Cmdr. Ross
Platinum Member
Been thinking about how most of us rarely go under 16" for crashes. Anyone here go less? I'm in the market for a 14" crash & wanted to pick some brains about how they sit in a mix and how youse all feel about them.
Smaller crash cymbals
- Thread starter Cmdr. Ross
- Start date
jda
Diamond Member
12" older no ink Avedis.
Right in the Top middle there;
It's been sitting on the shelf for maybe 17 years....Just this week thought it's time.. nice.lower pitch not loud but fast& quick. I knew I'd find a good use for it. Took a while. 12" old fashioned medium 60s A. Just perfect. Full of music. Like a cymbal you'd give to a kid not realizing it was a mistake to give away
Right in the Top middle there;
It's been sitting on the shelf for maybe 17 years....Just this week thought it's time.. nice.lower pitch not loud but fast& quick. I knew I'd find a good use for it. Took a while. 12" old fashioned medium 60s A. Just perfect. Full of music. Like a cymbal you'd give to a kid not realizing it was a mistake to give away
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Drummingdog
Active Member
Theres a video on utube where the dummer is mostly hitting a 14” crash. It sounds high pitched and thin. How long has this been going on?is the song. Mike Kennedy (George Strait) was a big fan of 16-17” crashes in a world (Nashville) 18, 19,and 20 are the norm. I feel 14” crashes resemble hh tops
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lefty2
Platinum Member
I've read that smaller thin cymbals record better. Having said that, my band went into a studio in the 80s and the 14" Paiste 2000 really sounds exceptional on those recordings. I think my other crashes were 16" A Zildjian thin or med thin and a 18" Paiste 2002, I think it was just labeled crash. At home recently I've noticed my Sabian 13" AA El Sabor salsa splash sounds great as a regular crash. It's not very splashy to me. Very much a bright crash. But playing live my smallest is 17 these days.
Claymorexz
Junior Member
I bought a istanbul mehmet funky rock 14" crash for like 50 euros, can't say I used it much, I really thought that worst case scenario I can use it as a hi hat, but when I tried it, it did sound nice
I’ve got one of those Paiste 14” PSTX flanger stacks and it turns out one of the two cymbals that makes up the stack is the PSTX 14” flanger crash. I’ve used this a lot as a little crash and it’s punchy/trashy sounding. I’ve seen this cymbal on Stewart Copeland’s kit a lot recently too. He usually has it right above the rack toms.
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MustangMick
Senior Member
Main gigging set at the moment has
Istanbul Agop 16" Medium Thin / 15" Sultan crashes
Work fine for lower volume and smaller stages. They get out of the way quickly
Istanbul Agop 16" Medium Thin / 15" Sultan crashes
Work fine for lower volume and smaller stages. They get out of the way quickly
mikyok
Platinum Member
I had a 14" A Custom crash and a 15" 2002 Crash during my young and stupid phase during Nu Metal. The A Custom was very nice but more suited to a percussion setup.
Personally I find anything 16" or under if a bit shrill and doesn't give me as broad of a dynamic range as 18" upwards.
Personally I find anything 16" or under if a bit shrill and doesn't give me as broad of a dynamic range as 18" upwards.
jda
Diamond Member
Look around this store
One of the ____ in the US
woodandweatherdrumshop.com
One of the ____ in the US
Wood & Weather "First Class" Shop Cymbals - Hi Hat, Crash, Ride 14" 15
First Class Shop Cymbals Available in Traditional, Dark, and Vintage 14" Hi Hat // 700-800 over 800-900 gram range 15" Hi Hat // 700-900 over 900-1000 gram range 18" Crash // 1300-1500 gram range 19" Crash // 1300-1500 gram range 20" Flat Ride // 2000 +/- gram range 22" Ride // 2200-2500 gram...
woodandweatherdrumshop.com
Duck Tape
Platinum Member
I randomly got a 14” crash with a kit and I’ve used it with a quiet kit setup at home with some smaller cymbals.
With this sized crash I feel like I’m running the risk of hitting it too hard to match the rest of the kit.
But I can shoot down my own logic because I don’t break my splashes so I know I’m capable of hitting more delicate cymbals softer. Maybe I could just avoid placing it where I play my main crashes.
Mine is a zildjian A fast crash, sounds great.
With this sized crash I feel like I’m running the risk of hitting it too hard to match the rest of the kit.
But I can shoot down my own logic because I don’t break my splashes so I know I’m capable of hitting more delicate cymbals softer. Maybe I could just avoid placing it where I play my main crashes.
Mine is a zildjian A fast crash, sounds great.
caddywumpus
Archnemesis of Larryace
I play a 15” A Custom on a weekly gig. It pairs extremely well with its partner, a 16” A Custom—they blend AND contrast very nicely. They are both thin cymbals, so they sound lower in pitch, just quieter in nature.
A few weeks ago, I picked up a used 14” K Custom Fast Crash. I have it mounted on the kit at the theatre I’m using for a musical. It’s a little “glassy” for my tastes, but the FOH says it sounds good, and cuts through both of the other crashes (16” A Thin Crash, 16” K Dark Crash). I’m still exploring it. For right now, I’m treating it more like a splash cymbal than the highest voice of a 3 crash cymbal grouping.
A few weeks ago, I picked up a used 14” K Custom Fast Crash. I have it mounted on the kit at the theatre I’m using for a musical. It’s a little “glassy” for my tastes, but the FOH says it sounds good, and cuts through both of the other crashes (16” A Thin Crash, 16” K Dark Crash). I’m still exploring it. For right now, I’m treating it more like a splash cymbal than the highest voice of a 3 crash cymbal grouping.
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Cmdr. Ross
Platinum Member
Fast & gone...just what I need.
I'm looking to use this with my Tama Cocktail Jam & anything over 16 is just overwhelming. My 20" ride is about as big as I can go with a kit that small, so anything under 15 is ideal.
Great ideas here, folks!
jda
Diamond Member
on the Left ,, another one,,
left: 16" Avedis 70s hollow Ink logo at first I thought was the biggest POs... then.. 947g 16"- accepted what it did well. And that was to "Splash" so I'm nicknaming it "the Drunken Uncle" as it likes "a splash"
To the right is an 18" old K Intermediate 1966 era, and hiding between both is an Old K Type IV 1958 era 16"
But the "drunken Uncle" lives. So thin but not paper thin and the weirdest crash like "Barroom Splash (lol)
Left.
Notice the visual difference between As and Ks.
But they all mate
Splash 16" A 947g
any brand that weight and diameter will seem similar. Any.
left: 16" Avedis 70s hollow Ink logo at first I thought was the biggest POs... then.. 947g 16"- accepted what it did well. And that was to "Splash" so I'm nicknaming it "the Drunken Uncle" as it likes "a splash"
To the right is an 18" old K Intermediate 1966 era, and hiding between both is an Old K Type IV 1958 era 16"
But the "drunken Uncle" lives. So thin but not paper thin and the weirdest crash like "Barroom Splash (lol)
Left.
Notice the visual difference between As and Ks.
But they all mate
Splash 16" A 947g
any brand that weight and diameter will seem similar. Any.
Tamboreter
Gold Member
I have enjoyed playing smaller crashes. At my former gig, the house kit had a 14" Masterworks and I have owned a 12" Istanbul Agop Sultan crash for 15+ years. Love them both.