John E. Johnson, Jr.

The Z3 represents Zildjian's series of high power (heavy) cymbals that are made for metal drummers who want to project their sound all the way into the restrooms at concerts. They have large bells and symmetrical hammering, which are factors that are partly responsible for their high volume output. This 22" Z3 ride typifies the sound you can expect. It will punch through, with a bright, crisp ping, no matter how many guitarists you have.

The "K" line of Zildjian cymbals have a characteristic "dark" sound, meaning there is quite a strong low frequency component. There is also a K Custom line which is stated to retain some of the original K sound, but with the addition of modern hammering techniques that "enhance the K character." The Zildjian 18" K Medium Thin Dark Crash Cymbal is reviewed here. It has mostly large hammer marks rather than the typical "K" hammer marks. The sound is bright, but with dark undertones, and it has a very fast response. It sounds quite different than the K Custom Dark Crash. It rides nicely, and the bell is very musical.

Classic jazz drummers have tended to use ride cymbals where the sound of the ping is just above (in loudness) a broad wash, with the wash being dark. Often, this is a 20" cymbal that is medium or medium thin in weight. Jazz drummers still use this type of cymbal, but there are also a number of modern jazz drummers, and certainly drummers in the rock scene, where a distinct ping sound in desired. Especially at a metal rock concert, where the amp stacks are maxed out on volume, unless the ride cymbal has a strong ping, it simply will not be heard by the audience. Zildjian makes several ride cymbals that have strong ping sounds to them, but this one is focused on the ping, at the expense of the wash (i.e., making it sound "dry"), for that certain drummer who really loves the ping sound. It is the 22" A Custom Ping Ride.

The "K" line of Zildjian cymbals have a characteristic "dark" sound, meaning there is quite a strong low frequency component. The K Custom line is stated to retain some of the original K sound, but with the addition of modern hammering techniques that "enhance the K character." The Zildjian 18" K Custom Fast Crash Cymbal has the K hammering, plus some bolder hammer strokes. The bell is a bit different than other K cymbals, which gives it a faster response, and also a quicker decay.