New A Zildjian Cymbals!
We‘ve got some new cymbals in the studio! I’ve recently been thinking about the kinds of sounds I’m after, but also the sounds that Online Drum Studio needs going forward for all of you wonderful people. So I went and grabbed some A Zildjian cymbals!
Check out how my set sounds and my reactions to hearing them under the mic for the first time!
Why As?
I’m going to start by lifting Zildjian’s description of their A series;
“Zildjian’s classic sound is embodied by A Zildjian and immortalized in countless recordings by the greatest drummers of all time. Known for their versatility, these bright cymbals range from thin and delicate to extra heavy and cutting.”
And for their description of the Cymbal Pack I bought;
“Features cymbals that have shaped musical history. One of the most popular and versatile cymbals used by musicians for generations, the A Zildjian line is known for its bright, focused overtones and ability to produce as much volume as the music demands.”
I was fortunate enough to study with Dave while I was at Berklee and man, does he love him some As!
A Series
Louie Bellson’s New Beats
Starting with the New Beat hi hats, these were developed alongside legendary jazz drummer Louie Bellson in 1964 who sought a pair of hi hats with a solid beat and a perfect all-purpose combination of stick and "chick" sound. Matched with a lighter top cymbal but heavier bottom for a more pronounced "chick" sound. The result is an exuberant cymbal that bursts with a classic voice that is pure, bright, and expressive.
The Zildjian New Beat Hats are considered the most versatile hi hat cymbals in the world today.
The Sweet Ride
One of the world’s most popular and all-purpose rides, with beautiful, colourful medium overtones. A Zildjian Sweet Rides are beautiful, all-purpose rides with colourful medium overtones.
Sweet Rides are among the most popular rides in the world, played by a who’s who of drummers across a variety of musical genres. And now Online Drum Studio can be added to that roster playing a 21” Sweet Ride!
Medium Thin Crashes
Bright-sounding crash in an incredibly versatile and responsive medium-thin weight. These cymbals embody the "Zildjian crash cymbal sound". Bright-sounding and versatile in function, Medium Thin Crashes project with a stronger high-end tonality than Thin Crashes, and open up easily for a quick response.
A Zildjian Medium Thin Crashes are one of the most popular Zildjian crash cymbal lines and I think the 16” and 18” pitch together beautifully.
Ultra Hammered Ride
A trashy china effect that will cut through any sound in its path. With a curvature designed to explode with penetrating sound, this China model features an inverted "volcano" bell and extensive hammering techniques, producing a sound that simply erupts. Crash it for deep, trashy accents, or crescendo to unleash a roaring effect.
I’ll say it again, inverted volcano bell producing sound that simply erupts.
History Lesson
Avedis Zildjian III
Zildjian is today the oldest company in the U.S.A. but has a rich history from its roots in Constantinople (today known as Istanbul). The company was founded in 1623 which means at the time of writing the company is only 1.5 years away from it’s 400 year anniversary!
It was in 1618 when trying to make gold Avedis Zildjian created the cymbal alloy that the company is still highly protective over and uses to this day. The word Zildjian literally means “cymbal smith” with zil meaning “cymbal” ci meaning “maker” and ian being a suffix for “son of”
So, Zildjian was the name granted to Avedis in 1623 by none other than the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire - talk about having a history!
The first U.S.A Factory was opened in 1929 by Avedis III (pictured) in Quincey Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. In 1973 a new factory was opened in Norwell Massachusetts and that’s where all Zildjian cymbals are made today.
A Tour
I toured this factory back in 2015 but I wasn’t allowed to film when we went round! This is a great behind the scenes video
Family Feud
Zildjian Brothers
One little known fact is that the company also has ties to Sabian. You might not know it but the founder of Sabian was actually Robert Zildjian, or Robert Z as Sabian like to call him! After a dispute with his brother when he was not chosen as the successor to his father Avedis Zildjian, Robert left Zildjian and founded Sabian in 1981. Another fun fact, the name Sabian comes from the names of Robert’s 3 children (Sally, Billy and Andy). So of the big four cymbal manufacturers (Zildjian, Sabian, Paiste and Meinl) half of them actually have Zildjian roots.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed that brief history of Zildjian and the A Series cymbals. When I toured the factory in 2015 it made a lasting impact on me. I believe strongly in companies that treat workers well, support the local economy, reduce cheaper/unsafe outsourcing and I really do believe in everything Zildjian are doing. All this has led to me consciously deciding to choose the A Zildjian series to add to my sound!
Get that classic A Zildjian cymbal sound on your next drum recording at Online Drum Studio!
