A Fast Splashes and Crashes

GEARREVIEWS
JANUARY 2006 RHYTHM 097
ESSENTIALS
PRICES
A Zildjian Fast
Splashes £106-£144
Crashes £192-£264
CONTACT
Yamaha-Kemble
Sherbourne Drive
Tilbrook
Milton Keynes
MK7 8BL
Telephone
01908 366700
Website
www.zildjian.com
From £106 | The classic A Zildjian sound is further enhanced by this
new collection. They’re so fast Geoff Nicholls has to run to keep up…
W
e all know that today’s
cymbals ultimately derive
from the Zildjian family who
started their business way back in 17th
century Armenia. The modern era of
the cymbal though starts in 1929
when Avedis Zildjian III began making
cymbals in the USA. This new American
branch of the Zildjian dynasty followed
the centuries old methods of cymbal
production, but the new Avedis Zildjian
cymbals evolved into something a
little more bright, full and loud. This
happened under the infl uence of the
great jazz drummers who became
household names during the ’30s
and ’40s. Zildjian’s literature proudly
features grainy pics of Jo Jones, Gene
Krupa, Buddy Rich, Max Roach and the
rest dropping by the Zildjian factory
to have their say and pick out the
best cymbals. Under this almost
Darwinian process of selection the
Avedis A cymbal evolved into the
prototype for modern music.
Right up until the end of the ’50s
if you wanted a proper cymbal your
only real choice was an American
Avedis or, if you could fi nd one, a
Turkish K (Kerope) Zildjian. We tend to
think of the old Ks as darker, moodier
and more variable, while the As are
brighter, more modern and reliable. The
As were perfect for the big swing bands
– they’re the sound of Buddy Rich – and
they were equally the business when
rock’n’roll started and drummers got
progressively heavier.
Which brings us to today’s offering.
Zildjian now make dozens of different
types of cymbal, but the A sound is still
the foundation. The A is an all-rounder
which can enhance any type of music
from punk to symphonic and it’s still
the biggest seller. Which doesn’t
mean As are bland, more that they
are harmonious, musical and
defi nitive. They are not likely to
shock or disappoint.
Fast crashes
There are fi ve new crashes covering
each inch from 14" to 18". The A Zildjian
range already includes a fair number of
thin crashes and splashes. Generally
speaking, the thinner a cymbal the
lower its pitch, but the speedier its
A Zildjian
Fast Splashes & Crashes
The new Fast crashes
are incisive and have plenty
of body and character.
RHY120.gear_zild 097RHY120.gear_zild 097 6/12/05 10:49:07 am6/12/05 10:49:07 am