CYMBALISTIC: A fresh round of cymbals is in— it’s been a rather slow year, so I haven’t been getting a ton of new stock. You should be using these things. Cymbals. Made by Cymbal & Gong. Every time I play I’m delighted to be using them.
Let’s round up everything I have in stock, all by Cymbal & Gong— hit that link for videos/descriptions of all of them. These are all “jazz-weight” cymbals— considerably lighter than your average A. Zildjian. I use them for all kinds of music, I haven’t felt the need for anything heavier.
10/2 UPDATE: Videos are up for two new Special Janavars, 20″ and 22″ and a newly-patinated 20″ Extra Special Janavar. Check them out….
Also, fair warning: The few Janavars (Special and Extra Special) I have in stock will likely be the last ones available before Spring 2025. If you want one, you’d better act fast…
Also, fair warning: The few Janavars (Special and Extra Special) I have in stock will likely be the last ones available before Spring 2025. If you want one, you’d better act fast…
Two thin 22″ A-type Holy Grails – heavy patina
These are Blakey-style bruisers, with a big, aggressive sound. Very responsive dynamically— you can make some big mistakes with these, but they get out of your way fast. A skillful player should be able to do something great with these.
These are Blakey-style bruisers, with a big, aggressive sound. Very responsive dynamically— you can make some big mistakes with these, but they get out of your way fast. A skillful player should be able to do something great with these.
NEW – 20 and 22″ Special Janavar
The 22 is only slightly heavier than those two A-types, but is a whole different experience. Controlled and focused jazz sound, but with the feel and fullness you associate with a lighter cymbal.
The 22 is only slightly heavier than those two A-types, but is a whole different experience. Controlled and focused jazz sound, but with the feel and fullness you associate with a lighter cymbal.
Two 20″ A-type Holy Grails
They’re modeled after “trans stamp” era A Zildjians, and everyone should have one. These are absolute work horse cymbals— which is not real inspiring as a sales pitch, except it is actually a big deal when you get a cymbal that just sounds like a cymbal, that you can do everything with. And they’re not without character. They’re jazz weight, but seem to function more like a light-medium.
They’re modeled after “trans stamp” era A Zildjians, and everyone should have one. These are absolute work horse cymbals— which is not real inspiring as a sales pitch, except it is actually a big deal when you get a cymbal that just sounds like a cymbal, that you can do everything with. And they’re not without character. They’re jazz weight, but seem to function more like a light-medium.
22″ and two 20″ Extra Special Janavars
These have been extremely popular— Janavars with K-type hammering and lathing. The 22 has the regular Holy Grail patina, and it’s a very full, lush jazz ride sound. If you found a Turkish K that sounded like this you’d go out of your mind, and you would dedicate years learning to play it. One 20″ has the customary heavy patina, that gives it a drier, more funky tone.
These have been extremely popular— Janavars with K-type hammering and lathing. The 22 has the regular Holy Grail patina, and it’s a very full, lush jazz ride sound. If you found a Turkish K that sounded like this you’d go out of your mind, and you would dedicate years learning to play it. One 20″ has the customary heavy patina, that gives it a drier, more funky tone.
NEW: The other 20″ Extra Spacial Janavar is a fascinating case— in its natural state it was problematic, with an indistinct stick sound and a rather viscious high pitched squeal. I had Tim at Cymbal & Gong give it a heavy patina, and now it behaves like an old, heavily played basher:
20″ Special Janavar Crash-Ride, and 15″ Hihats
Ordinary Janavars are bright, full, fairly uncomplex cymbals. The heavy patina (hence the “Special”) gives them much more character, a bright-but-funky jazz sound. I have a couple of online students who have these, and I always enjoy listening to them in the lesson. People have been loving them.
Ordinary Janavars are bright, full, fairly uncomplex cymbals. The heavy patina (hence the “Special”) gives them much more character, a bright-but-funky jazz sound. I have a couple of online students who have these, and I always enjoy listening to them in the lesson. People have been loving them.
UPDATE: Two more of these coming next week— a 20 and a 22!
Other Holy Grails— 16″ Crash, 14″ hihats
The 16″ crash isn’t a real hip size these days— see my list of cymbal size bigotry— but I’ve been using one lately, and I get it, the 16 has its own niche. This one is medium thin, and is very similar to my own. Rides well, like all Cymbal & Gong crashes. The hihats are a solid set of light-mediums, with a slightly exotic bottom cymbal that gives them a little wild edge when played open. Cool cymbals.
The 16″ crash isn’t a real hip size these days— see my list of cymbal size bigotry— but I’ve been using one lately, and I get it, the 16 has its own niche. This one is medium thin, and is very similar to my own. Rides well, like all Cymbal & Gong crashes. The hihats are a solid set of light-mediums, with a slightly exotic bottom cymbal that gives them a little wild edge when played open. Cool cymbals.
14″ Wide China
Seems like a niche effect item, but these are very fun. Not just for wailing on, you can touch it occasionally and it brightens up the whole timbre of your sound, in a slightly wild way. I keep one set up about half the time, and it blends nicely with the other cymbals.
Seems like a niche effect item, but these are very fun. Not just for wailing on, you can touch it occasionally and it brightens up the whole timbre of your sound, in a slightly wild way. I keep one set up about half the time, and it blends nicely with the other cymbals.
I’m pleased to see so few Cymbal & Gong cymbals available used, and there are a lot of them in circulation by now— people hang onto them. The solo artisan guys are getting a lot of attention at the moment, but I see many more of their cymbals for sale used, despite having vastly fewer cymbals in circulation. Curious.
Anyway, hit the “email Todd” link here or the contact form on Cymbalistic to get one of these, or if you’d like me to select one for you at Cymbal & Gong, or custom order something for you!
Don't tempt me! I don't even dare look at the videos. Probably the cymbals are great again, just like all the ones you've picked out for me so far. It's getting harder and harder to decide which of my C&G cymbals to take to gigs because they all sound so good. My setup will probably end up looking like Danny Gottlieb's when he played with Pat Metheny, at least in terms of the number of cymbal stands.
https://www.cymbal.wiki/wiki/images/e/e9/Danny_Gottlieb_1.jpg
Lol, what is he doing with that???
I'm in the same predicament, I've been grabbing a bunch of things for myself. Finally got a 22 like yours– extra special Janavar— mine's not even one of the best, and it's still great.
I was hoping to make it to Germany this year, if guys are interested, but the timing of new cymbals from Turkey might be weird through the end of the year… I'll shoot you a note!