There aren’t too many cymbal lines more popular than the Zildjian A Customs. These bright cymbals are often the go-to option for drummers that need something special.
In this review, we’re going to take a closer look at the A Custom Cymbal Set. It’s a pre-packed set of A Custom cymbals crafted to use in various settings.
We’ll explore how they compare to other cymbal lines, and we’ll discuss which types of drummers will benefit from using these the most.
The A Custom cymbals are made from Zildjian’s famous B20 bronze cast alloy. It makes them sound very musical and responsive.
Each cymbal in the pack has bright tones, meaning they’re high-pitched and powerful. Brightness is the overall main characteristic of the entire cymbal set.
Inside the pack, you get a 16” crash, 18” crash, 14” hi-hats, and a 20” ride cymbal.
The first thing you’ll notice about these cymbals is how bright they are. As you strike them, you get high-pitched tones that are aggressive and powerful.
However, they still seem to be quite musical. This means that you can hit them at varying dynamic levels and they’ll produce a wide range of responses.
This is why they’re a top option for pro drummers, as they give a lot more than other bright cymbals that tend not to be as musical.
You can really lay into each cymbal in the pack to get a huge amount of volume. You could also hit them lightly while playing in a smaller venue, and you’d still get a lot of presence.
With the cymbals being made with B20 bronze alloy, you get the most musicality possible. Cymbals made with lower-quality alloys typically aren’t as responsive to varying dynamic levels.
In terms of how these cymbals feel, the crashes have a medium weight, while the ride cymbal is a lot heavier.
The hi-hats also have a medium weight, but they feel a bit heavier than most of the popular hi-hat pairs that drummers love to use these days.
Overall, the pack is heavier than normal, but that’s to be expected from cymbals that are so bright.
We love how each cymbal has a focused tone, and the tone stays consistent as you play across the set.
If you’re a drummer who plays a lot of live gigs in big venues, this is the cymbal pack for you. You don’t need to strike these cymbals too hard to get a lot of volume.
As you hit the crashes, they bellow out quickly and fill the room. The ride cymbal is extremely articulate as well, allowing you to play quick notes and have them all heard clearly.
The hi-hats are just as articulate, but they open up fantastically as you lift your foot, giving you aggressive washing sounds.
The entire cymbal pack costs just over $1000. It’s somewhat expensive compared to a lot of other packs, but these are top-of-the-range cymbals from Zildjian.
They’re typically not considered as high-quality as any of Zildjian’s K or K Custom cymbals. However, they’re the best pick if you’re looking for bright and powerful sounds.
So, we’d say that the cymbal pack is well worth the price, especially if you’re looking for these exact sounds.
With that said, you could get a pack that is more affordable if you look at other brands. Meinl offers the Classics Customs and Sabian offers the AAX cymbals. Those are worth checking out.
To round things out, we highly recommend getting the Zildjian A Custom cymbal pack if you’re looking for a full set of bright cymbals. You can’t go wrong with these.
One thing we haven’t mentioned is that they’re incredibly durable. We know of plenty of drummers who have been using them for over a decade without any issues, so that’s something to take note of.
If you find the pack to be a bit too expensive, consider looking at Zildjian’s standard A cymbal pack.
Founder of TheDrumNinja
I’m crazy about drums, it’s been my passion since I was 12 years old. I played in numerous bands going through different styles like Rock, Progressive, Pop & Jazz-Rock. After being featured in major music publications (Drumeo, Guitar Guitar, AudioIssues, MusicThinkTank) I started this website to share my knowledge and create a resource for drummers of all levels.
We specialize in helping drummers of all levels become rhythmic assassins and develop ninja-like skills, quickly. Our mission is to create the best resources for all musicians and build a community where you can learn and share everything related to your musical journey.
Our team is committed to exceeding our clients’ expectations with uncompromising honesty and integrity. We focus all of our energy on helping musicians of all levels achieve their goals and build a foundation of skills that will last a lifetime.
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