Yup Zildjian are bringing back the Z Customs! They are a totally different disk, built upon the lessons learned of the original Z's. They are lathed and thinner to boot, they really dialled them in and are a classic 2000's sound. Nice to see them back! The original Z's on the other hand...
I swear to God, this exact cymbal is my first cymbal! It used to have some tape that was impossible to remove, so before I sold it, I had to scratch it hard! That's why there is a big clear spot near the Z ! i sold it in France in 2020 it's so random i don't have the photos i used to sell it but i still have som random picture on which you can see it !
That Z has what we inside Zildjian called “cancer”, basically some contamination & porosity from a bad melt process. Even at the perfect thickness, those inclusions that break up the pure B20 cut the sustain down a comical amount. For lathed cymbals, once you start cutting, it’s easy to visually sort out, but without lathing you can often only hear it. And I’m betting for this series, it was anything-goes on what the cymbal “should” sound like, given the target market.
So has it been a recurring problem with Zildjian? Because when I was in band from 82-86, I used Zildjian cymbals for marching band and even with softer crashes? I cracked 2 pairs during 83-84 alone. Now they did sound bright and the sound more natural during crashes, but they just cracked and fell apart. We ended up getting Sabians, not as good sounding, but heavier and more durable.
Every original Z crash I ever tried sounded like that. I always put it down to them being way too thick for what they were supposed to do - there was so much bronze there they couldn't vibrate properly.
i love the fact that, even though it’s not a good sound, it’s literally exactly what someone is looking for. someone out there has been searching for that exact sound. that’s what i love most about music and instruments, even if it’s not what you want, it’s someone else’s dream
@@bubbillusionexactly. This guy and everybody commenting is just saying that it's automatically bad because it doesn't work for the context he's using it with. If you aren't the target audience then of course you won't make it sound good. Just look at china cymbals. They sound absolutely ugly on their own but with the right player and in the right context, they can sound absolutely amazing.
Hate to say it but some cymbals are objectively terrible, this is definitely one of them. It may be someone's favorite sound if their goal is to repel entire audiences
"We've used computer assisted hammering and all of our metallurgic knowledge to make this B20 cymbal sound like you closed the lid on a trash can too hard..."
It honestly made me laugh. After he said he hated the rude at the beginning I didn’t think it sounded too bad, so I expected the Z to not be too terrible. Boy was I wrong.
The Zildjian version of the RUDE was the Impulse line before they did the Z line. Tim Alexander (Primus) still plays one. I love that the right drummer can make any gear sound good.
Seeing all the "computer generated" marketing in that magazine ad at 0:32 I am convinced Zildjian would be marketing this as "ooooh AI designed" if these cymbals released today
I like the Paiste rudes tbh. Especially the sound edge hihats… super crisp sound! Best hihat I have owned. Looking forward to buy a new pair when they are back in stock!
Yes! Every time he hit it I was like omg in the right context that sad kinda bonk would add so much tension to a good nu metal song. Even industrial stuff.
Good point. Especially since I actually like a lot of cymbals that go for this sort of sound but now I know exactly what that sounds like when they fail horribly at it.
They reissued the Z Customs NOT the originals. Those are VERY different cymbals. 🤷 Z Customs kick ass! As a metal drummer first & foremost, I've used a Z Custom as my "main squeeze" crash (the 16" "Z Custom Rock Crash" to be specific) for like a decade now! 🌝 With me only being in the market for a replacement in my "default lineup" just recently due to its "FINALLY just too damn bad to keep ignoring" cracking/splitting. 🤦🤷 And I'm SERIOUSLY considering just replacing it with one these reissues while I still have the chance!... Although sadly the Rock Crash in particular wasn't reissued MUCH to my dismay, but at least the regular one was! (Thankfully the standard & Rock crashes are FAR more similar than different! Although I definitely prefer the louder, higher pitched, and more piercing sound of the thicker Rock crash if given the choice. 🤷 It cuts through the chugs & thugs of a kickass metal breakdown like a hot knife through buttah!!! 😁 It's almost like it has just the sliiiightest bit of quality small size china cymbal DNA in its sound profile that the standard version has less of. 🤷 Aka very loud, bright, and forward in the natural acoustic mix [aka cuts/pierces through], but also somehow without a ton of sustain for how crazy thick it is! 😳🤯 Or at least not for its primary sound anyways! Which again, makes it IMO damn near the IDEAL metal breakdown crash! Hahaha. 🤣 Although ofc on what's usually the most hard hit primary cymbal, the Rock crash's epic thickness which makes all those bits of unique goodness happen also makes it VERY liable to slowly start cracking after a few years, as I've unfortunately gotten to experience first-hand... 🤦 That could very well be part of why it wasn't reissued with the others. 🤷)
@@Cooe. I have seen some of the z custom crashes and such that sound good, but we played a show a couple weeks ago where we all shared a kit and the guy who’s kit I was using had the z custom hi hats and I couldn’t stand them personally, they were super like crashy/washy sounding. I run cheap sabian b8s and to my ear they sounded better and they’re about 400+ dollars cheaper But it’s all subjective, we both played very different styles of music and it fit the mix for what the other band was playing better
@@diezcinco Never heard/used the Z Custom hats, just the crashes & rides. And lol no cymbal lineup, no matter how good otherwise, is impervious from having a dud though. 🤷 Happens pretty commonly actually.
@@Cooe. I know it especially as big as cymbal production is now you’re gonna have duds. Like I said they sounded good with what the guy that owned them was playing, it was like some weird electronic doom type stuff with a bunch of technical drum parts. I’m playing beat down hardcore so I don’t need nothing fancy by any means
The 16" Republic Percussion cymbal is made from B20 bronze. The hammering indicated it's a Wuhan district cymbal, just like Stagg. You'd find a lot of those under different names like CB Drums and bundled with entry level kits. To drummers out there, they may be cheap but can sound like something 10x the price!
The decay reminds me more of a dark plate reverb than a crash cymbal. In fact, with a couple of transducers you could probably turn it into a reverb plate like that guy did with the IKEA table.
I turned a cheap Craigslist crash cymbal into a plate reverb in college. Don’t remember what it was, some bottom line Zildjian probably. It’s a fun project. Line-to-speaker amp, wire it a cheap speaker under the cymbal, stick a piezo to the cymbal, mic to line amp, bingo bango. You can throw a feedback line from the line out to the line in with a control knob if you want, pretty easy addition, or you can do the feedback in DAW. Probably cost like $50 plus the cymbal. It sounded GNARLY, tons of character. If it sounds fun to you, it would be.
Gotta say, I love the way The Drum Thing operates now. I think this is a lot more fun and engaging. Love the rework Wade! Keep up the great work, you madlad!
While it is quite horrible, i think it would be perfect for some funeral doom sort of metal project, i have heard some bands wich have this style of cymbal and it fits perfectly with the music.
Yeah, the only use I can think of is in like a big prog kit where you want a ton of different cymbals to add variety. It could be used every once in a while, but certainly not as the main crash cymbal
ABSOLUTELY agree. I test drove one of these the first month they’ve were released in-store. It was horrific sounding. At the time, though, not wanting to appear stupid, I pretended like it was going to be a game changer. Which just made me look stupid.
Can't tell if the K at 6:58 has it too, if it does it much much quieter than the brass' ring. But I also could just be imagining it 'cause the brass one is still in my brain.
Great to see you Wade! I can't believe they got such a terrible sound with B20. The worst cymbals I have used (other than generic unbranded) has to be the Paiste 101 - pretty much the same vibe as the Z you have there 😁
Idk why but this video makes me want to see a CNC cut cymbal. I don’t think anyone would be willing to throw away that much bronze for something that probably sounds bad lol
I'm a musician but I do not have an ear for drums at all, usually when he pulls out a nasty cymbal I'm like "sounds fine to me" until he puts it in context. When he played this thing my jaw literally dropped right away it sounds so BAD
A cymbal that might take it to the Z is the Peace 12" Disc of Hate that you found at cashie's. I actually think the disc of hate has a use as a very niche effect cymbal though so i think i'd rather have that than the Z
Yup Zildjian are bringing back the Z Customs!
They are a totally different disk, built upon the lessons learned of the original Z's.
They are lathed and thinner to boot, they really dialled them in and are a classic 2000's sound.
Nice to see them back!
The original Z's on the other hand...
Nice!
Speaking of the new Z Customs I was blown away by the 22 inch ride and 20 inch crash they sounded soo good!
Z
damn finally a video
I swear to God, this exact cymbal is my first cymbal! It used to have some tape that was impossible to remove, so before I sold it, I had to scratch it hard! That's why there is a big clear spot near the Z !
i sold it in France in 2020 it's so random
i don't have the photos i used to sell it but i still have som random picture on which you can see it !
It bonks and gongs at the same time. It bongs
i love bongs
gonks and bongs
I bong everyday
Load up that swish og
That's a bong I wouldn't be happy to be with.
That Z has what we inside Zildjian called “cancer”, basically some contamination & porosity from a bad melt process. Even at the perfect thickness, those inclusions that break up the pure B20 cut the sustain down a comical amount. For lathed cymbals, once you start cutting, it’s easy to visually sort out, but without lathing you can often only hear it. And I’m betting for this series, it was anything-goes on what the cymbal “should” sound like, given the target market.
So they just never played it before sending it out? Should have been caught in QC.
So has it been a recurring problem with Zildjian? Because when I was in band from 82-86, I used Zildjian cymbals for marching band and even with softer crashes? I cracked 2 pairs during 83-84 alone. Now they did sound bright and the sound more natural during crashes, but they just cracked and fell apart. We ended up getting Sabians, not as good sounding, but heavier and more durable.
Every original Z crash I ever tried sounded like that. I always put it down to them being way too thick for what they were supposed to do - there was so much bronze there they couldn't vibrate properly.
i love the fact that, even though it’s not a good sound, it’s literally exactly what someone is looking for. someone out there has been searching for that exact sound. that’s what i love most about music and instruments, even if it’s not what you want, it’s someone else’s dream
yeah honestly i can think of a lot of contexts where it would sound really cool!
@@bubbillusionwhat like the boff sound to go with the words from the 66 batman show
@@bubbillusionexactly. This guy and everybody commenting is just saying that it's automatically bad because it doesn't work for the context he's using it with. If you aren't the target audience then of course you won't make it sound good. Just look at china cymbals. They sound absolutely ugly on their own but with the right player and in the right context, they can sound absolutely amazing.
Hate to say it but some cymbals are objectively terrible, this is definitely one of them. It may be someone's favorite sound if their goal is to repel entire audiences
@@jayall00 skill issue
As someone with 0 musical understanding
that thing sounds like its underwater
Probably because it has a lot less high end presence than a normal cymbal
I too have zero musical sense, and I agree it sounds like a hubcap.
As someone with musical understanding, I agree
@@mrblack5145 funny thing is that hubcaps would probably sound better lol
its strangely quiet??
It sounds like a gong that is rapidly being pulled away from you
The Gonplar Effect
this is so vivid that its all i can think about when i hear this cymbal now
i've never heard a more accurate explanation for a cymbals sound
You have a wonderful way with words
Finally, the cymbal that tosses itself!
Now you can have that “brother practicing drums downstairs” sound on your own kit!
Zildjian really figured out how to make a B20 bronze cymbal sound like a stop sign huh?
Nah, stop sign is unique.
Introducing the Zildjian Aluminum.
i was so hoping he'd bust out the stop sign
Yeah, good idea for a sheet of metal , even appliances work too. A guy used to make cymbals with sheet metal on youtube!
I mean Wade has done a video on the stop sign symbol... it sounds like you think it'd sound
I never though I'd hear a cymbal that literally sounds depressed.
It’s a bonk but it realizes that people don’t want the bonk about mid way through so it gets self conscious and tries to stop
This is fuckin gold man thanks you gave me a good laugh
haha I swear there's a split second when you can hear how it's supposed to sound but then it just doesn't
i laughed so hard i choked
That's not even a crash cymbal. It's a bonk cymbal.
7:35 The "EAK, challenge everything" joke awakened some nostalgia deep in my brain
Finally, pre-choked
"We've used computer assisted hammering and all of our metallurgic knowledge to make this B20 cymbal sound like you closed the lid on a trash can too hard..."
Yes! Galvanized garbage can banging on concrete!
I thought for sure I wasn't going to be able to hear a difference, but it's truly awful!
You clearly never heard of a Swish Knocker.
The jaw drop I experienced after hearing that first 'clonk' is rivaled only by the introduction of the 20" steel DXP from the egg cymbal video
I had to go back to the egg cymbal to listen to the 20" DXP steel again after this video. The sound of that thing is still special and hilarious.
It honestly made me laugh. After he said he hated the rude at the beginning I didn’t think it sounded too bad, so I expected the Z to not be too terrible. Boy was I wrong.
The Zildjian version of the RUDE was the Impulse line before they did the Z line. Tim Alexander (Primus) still plays one. I love that the right drummer can make any gear sound good.
We need to have a "really that bad" cymbol bonanza. A whole drum kit of skyscraper grade steel.
If the St. Anger snare was a cymbal.
No, wait, Lars used these.
Because of course he did.
-_-
@@blackett412that's hilarious
@@blackett412 Wait what songs they use that in because there is no way anything rememberable used these
@@nickrustyson8124I would guess it's the select few songs in MoP and AJfA that soundnlike there's no crash cymbals in them
@@nickrustyson8124the mix compensates for many things. That's the upside for playing thrash metal I guess...
When the music is playing it sounds like instead of hitting the cymbal you are throwing a beanbag down a hallway and accidentally hitting a cymbal.
Seeing all the "computer generated" marketing in that magazine ad at 0:32 I am convinced Zildjian would be marketing this as "ooooh AI designed" if these cymbals released today
Even on expensive studio monitors the Zildjian just ... disappears in a mix lmao
LMAO that cymbal sounds like its soul died or something. Never knew drums could lose the will to live!
😂😂😂
It genuinely sounds like you smashed it with a super soft marimba mallet and held the mallet on there
I like the Paiste rudes tbh. Especially the sound edge hihats… super crisp sound! Best hihat I have owned. Looking forward to buy a new pair when they are back in stock!
You gotta do a whole video about the Rudes, they’re iconic at this point
he's adding his custom hammer marks to the cymbals he throws, what an entrepreneur
Ballistic hammering!
Wade is looking more and more like the embodiment of "60s/70s" everyday... And im all here for it.
The zed: "all of those songs are not quite my tempo"
The "lower quality" cymbals are all EXCELLENT nu-metal percussion...
One of my local nu-metal bands literally uses a trash can lid for an effect bonk. The drummer's nickname is Neil Dirt lmao.
I find that even my least favorite cymbals sound perfect in the right context.
Slipknot?
@@dcurry7287 What a rad nickname
Yes! Every time he hit it I was like omg in the right context that sad kinda bonk would add so much tension to a good nu metal song. Even industrial stuff.
Sometimes you have to have your definition of “sounds good” recalibrated by hearing the things that sound bad.
Good point. Especially since I actually like a lot of cymbals that go for this sort of sound but now I know exactly what that sounds like when they fail horribly at it.
Ive played radiators that sound nicer than this Z
It got to the point that by the end of the video I forgot what a cymbal is supposed to sound like.
It has a wonderful "Ehh, good enough" attitude. The bonk of a tricycle crash and the hiss of a wet fart. 10/10
I think we’re looking at it wrong. More of a ‘pocket gong’ than cymbal. Now it sounds great.
Timed it too well because Zildjian just reissued the Z's.
They reissued the Z Customs NOT the originals. Those are VERY different cymbals. 🤷 Z Customs kick ass!
As a metal drummer first & foremost, I've used a Z Custom as my "main squeeze" crash (the 16" "Z Custom Rock Crash" to be specific) for like a decade now! 🌝
With me only being in the market for a replacement in my "default lineup" just recently due to its "FINALLY just too damn bad to keep ignoring" cracking/splitting. 🤦🤷 And I'm SERIOUSLY considering just replacing it with one these reissues while I still have the chance!... Although sadly the Rock Crash in particular wasn't reissued MUCH to my dismay, but at least the regular one was!
(Thankfully the standard & Rock crashes are FAR more similar than different! Although I definitely prefer the louder, higher pitched, and more piercing sound of the thicker Rock crash if given the choice. 🤷 It cuts through the chugs & thugs of a kickass metal breakdown like a hot knife through buttah!!! 😁
It's almost like it has just the sliiiightest bit of quality small size china cymbal DNA in its sound profile that the standard version has less of. 🤷 Aka very loud, bright, and forward in the natural acoustic mix [aka cuts/pierces through], but also somehow without a ton of sustain for how crazy thick it is! 😳🤯 Or at least not for its primary sound anyways! Which again, makes it IMO damn near the IDEAL metal breakdown crash! Hahaha. 🤣
Although ofc on what's usually the most hard hit primary cymbal, the Rock crash's epic thickness which makes all those bits of unique goodness happen also makes it VERY liable to slowly start cracking after a few years, as I've unfortunately gotten to experience first-hand... 🤦 That could very well be part of why it wasn't reissued with the others. 🤷)
Got a 16 and 18 Z Custom hanging out on my kit right now and they are great
@@Cooe. I have seen some of the z custom crashes and such that sound good, but we played a show a couple weeks ago where we all shared a kit and the guy who’s kit I was using had the z custom hi hats and I couldn’t stand them personally, they were super like crashy/washy sounding. I run cheap sabian b8s and to my ear they sounded better and they’re about 400+ dollars cheaper
But it’s all subjective, we both played very different styles of music and it fit the mix for what the other band was playing better
@@diezcinco Never heard/used the Z Custom hats, just the crashes & rides. And lol no cymbal lineup, no matter how good otherwise, is impervious from having a dud though. 🤷 Happens pretty commonly actually.
@@Cooe. I know it especially as big as cymbal production is now you’re gonna have duds. Like I said they sounded good with what the guy that owned them was playing, it was like some weird electronic doom type stuff with a bunch of technical drum parts. I’m playing beat down hardcore so I don’t need nothing fancy by any means
The no name children's kit cymbal actually makes for a quiet decent splash cymbal.
The best feature of the Z is the mesmerising ripple it does after being hit
The 16" Republic Percussion cymbal is made from B20 bronze. The hammering indicated it's a Wuhan district cymbal, just like Stagg. You'd find a lot of those under different names like CB Drums and bundled with entry level kits. To drummers out there, they may be cheap but can sound like something 10x the price!
WAKE UP BOYS NEW DRUM THING JUST DROPPED
WOOO GADIES AND LENTLEMEN, A CYMBAL THINGY!!!!
Only took him two months
@@Miles6400 true, but he’s also managing 3 channels and making a website for his museum
@@mariothedevil1537 yoooo i forgot about that u know what its called (the website)
This gave me “Get up co**suckers, it’s all over…” vibes 😂😂
The decay reminds me more of a dark plate reverb than a crash cymbal. In fact, with a couple of transducers you could probably turn it into a reverb plate like that guy did with the IKEA table.
Sounds more like the metal grate that covers the central ac system intake than a cymbal.
I don't know, I suspect it would suck horribly as a reverb plate but could be wrong.
Brillant idea!!
I turned a cheap Craigslist crash cymbal into a plate reverb in college. Don’t remember what it was, some bottom line Zildjian probably. It’s a fun project. Line-to-speaker amp, wire it a cheap speaker under the cymbal, stick a piezo to the cymbal, mic to line amp, bingo bango. You can throw a feedback line from the line out to the line in with a control knob if you want, pretty easy addition, or you can do the feedback in DAW.
Probably cost like $50 plus the cymbal. It sounded GNARLY, tons of character. If it sounds fun to you, it would be.
The comments couldn't prepare me for how soul-destroying that sound would be.
A cymbal that straight up sounds like a vine boom. Marvelous.
That cymbal sounds like a refund.
I never fail to laugh when something you hit with a stick just goes *CLANG*
I’ve been waiting so long for a stream highlights video, and it’s better than I could’ve asked for.
BELLY laughing when you hit the Z Custom
That was the bonkest sounding pot lid I've ever heard 😂
Dankpods looks like hes on a Las Vegas vacation
It's been so long since a new drum times been uploaded. Excited for more
Gotta say, I love the way The Drum Thing operates now. I think this is a lot more fun and engaging. Love the rework Wade! Keep up the great work, you madlad!
the DXP steel sounds like a frying pan hahaha
Well, it basically is one. It's a frying pan coated in gold glitter paint.
Same materials :P
nothing could have prepared me for how that sounded, that is absolute garbage
been subconsciously waiting for this vid and its finally here, nice.
7:51 YOU NEED TO MAKE THOSE A SET OF HI HATS
Zildjian made a metal table 😭😭
A garb time and a drum thing? You're spoiling us mate
The funny thing is...when he played a "good" and combined it with the "bad" one, it sounded pretty damn cool.
The production quality of this is... actually insane lol
Well it lives up to RUDE, it had a bad day so its a bit grumpy
That broken tossed around Pearl ride cymbal sounded 1000x better than that POS. Very trashy and awesome
That's amazingly bad! Thanks for sharing these little bits of history!
Thank you so much for the belly laughs. I needed it.
While it is quite horrible, i think it would be perfect for some funeral doom sort of metal project, i have heard some bands wich have this style of cymbal and it fits perfectly with the music.
Yeah, the only use I can think of is in like a big prog kit where you want a ton of different cymbals to add variety. It could be used every once in a while, but certainly not as the main crash cymbal
Yeah, this could be useful as an effect cymbal, but it's definitely not a Crash, at all, and it's not going to make anyone switch from Paiste RUDE.
Hearing the first strike of that Zildjian Z has made me laugh harder than it should have. It sounds awful
Finally. I’ve missed the drum content!!!
I laughed so hard at this! Thanks for making my day dude!
Zildjan really said, “We are determined to never be satisfied with our quality. Here’s what that feels like.”
it sounds like it's trying to pretend it's painted
Man i had a genuine chuckle when you hit that cymbal for the first time
You’re killing me! 😂😂this was great. Thank you!
ABSOLUTELY agree. I test drove one of these the first month they’ve were released in-store. It was horrific sounding. At the time, though, not wanting to appear stupid, I pretended like it was going to be a game changer. Which just made me look stupid.
just go for stupid, you are better off (but never go full retard)
yay drum dude is back
I appreciate your succinct summary of what brass cymbals sound like
Great video 😂! Best cymbal of Z series 21" mega bell
Hell yes just what I needed this morning.
Also first lel
God that brass cymbal at 5:40-ish has such a high ring to it, tinnitus type sound. Yeouch.
Can't tell if the K at 6:58 has it too, if it does it much much quieter than the brass' ring. But I also could just be imagining it 'cause the brass one is still in my brain.
Great to see you Wade! I can't believe they got such a terrible sound with B20. The worst cymbals I have used (other than generic unbranded) has to be the Paiste 101 - pretty much the same vibe as the Z you have there 😁
It sounds like 707 crash cymbal. That's why I like it
Idk why but this video makes me want to see a CNC cut cymbal. I don’t think anyone would be willing to throw away that much bronze for something that probably sounds bad lol
If I have some laying around (I always have stuff around), I could try to make one, and try to make it sound good?
@@cubiclelemur that’s definitely a video i would watch. I didn’t even realise people have bronze just laying around lol
@@Flapjck it's weird, I have like everything lying around, from car parts to collectable toys, weird stuff
Sounds like a bit of aluminum siding underwater
I audibly went “Zildgian, why?” Multiple times during this video
Hey I appreciate the new quality put into the drum thing, aside from terrible cymbals
That's as BONK as a crash cymbal can BONK
I'm a musician but I do not have an ear for drums at all, usually when he pulls out a nasty cymbal I'm like "sounds fine to me" until he puts it in context. When he played this thing my jaw literally dropped right away it sounds so BAD
This is the best drum thing video yet
This is my first time ever coming to this channel, but this was hilarious 😂😂. That Z sounds like sheet metal
DRUM THING!
Better sound from a bin lid
Yay, the drum thing’s back!
There are literally brass-stamped cymbals that come included in a drum starter kit for $300 that sound better than the Z power crash.
0:49 *RUDE*
Not gonna lie, paired with a good quality cymbal, a crap one can be used with its 'unique' sound
It's good as an accent sound, to be used like every second bar at most.
Anything Pearl is proud enough to put their name on wins the top spot for horrible
A cymbal that might take it to the Z is the Peace 12" Disc of Hate that you found at cashie's. I actually think the disc of hate has a use as a very niche effect cymbal though so i think i'd rather have that than the Z
These would fit great on a certain metallica album
why do you say Z like a british person?
Because he's from a prison island aye
Because he's basically a British person with extra step
You're hilarious. Subscribed.
Thanks bro, not laughed so much in a long time !
You make good content man
How can B20 big pizzas sound like a splash and a bonk at the same time...? You gotta respect the craftsmanship, it's probably not easy
Your passion always seeps out of your videos
I always learn something from these.