Level42
Active Member
I have a small bucket list of obscure cymbals that I’ve been after for years and today I got to check one off. I’ve loved my Paiste Signature Crystal square-bell crashes for years and I’ve always wanted to find a set of the Crystal hats. I just missed a set on Hazelshould a few years back and have not seen a pair in the wild since. Thanks to forum member @RVC turning me on to a pair for sale at the wonderful Bentley’s Drum Shop, it’s new hat day here at the studio!
Quick first impressions: they are similar to the Signature Dark Crisp in that the bottom is very high pitched, thick, and pingy and the top is much thinner and darker. The Crystals overall are a bit higher pitched, splashier, and drier than the Dark Crisp. They are very sensitive to the touch, and have that pronounced Paiste B15 top-end shimmer. A really nice addition to my roster of Paiste hats (which includes 14” Dark Crisp, 14” 602 Sound Edge, 15” Giant Beat, and 15” Big Beat). They really put me in a 70s mood, and I just finished a play-along with a Sanford-Townsend Band record. Can’t wait to get these on a gig!
Shake it to the right!
Quick first impressions: they are similar to the Signature Dark Crisp in that the bottom is very high pitched, thick, and pingy and the top is much thinner and darker. The Crystals overall are a bit higher pitched, splashier, and drier than the Dark Crisp. They are very sensitive to the touch, and have that pronounced Paiste B15 top-end shimmer. A really nice addition to my roster of Paiste hats (which includes 14” Dark Crisp, 14” 602 Sound Edge, 15” Giant Beat, and 15” Big Beat). They really put me in a 70s mood, and I just finished a play-along with a Sanford-Townsend Band record. Can’t wait to get these on a gig!
Shake it to the right!
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