Topic: Cymbal Setup

[Mark Armstrong]

I use several different drum and cymbal setups depending on the gig I am playing but one thing that is always consistent is that I use a crash on the left side of my rack tom (or toms) and a crash on the right. For years I have had a 19" Sabian AA on the left and an 18" Sabian AA on the right because I liked the way they sounded musically, with the 19" being the lower pitched of the two and the cymbal I tend to hit the most. I have recently purchased a few 60's and 70's vintage Zildjian A's, mostly 18", and I want to work them into my setup, possibly even using two 18" for my main left and right cymbals. What cymbals do you use in these positions and do you have a particular reason why.   

[Jon E]

I almost always use two 17" Zildjian crashes.  On the left is a K Dark crash, on the right is a Med/Thin Avedis.  I *think* my logic is that I hit the right one more so it is a "regular" crash since I'm doing rock stuff, while K is more "different" sounding to my ears/brain.  It's probably 40/60% left vs. right (K vs. Avedis).  They both sound great and if I switched them the rest of the world would never know/hear difference, but from wher I sit, that's what I hear/think.

[Bob Dias]

I use 16, 17, 18 and 19" mehmet sultan crashes.
L and R: 16 and 17 for small rooms; 17 & 18 for big rooms; 18 & 19 for outdoors.

The main reason? volume. You have to really lay into a 19" for a full explosion, not as hard with a 16".  So, the smaller the room, the smaller the crash, the lower the volume/effort expended to get a nice full crash sound.  Hey, it works for me.

[Don Elkington]

Unless I'm playing a rock gig, I usually have a ride on the right of my rack tom and another on the left of the rack tom. I then place whatever crash cymbals I need adjacent to the rides. I have several different rides/crashes/splashes/chinas... depending on the gig.

For rock gigs, I replace the left-side ride with a crash. BTW... I love cymbals, so I tend to bring too many!

Geez, I don't think my reply helps at all... but I'm hitting the "post" button anyway!

[Matthew Warwick]

I always have my cymbals set up with a crash just behind and to the left of my first rack tom and then a second crash that is slightly bigger just behind and to the right of my second rack tom. My ride is just above my floor tom, though I am also okay with using it next to the first rack tom if I'm using a 4 piece setup. I prefer to be able to easily switch between toms, though, and a 5-piece setup makes that easier for me. Obviously my hi-hat is right next to my snare (to the left, since I'm right handed), and I have a splash right above that.

Those cymbals are these specific ones:

Sabian 13" B8 Hi-hat
Sabian 20" B8 Pro Power Rock Ride (not being made anymore)
Paiste 10" PST5 Splash
Paiste 16" Dimensions Power Crash (also not being made anymore)
Sabian 17" AAX XPlosion Crash

I also have a Sabian 16" AAX O-Zone Crash which I will setup on my right when I can get another stand. I notice some people tend to hate that cymbal because of how trashy it sounds, but I kinda like it. BTW, is an O-zone an acceptable substitute for a Chinese or no?

I eventually want to add a crash over the left side of my hi-hat, which will likely be a Paiste 15" Signature Fast Crash. I'd also want a second splash on my right, but I'm not sure what that'll be yet. I also want to upgrade my hi-hat and ride (although my ride does sound pretty good for a lower end model). I think I'll keep both of those just for extras when I upgrade. I wasn't sure what hi-hat's I wanted until I was at a Guitar Center near where I go to school and I tried out Sabian's AAX X-celerator hats. I was hooked, and I've wanted those in 13" ever since. So crisp and clean sounding! As far as the ride goes, I've liked the look, concept, and overall sound of Sabian's HH Raw Bell Dry Ride for years. I think it only comes in 21", and I definitely want one sometime. However, I'm not going to upgrade yet because I'm focusing on cleaning up how my playing sounds some more first. 

[Tim van de Ven]

I play what is known as "left hand lead" so my ride cymbal is over the hi-hat where most of you would have your "go-to crash". For me, my ride cymbal must be crashable as well as be a great ride. Lately, I've been using a 22" Paiste Dark Energy Mark II ride cymbal in that position as it seems to fit well in every gig.

Where you might have your ride, I have a crash cymbal; depending on the type of the show, I've either used a 20" Paiste Giant Beat or in the case of my roots-country shows, an 18" Paiste Traditional Extra-Thin Crash. In the third position, I've been using a 22" Paiste Traditional Swish (it is magnificent!).

Here's a photo from Tuesday's show:

[Scott Hutton]

I've always used a 16" on the left and 18" on the right. I have although been using odd sizes lately 17", 19" and 21" ride. That's been working out nicely too.