ITS OVERALL DRYNESS
FX TOP
The 14" hi-hat top
produces a fi ltered,
processed sound
EFX cymbals. Interestingly, the Trash china
is Zildjian’s fi rst Chinese-style cymbal with
holes in it.
Hands On
Starting with the hi-hats; there is not a great
deal between the 13" and 14" models except
for the obvious, pitch and length. Both have
a softness under stick and of course offer a
dry and articulate response. Digging right
into them is satisfying and they’re not
particularly loud or cutting so it feels like you
1
SABIAN BIG AND
UGLY CYMBALS
We say: “Don’t be
misled by the jokey
name and bizarre
fi nishes. Sabian has
produced a stunning
and intriguing set of
high-end, provocative,
challenging, complex,
dark and great-to-
play cymbals. ”
2
MEINL BYZANCE
TRANSITION RIDE
We say: “ It would be
diffi cult to pigeonhole
this cymbal into a
particular genre. It is
a cymbal with a split
personality, easily
transitioning from ride
to crash and back
again, making it
highly versatile. ”
| MAY 2017 WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM
RHY267.gear_zildjian.indd 94 23/03/2017 19:42