Top 7 Best Cymbal Packs

There are numerous ways to spice up your drum kit. You can get different heads and so one, but that will only get you so far. One of the best ways to freshen up or improve even the best drum set on the market is to get a new set of cymbals. Today we're going to show you our picks for the top 7 best cymbal packs on the market right now. After we go over our picks, we'll discuss cymbals in general, what to look for in one and how to figure out which size fits you the best.

Top 7 Best Cymbal Packs

Image	Cymbal Packs / Rating	Summary	Check Price
+ -	Meinl Cymbals BV-480+B16TRC Byzance Vintage Series Total of 4.87/5	An advanced set that includes a very responsive trash crash and more.	Amazon
+ -	Zildjian KCD900 K Custom Dark Total of 4.83/5	Incredible packs from Zildjian designed for true fans of a heavy sound.	Amazon
+ -	Meinl Cymbals CC4680-TRB Classics Custom Pack Total of 4.77/5	A very extensive and rewarding pack that includes just about everything imaginable.	Amazon
+ -	Zildjian A Custom Cymbal Set Total of 4.73/5	A more affordable and more durable alternative to Zildjian K Custom series.	Amazon
+ -	Sabian XSR Sonic Pro Total of 4.67/5	A strong, traditional but ultimately great performing set of cymbals from Sabian.	Amazon
+ -	Paiste PST7 Universal Cymbal Set Total of 4.50/5	A more affordable and rather traditional set from Paiste, which doesn't disappoint.	Amazon
+ -	Zildjian ZBT Series Complete Set Total of 4.47/5	A very affordable yet quite capable set of cymbals straight from Zildjian.	Amazon

How To Choose The Right Cymbals For Your Needs?

One of the best things about cymbals in general is that they are very situational. There are drummers out there who will surround themselves with 30 different cymbals ranging from tiny splashes to massive rides. On the other hand, there are drummers out there who appreciate one hi hat and one crash. The truth of the matter is that you need to know the genre of music you are mainly going to play and have a fairly established playing style. The next logical question would be, what should you do if you don't have a favorite genre yet nor do you have a developed style? That is pretty easy.

You will most likely get the job done by choosing a standard set that includes a ride cymbal, a crash and a hi hat. Additionally, you could get a set with two crashes like the ones from our list. There really are no rules here. We can point you to a person who owns a beautiful $2000 set of acoustic drums, who runs the standard setup with two crashes. We could also point you to a beginner who went overboard with cymbals as he runs a massive rig of at least 10 different cymbals on what is essentially a beginner drum set.

Understanding Your Needs

Since it mostly comes down to personal style and preference, may people like to experiment with different genres. Even so, there are some simple rules which dictate which setup you should start with for any specific music genre. For example, if you are into rock, a single crash, ride and hi hat should be enough. Then again, if metal is more your style, a larger crash in addition to your regular one could prove to be a good combination. Genres such as jazz rely on a good ride cymbal. The examples go on and on.

With all that said, you have to start somewhere. The very first cymbal you should get is a hi hat. It is the most versatile of them all and one that you will be using the most anyway. If that hi hat is all you can get right now, so be it. Next should come the ride cymbal followed by a decent crash.

Understanding Different Cymbal Sizes

Cymbal sizes can get confusing pretty fast. Why are some crashes 16″ in diameter while others are 18″? The truth of the matter is that you can use any combination of these cymbals for whatever purpose. Smaller diameter models are going to be faster and more responsive while larger ones usually have more shimmer and sustain in them. If you are not sure which way to lean, sticking whatever is in the middle can be the best way to go. Don't obsess too much over cymbal sizes as a beginner. Chances are that you won't even notice the difference in size at this stage. Later on, when you develop a taste and style, you will know exactly what to get.

Different Cymbal Designs

So far we have discussed crash cymbals, hi hats and rides. However, there are many more cymbal types out there, some of which can be really helpful depending on what genre of music you are playing. Two of the most popular additions to the regular cymbal layout are chinas and splashes. China is a very unique type of cymbal which has a very aggressive, shimmering and dispersive sound to it. It is a favorite among metal heads all around the world and for a good reason. Using a china with a good heavy riff can put that whole song into another plane of existence.

Splash cymbals on the other hand are also popular but are completely different from china cymbals. Splashes are actually super tiny crash pedals which are designed to give you that quick dose of splash on demand. Despite their small size, splashes are being used to accentuate specific portions of a drum line because they pretty much cut through anything and everything.

Alloys and Manufacturing Methods

When you start moving among the more experienced drummers, you are most likely going to run into at least one or two people who understand how important the alloy from which the cymbal is made out of. Every brand tends to chase that perfect alloy. Some claim they have found it but so far no one is really stepping up to make a claim. Instead, all of the big brand manufacturers are doing their best to nail that absolutely perfect alloy. While the materials definitely have an impact on how your setup will sound. However, it is not going to be too much of a difference. Certainly there are exceptions to this so called rule, but the point pretty much stands. Cool thing about this constant effort of building a better cymbal has lead to some pretty awesome packs being made.

Another way to differentiate cymbals is by the way they were made. There are generally two ways. One is to cast them by pouring molten alloys of choice into molds. After everything settles, these molds are broken and those cymbals are sent for further hammering, shaping and lathing. In other words, there is quite a bit of work, especially if you want it to not only look god but also sound good.

Cast VS Sheet Metal

The other method of cymbal production is sheet metal cutting. The idea is pretty simple, you buy sheets of whatever material you want and then just cut out the shapes you need. Although generally much faster and easier to produce, casting is still the preferred method of cymbal creation. Even more so when you consider that some of the brands we have mentioned today offer cymbals which were cast and then hand hammered into perfection which they are. The more you develop your ear and style, the easier will it be for you to choose the right cymbal.

Does this mean that sheet metal cymbals are useless? No, on the contrary. Being affordable and overall expendable means that sheet cut cymbals are great for practicing. If you are on a tight budget, getting a few of these could be a real life saver. The only thing you need to keep in mind are the limitations of the alloys which leads to durability issues.

Proper Way To Mount Cymbals

If you are a new player you are probably wondering what is the right way to mount cymbals. If you are an experienced drummer, you have probably recognized the trap in the question itself. We have decided to address this because there are many people out there who are going around preaching their own way of doing things and presenting it as gospel. The fact of the matter is that you can mount your cymbals whatever way you see fit. Some will say that ride should be at an angel for optimal stick angle of attack, etc.

In reality, you can do whatever you want. The only real problematic cymbal in this scenario is a crash. If you mount the crash too flat, you are running a risk at cracking the rim of the cymbal. Anything else is up for grabs. One way to get something to think about is to simply Google whatever your favorite drummer is. Then go down the rabbit hole and look at what pros are using. Chances are that each of them has their own little way of mounting cymbals.

Cymbal Maintenance

One of the most overlooked aspects of cymbals is maintenance. Believe it or not, cymbals can lose a lot of their properties simply due to being dirty. However, dirty cymbals are definitely not easy to get back into shape. Depending on the alloy used to make your cymbals, you may have to spend more time o maintenance. Many drummers, especially newer ones, are really afraid to break everything down, clean it all up and just put it all back together.

Cymbal maintenance pretty much comes down to wiping them down once after every use. Just wiping them down is more or less enough to keep everything going. Once every month or so you can do a proper scrub down using specific compounds to remove whatever grime, dirt or other impurities got stuck to the cymbal. Following these simple steps, you can definitely stay on top of your cymbals, and keep them safe. Speaking of which.

Storage and Carrying

Another often times overlooked aspect of owning a higher end set of cymbals is having to actually carry them somewhere. Most brands, especially when offering higher end models, include a bag of some sort within the package. The real question is how much do you trust those packs or should you get an aftermarket set. Sometimes the factory pack will work fine for the longest time and then just give up on you in the worst possible moment. Generally speaking such instances are extremely rare, but it doesn't hurt to know.

One thing to note is that your cymbals should be stored in a dry area. Some of the alloys in use today definitely don't work well with moisture at all. Unless you want to scrub those cymbals every other week or month, be prepared to store them properly in a bag, with a gel pack if possible.

Conclusion

Cymbals are the absolute best way you can make your drum kit sound amazing. We have shown you our picks for this category as we feel it includes some of the absolute best models on the market right now. As always, you need to figure what you need the cymbals for, whether or not you're going to travel a lot with them etc. With that said no matter which of these cymbal packs you decide to go with, you won't regret a thing. All of these are quite amazing and pretty competitive in their specific market segments. Overall, good luck