Crash cymbals are essential to any drum kit setup, as they are extremely versatile percussive instruments that can play a variety of different roles.
Their sonorous sound and piercing ring makes them extremely useful for many different genres of music.
However, not all crash cymbals are made equal, and you're going to want different crash cymbal styles depending on the genre and style of music you are playing.
In this guide, we are going to take a look at what exactly makes a good crash cymbal, and also review some of the best crash cymbals on the market right now.
What Crash Cymbals Are
Crash cymbals are a type of cymbal that create a sharp, loud 'crash' sound when played, and are generally used for intermittent accents in a musical context, instead of the ride cymbal. They are usually put on some kind of stand making it an extension of the drum kit. You can then play the cymbals with drum sticks, alternatively you could hold in pairs by hand and hit together.
It's standard to have 1 or 2 crashes in a drum kit. A suspended crash is also common in orchestras and bands, and are either rolled using a set of mallets, or are played with a drumstick.
Sometimes, drummers will hit two separate crash cymbals in the kit at once to create a loud accent, normally in rock music.
While crashes can be anywhere from very heavy to paper-thin, every crash cymbal has a fairly thin edge.
The sound that these cymbals produce is determined by its brightness - a cleaner cymbal will create a clearer sound, while one that shows oxidation signs will create a dull sound.
How They Work
The crash cymbal produces a very unique and specific sound which usually serves the purpose of ending a song or drum fill, filling out the texture of drum solo, or creating a crescendo. Drummers of today can enjoy a wide range of crash cymbal options from brands like Sabian, Zildjian, Paiste, and Meinl Percussion.
Made using a bronze alloy, these cymbals vary in thickness and diameter, with the thinner variants creating higher sounds, and the thicker ones create mid-pitched sounds.
You can determine how thin a crash cymbal is by the number that is printed on it - the greater the number, the thinner the cymbal. Thus, a B10 or B8 cymbal will be thicker than a B20 cymbal.
Using the right kind of beaters is also essential to the way the crash cymbal will work. A general rule is that cymbals are more resonant when struck near the edge, while playing at the center will create a sound that is more muted.
Skilled percussionists will be able to incorporate both center and edge strikes into their cymbal technique, to produce the desired sound.
How to Choose a Crash Cymbal
There are a number of things that you will want to take into consideration when purchasing crash cymbals. Let's go through some of the basics.
Music Genre
This is perhaps the most important factor to think about. The genre of music that you will be playing the most will greatly influence the type of crash cymbal that you should purchase, as different types of cymbals are better suited to different genres.
Louder cymbals that produce more thick and full sounds are some of the best crash cymbals for metal and rock, while more delicate cymbals that produce thinner, gentler sounds are great crash cymbals for jazz and similar styles.
The best crash cymbals for church are ones that can be both loud and delicate, and Christian worship music tends to have plenty of climaxes and soft bridges.
Be sure to consider the style and genre of music that you will be playing before purchasing your next crash cymbal.
What are the Best Cymbals Made of?
There are three popular metal alloys that are used to create cymbals: brass, B8 bronze, and B20 bronze.
Brass
Brass is generally used to make crash cymbals for beginners, because the metal is not very expensive, but it also produces an unfavorable sound.
B8 Bronze
B8 bronze is typically used with mid-range cymbals, since the material is more costly than brass. However, it is much cheaper than B20 bronze, which we'll get to shortly.
B20 Bronze
B20 bronze is the most expensive material used to make crash cymbals, but it is also the most popular alloy, since it is normally considered to produce the best sound.
Custom Blend
Occasionally, you will find crash cymbals that are made using a custom blend of a B8 and B20 bronze alloy, which creates high-end, smooth sounds, but results in high-end price tags.
Weight
Typically, the weight of a crash cymbal will determine the pitch range of that cymbal - the heavier it is, the higher its pitch will be.
However, there are also other factors that will determine the exact note that a crash cymbal produces when struck, like bow and bell design.
So, two crashes that are 18 inches thick that weight the same might produce two different pitches, while two cymbals that do not weigh the same might produce the same pitch.
Overall Size
Crash cymbals can range in size from about 8-inches up to around 24-inches. The size of the cymbal, like we mentioned previously, will significantly change the pitch that it produces when struck.
Cymbals can also vary in thickness, with the thin crash cymbals producing brighter tones. Most of the time, a set of beginner cymbals will have a crash cymbal between 14-inches and 18-inches in size.
Bell Size
You may have heard that the bell size on a cymbal will greatly alter the pitch that it produces, but this is not the case. The size of a crash cymbal's bell has less to do with the pitch than it does with other factors like weight, profile, and the overall size of the cymbal.
The bell contributes to the cymbal's ability to 'open up' - a smaller bell on a cymbal will result in a more controlled and defined sound, while a larger bell on a cymbal of the same size will have a longer decay and more wash.
This characteristic is slightly more exaggerated with odd-sized cymbals, since most manufacturers use even bell sizes on odd cymbal sizes.
Diameter & Thickness
Diameter, as well as thickness, will also influence the crash cymbal's fundamental pitch.
The larger and thicker the cymbal is, the lower the pitch will be, while the smaller and thinner it is, the higher the pitch will be.
How Many Cymbals Do You Need?
You can get away with only having two cymbals in your drum kit - hi hats and a crash or ride cymbal.
Two crashes, a ride, and hi hats are generally the most common cymbals that are used in a drum kit, but the exact number and type of cymbals that you use in your kit will be a matter of personal preference.
You should purchase a series of cymbals that suit your preferred music taste and genre, and that complement the sound you enjoy producing on your drums.
What is a Fast Crash Symbol?
You may have heard of the term "fast crash", but what exactly is a fast crash symbol? It is a thin crash that has a strong attack followed by a fast yet smooth decay.
They are typically available in 14, 16, and 18 inch sizes. This is very popular for a wide variety of genres, making it very versatile.
What are the Best Sounding Cymbals?
This is a matter of personal preference, genre, and purpose, but below we will take a look at some of the best sounding crash cymbals.
Best Crash Cymbals
Here are some of the greatest crash cymbals on the market right now.
1. Meinl HCS14C 14" HCS Traditional Crash
Meinl Percussion is one of the world's premier manufacturers of percussion instruments currently in operation. The company has a history of producing high-quality instruments, and the HCS Traditional Crash is no exception.
Review
The first thing to note about these cymbals is that they were designed with two things in mind: durability and affordability.
The HCS14C is made using a sturdy brass allow that can withstand beginners that might not know how to control the force with which they strike their cymbals.
While this does compromise the tone somewhat, since the cymbals are more durable, they will last longer for beginners, which will provide them with far more time to save up for a nicer cymbal. These cymbals have a 14" diameter, meaning it will produce a brighter tone.
The combination of the metal used to create it and its relatively small diameter makes the HCS14C a very present cymbal, and can serve as a piercing addition to any drum kit. The tone that it provides makes it one of the better crash cymbals for hip hop, and other modern genres.
With that being said, if you are looking for a crash cymbal to use for jazz, you might want to consider some of the other options on this list. Meinl cymbals all come with a two-year warranty, protecting against flaws in materials or manufacturing.
Pros
Cons
While Zildjian is certainly a very modern company in every sense of the word, it is actually one of the world's oldest instrument manufacturers.
It was founded during the Ottoman period, and has been producing instruments ever since. This Zildjian K Custom thin crash cymbal is one of the companies most popular cymbals.
Review
This crash cymbal has a combination of high-end frequencies and warm sound thanks to its bronze alloy build.
The bright, quick attack is very appealing within a kit setup and has lots of volume potential. It is also widely considered the most versatile crash cymbal bronze alloy out there.
This thin crash cymbal is classified as 'thin weight', and while each company has a different definition of this term, it generally means that the cymbal is brighter than others that the company creates.
Note that this does not mean that the cymbal will be brighter than those from other companies; rather it is used to compare cymbals from the same company.
While these crashes are over-hammered, they perform similarly to hand-hammered cymbals. The company ingeniously programmed a hammer to replicate the process used to create hand-hammered cymbals.
Relative to other cymbals that Zildjian produces, such as the Zildjian A Custom, these cymbals have a custom dark voicing, and a short sustain. 'Custom dark' can be used to refer to a cymbal that produces a sound somewhere between light and dark tones, though some might say that it produces more of a brighter tone.
Pros
Cons
Sabian is the cymbal producer of choice for many notable musicians, like Ray Luzier, Rob Hammersmith, and Terry Bozzio. Their 16" SBR crash cymbal is one of their most popular crashes in their series, and for good reason.
Review
This cymbal is made from brass. This alloy allows Sabian to keep the cost of this cymbal as low as possible, which makes it one of the best cheap crash cymbals out there, even if the tone that it produces is not as rich as it would have been had it been made from a bronze alloy.
One thing that you should keep in mind about this cymbal is that, because it is an entry-level piece of percussion, it is made by a machine, rather than by a dedicated craftsman like more high-end instruments.
It has a 16" diameter, which helps boost its utility for beginners, since it is big enough to create enough volume to be heard.
This cymbal has a darker tone than many other cymbals, making it great for beginner drummers who are looking to start playing jazz.
Though its voicing makes it unique for the price point, we should mention that it will not be suited for rock or metal genres, and isn't going to be one of the best crash cymbals for recording.
If you are looking for a brighter piece of equipment, then you should take a look at some of the other cymbals mentioned on this list.
Pros
Cons
Here we have another product from the renowned percussion instrument manufacturer Meinl. This line of cymbals is one of their most premium products, and is best suited for intermediate and advanced drummers.
Review
The Byzance line is Meinl's best line to date. They sound fantastic, and the Medium Thin Traditional 19" crash simply radiates musicality. It is a dark cymbal that provides a musical tone and a washy sound.
It produces a warm sound that blends with your other cymbals when played, and while it is not the loudest crash out there, it isn't the softest either. This cymbal fits right in the middle, providing you with medium sustain and volume.
It is a highly versatile medium thin cymbal, and works well in a wide range of styles of music, from jazz to rock. The only major downside is that it is not the best for consistent heavy striking. If you are going to hit this cymbal hard consistently, it might start to crack.
This will, of course, depend on your specific cymbal playing technique. Overall, if you are looking for a warm blend and a musical tone, this might be the best crash cymbal for you.
Pros
Cons
Finally, we have these crashes from Sabian, which are a great mid-tier option for beginners that are looking to upgrade their drum kit. Their sleek looks are complemented by cutting, clean sounds that fit into any musical environment.
Review
Cymbals that are specifically designed to be cutting generally feature some degree of brittleness in their tone, but there is hardly any of this to be found in the V series of crashes. The sound they produce is pleasantly smooth, and is also quite warm.
They have a glassy and silvery response. They open up quite easily, especially in the smaller diameters, where even the most casual flick of your stick will produce an instant response. Their smoothness also means that they pierce through.
The 16" and 17" crashes from this series have a sparkling quality to them, and could find a place in just about any musical setting where bright, quick punctuation is necessary. From the 18" and up, the sound is much louder.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
It's no secret that you are going to want at least one crash cymbal in your drum kit, and if you are dedicated to the art of drumming, you're going to want to ensure that it is the best crash cymbal for you. Crashes are an essential part of many musical genres.
We believe that the Meinl Byzance crash cymbal is the best from this list, thanks to its premium construction, versatile application, thin crash design, and the unique full-bodied tone it produces.
We hope that you found this guide useful, and that we were able to help you find the best crash cymbal for you. Happy drumming!
