CYMBALISTIC: new cymbals in!

CYMBALISTIC: All right, videos are up for seven new cymbals. As I mentioned recently, I’m very excited about the way the cymbals have been trending— they vary slightly from batch to batch, and change a little bit over time. And my perceptions change. Some cymbals that I thought were very unusual proved, on direct comparison with my own cymbals, to be exactly the same bloody thing. Still though:

The Extra Special Janavar line— Janavars with rough K-type lathing and hammering— has really matured. In the first few rounds of them, I felt they needed the heavy patina to tame them a bit— after which they sounded great, they’ve been some of my most popular cymbals the last three years. These new ones don’t need that, they sound great with the ordinary light patina:

The Holy Grail series also has developed in an interesting way— the thinner ones are sounding really great. I think for a time I was feeling the thin ones were a little bit wild, again needing the heavy patina to sound good. Patinas, aging, modifying the sound of cymbals has been a thing for a long time, but I get nervous when I do too much of it.

There are possibly a few more funny cymbals coming in than there used to be, which I like. I take it as an opportunity— a few times really unplayable cymbals were made to sound really good with a heavy patina. Like this was an unusual sounding Mersey Beat, had a funny exotic edge, and now it sounds pure Art Blakey. Not power Blakey, like on Night In Tunisia, but Somethin’ Else Blakey— a funky, rather edgy combo cymbal:

And a have one rare item: a used cymbal. I got a 22″ American-style Holy Grail that was selected (very carefully) by an endorser, and returned just because he felt he had too many cymbals. OK. We win. It’s a robust, cleaner-sounding example, that is not without character. Handles like a medium, at a lighter weight— ~600 grams lighter than the average A. Zildjian medium 22.

You can get these cymbals— and three more new ones— on Cymbalistic after I post them today. On Cymbalistic you also have access to all cymbals currently in stock at Cymbal & Gong. I can go over to the warehouse (aka Tim’s basement) and pick out the best one of whatever model you want to get. You can also get my books there, including my new book, Rants vol. 1, and a few merch items.

I have a cymbal meet planned at Lewis & Clark college in Portland, and plans are forming for another Germany visit, so I don’t expect any of my current cymbals to be around long— if you like one, get it. You can even pay for it in installments now!