In this video, I'm doing an in-depth review of three 18" china cymbals from Zildjian. Hopefully this will help you decide which is your favorite if you are in the market for 18" Chinas. I'll be doing side by side comparisons of these 3 Zildjian cymbals: * 18 inch A Zildjian China High: amzn.to/494nP0s * 18 inch A Custom China: amzn.to/4b4zlec * 18 inch Oriental China (from the FX China Trashes line): amzn.to/4b3hRii *If you purchase through the above links, I'll make a tiny commission. That'll make me super happy, as I could buy more drums!*
@@drumdrumdrum Yeah it's a fantastic cymbal. Mine is now cracked around the bell (probably from clamping it down a little too hard at times) but it still sounds great!
I like the dark, gong-like character that the Oriental has. Though I think I like the 16" one for my kit, shorter decay. Great comparison video! Much needed when deciding between cymbals.
Very helpful! I think I’m going for the FX, although I’m also searching for a 19” K brilliant from the 90’s. I used to have a 20” A China Low that had an extremely long sustain and gorgeous balanced overtones. It was perfect with mallets as a suspended cymbal in a theater gig I had (Ursala’s scenes in The Little Mermaid), but it just didn’t seem to fit in with anything else I play so I sold it. Now I miss it, despite its seeming lack of versatility.
Have the oriental and I will never be caught with out one in my arsenal of Chinas. But the A Ultra hammered and K custom Hybrid are beast as well. I have those two but in the 19in configuration.
They all have their purpose I have a 20 inch A custom and an 18 inch oriental, sometimes I need bright and explosive sometimes I need dark and trashy. But theyre pretty similar to each other overall. Good stuff.
It was a China seminar! That Oriental Zildjian hammering looks kind of homemade! Even if it's machine hammered like Zildjian uses, it looks customized!
@Sean Daudelin (@drumdrumdrum) I know that Zildjian have a A ultra hammered china 19" and 21" (they're fantastic too... in chinas 18" and 19" is my favorite)
I am a fan of the Zildjian brand but until now I have not heard a china as spectacular as the china boy 18 K series, although I would say I like the sound of the Ultra Hammered China 19 a little, but when I heard the sound of the Wuhan chinas I fell in love and It is so far the best I have tried and I would recommend the 16, 17 and 18 inch chinas although they all sound beautiful just as much as the 14 and 19 inch ones and I even think they reach 24 inches but in reality all the chinas of this brand sound wonderful....... and not to mention that they cost less than half of what the Zildjians cost!!!
I've got the 18" A China High but ironically I like both the others better. It's actually a bit to musical and clean sounding. Some of my faves are Wuhan, but they're brittle. That FX China will get me closest to the trashy sound I'm lookin for, so I like it best of the 3.
To me, Zildjian has lost the recipe of a good sounding china cymbal. Unfortunately, they all sound very much like kettle lids. A straight comparison with f.ex. Istanbul Agop chinas reveals how poor they are. But, thanks for the clip anyways.
For sure. I’ve always thought Sabian is vastly superior. Meinl is all the rage lately but I don’t agree. Instanbul is good and even brands like stagg and Wuhan are great
In this video, I'm doing an in-depth review of three 18" china cymbals from Zildjian. Hopefully this will help you decide which is your favorite if you are in the market for 18" Chinas. I'll be doing side by side comparisons of these 3 Zildjian cymbals:
* 18 inch A Zildjian China High: amzn.to/494nP0s
* 18 inch A Custom China: amzn.to/4b4zlec
* 18 inch Oriental China (from the FX China Trashes line): amzn.to/4b3hRii
*If you purchase through the above links, I'll make a tiny commission. That'll make me super happy, as I could buy more drums!*
FX Oriental series FOR LIFE
: ) that one is pretty sweet!
For life
Oriental
04:50 started
Zildjian 19” A Ultra Hammered China 🤟🤟👍👍 my personal favorite.
I haven't had a chance to try one of those yet. : ) on my long bucket list.
Best one fr
I'm a sucker for "glassier" sounding china cymbals which is why I love the 18" A Custom. I've been using one for several years now.
Word, I too really dig the A Custom. Not harsh sounding at all.
@@drumdrumdrum Yeah it's a fantastic cymbal. Mine is now cracked around the bell (probably from clamping it down a little too hard at times) but it still sounds great!
I like the dark, gong-like character that the Oriental has. Though I think I like the 16" one for my kit, shorter decay. Great comparison video! Much needed when deciding between cymbals.
Thanks!
Thank you for this!
Happy to help!
Excellent analysis - many thanks!
Thank you !
Very helpful! I think I’m going for the FX, although I’m also searching for a 19” K brilliant from the 90’s. I used to have a 20” A China Low that had an extremely long sustain and gorgeous balanced overtones. It was perfect with mallets as a suspended cymbal in a theater gig I had (Ursala’s scenes in The Little Mermaid), but it just didn’t seem to fit in with anything else I play so I sold it. Now I miss it, despite its seeming lack of versatility.
Have the oriental and I will never be caught with out one in my arsenal of Chinas. But the A Ultra hammered and K custom Hybrid are beast as well. I have those two but in the 19in configuration.
I have a S Family China and it’s brutal brutal I have to put tape on it sometimes to match what I’m playing
Interesting, I do t think I've tried the S series. Are those B12 alloys?
Great, detailed comparison thanks. What cleaner did you use on the A Custom (it doesn't look like you had to avoid the logs)?
I used the Zildjian cleaner (the cream). I did actually have to avoid the logo, but got as close as I could : )
Thanks for the reply Sean, really appreciate it. I use the cream too, gotta watch those logos! @@drumdrumdrum
They all have their purpose I have a 20 inch A custom and an 18 inch oriental, sometimes I need bright and explosive sometimes I need dark and trashy. But theyre pretty similar to each other overall. Good stuff.
Thanks!
It was a China seminar! That Oriental Zildjian hammering looks kind of homemade! Even if it's machine hammered like Zildjian uses, it looks customized!
Word, yeah machine hammered, but made to look random. Love the China seminar term btw!
I like A custom 18 china sound. Do you have k china cymbals to compare them ?? Great video.
Thanks! I don't have any K chinas. :( At that size, I think they only offer the k custom special dry.
I have an 18" A custom china, fantastic cymbal 🤘🤘
*Headbanging intensifies*
100% agree. I think the a customs have a really smooth sound!
@Sean Daudelin (@drumdrumdrum) I know that Zildjian have a A ultra hammered china 19" and 21" (they're fantastic too... in chinas 18" and 19" is my favorite)
My favorite 18” cymbal Swish without rivets ! Trashy but Sweet !
Cool!
I have a 16" swish without rivets. I've had it since 79'. LOVE that cymbal
I like the A custom 18 china.
Word. I think those are really smooth sounding, not harsh.
What ride cymbal are you playing? Sounds real nice.
That's the A Rock Ride 20". It just got discontinued this year as part of the Z Customs returning. But you can still find some new ones on reverb.com
@drumdrumdrum thank you. I will checkem out! Your videos are awesome!
Thank you so much! Tell your friends 😅
I am a fan of the Zildjian brand but until now I have not heard a china as spectacular as the china boy 18 K series, although I would say I like the sound of the Ultra Hammered China 19 a little, but when I heard the sound of the Wuhan chinas I fell in love and It is so far the best I have tried and I would recommend the 16, 17 and 18 inch chinas although they all sound beautiful just as much as the 14 and 19 inch ones and I even think they reach 24 inches but in reality all the chinas of this brand sound wonderful....... and not to mention that they cost less than half of what the Zildjians cost!!!
I have a stack of Wuhan chinas, which I love. I've been trying to find an equivalent from Zildjian.
Excellent video my friend
Thanks! 😊
They need to be flipped I'd like to see you do the 20" of the first two we all know the oriental it's one of the best
I love Zildjian FX series (Oriental China Trash and Oriental China Splash models)
I haven't tried those splashes yet. One day : )
I liked the A Zildjian most... I'm not a zildjian guy though...
Word : )
All 3 sound great.
Word : )
I like the a Zildjian best of all but the FX isn't bad either Greg from St Joe the egg custom goes with your symbols best of all for sure
I've got the 18" A China High but ironically I like both the others better. It's actually a bit to musical and clean sounding. Some of my faves are Wuhan, but they're brittle. That FX China will get me closest to the trashy sound I'm lookin for, so I like it best of the 3.
Word! : )
Sabian 19" Holy China!
K custom dark china is my favorite Zildjian china.
I don't think I've tried that one yet. That comes in 17"?
@@drumdrumdrum Yes, I believe 17" is the only size.
I love this episode, I love symbols
: )
Cymbals
A custom for me
Word : )
The a and a custom sound pretty much the same
To me, Zildjian has lost the recipe of a good sounding china cymbal. Unfortunately, they all sound very much like kettle lids. A straight comparison with f.ex. Istanbul Agop chinas reveals how poor they are.
But, thanks for the clip anyways.
For sure. I’ve always thought Sabian is vastly superior. Meinl is all the rage lately but I don’t agree. Instanbul is good and even brands like stagg and Wuhan are great
wuhan china best china
China hight
i play metal and rock, and for me i really dislike the sound of this chinas. are too "pang" sound and 0 "wash".
what do you prefer?
Now I remember why I quit playing Zildjian.
I played Zildjian for years but recently switched to Paiste. I have a Masters swish and a 602 modern essentials china. Couldn't be happier.