general discussion on too many cymbals. I could go into detail about drummers i've known who seem to have fetish for more cymbals. And at the moment i have a crash, hats, splash, ride (which i want to replace with a good crash ride) and mini china and after i replace that ride i think anything after that would just be excessive. So a few questions...
What cymbals do u currently have? how much is too much? do u think the multitude of cymbals now available gives us makes us loose out ingenuity and just buy more rather than utilizing what we've got? Do u think drummers like Mike Portney of Dream Theater encourage that? and in general are more cymbals always better?








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Zildjian, Wuhan & Istanbul cymbals
Pearl & Mirage kit.
Crappiato Snare
Steve's Back! ..............kinda

I like alot of cymbals, simply for that fact. Not influenced by anyone.








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I PROUDLY ENDORSE MEDICINE MAN DRUMS AND SALUDA CYMBALS, and Bud light.

i have hats, 2 crashes and a ride. and i will buy a china, don't know when. and that's it.








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Mapex Q
Batter: Evans G2 / Evans HD
Reso: Evans G1 / Evans hazy 300
Pro-Mark 5B / Pro-Mark Mike Portnoy
Paiste PST5, Alpha and Sabian AAX
Gibraltar Thorne
Tama Iron Cobra Rolling Glide Double Pedal.

I used to think more cymbals the better. I used to have 3 crashes, 2 chinas, splash and a ride (hats as well of course). However, I ended up not liking it. It was just too much stuff around the drumset, too many options (i've only been drumming for about 2 years). It's like one of those graphics or audio editing programs: Everybody says the program is great, and it looks really professional, but there are too many options that you don't know about that make the interface very confusing and un-user friendly. I think that's the same way I am about it. I still think the more cymbals: more options.... which is in general good. However, currently I am sticking with the 2 crash and ride only (need I mention hats?) setup for now

Well here is my 2 cents.

I have a set of hats, 1 ride, 2 crashes, 1 china, 1 splash, so 7 cymbals total or 6 if you wanted to count the hats as a set. I do change my hats between 5 cymbals depending on the sound I'm looking for.

I don't think you can have to much, it comes down to personal preference. For me, I would love to have as many as I can get, just for different sounds and options, but that wouldn't fit into what I am playing now.

A multitude of cymbals gives you options as a player. I don't believe any of us hear the same thing when we play. Given the verity we have today, drummers can have a distinctive sound, not only because of their playing but now from their instrument as well. I personally use custom cymbals that have a sound all of their own.

The second part of that question, it always will come down to the person as far as using what you have. I have cymbals that I make work, but that doesn't mean they flow into my set-up as well as I like. I continue to look for the perfect set-up and I am pretty sure I will never find it, so I will always be utilizing what I have at the time.

I think guys like Mike Portney just plan old inspires drummers as a whole. Not many people will ever have his set up, cymbals or drums. I personally don't like all of Mike's cymbals, some of the trashier stuff drives me nuts, but it works great for him and other players.

Last question is a personal one for the player.








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SilverFox HR Sticks

I like to have alot of equipment to get the sound I want.

Therefore I own a alot of equipment.



Some people feel they don't need alot of equipment to get the sound they want.

Therefore they don't own alot of equipment.




It's all your personal preference and what you want it to sound like.

I have a lot of cymbals but none of them are like the other ones. They all add their own effects.
8" Splash, 10" Splash, 10" Splash, 12" Splash, They are setup melodicly on my set
16" crash, 14" crash, 14" crash, The two 14's are on different sides of my set
1 ride and 1 china. O yeah and a pair of hats
It seems like a lot but I seem to get them all to fit on my kit without it looking cluttered.

What you said about not utilizing everything was a good point. I use everything but not as much as someone who has 4 cymbals would. I think it depends on the type of music you play, for how many cymbals you need.

Most famous drummers use a lot so maybe people think they need a lot too.

I don't think you can have too many cymbals or too many snare drums. They're all individual instruments. Having more voices to choose from means that you can tailor your sound to any given gig.

I use three crash cymbals, a splash, a ride, and one set of hats.








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Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

my cymbal setup changes dramatically based on the style of music I'm playing, for small acoustic jazz gigs i just like to use a ride a large crash and hats... when i play more progressive styles i like more cymbals, but i dont think there can ever really be to many, not as long as you are happy with what you have, dont let anyone tell you how your drum set should be, just do what the hell you want, otherwise there wouldn't be any innovation








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dw collector series maple
zildjian and saluda cymbals
dw and yamaha snares
dw hardware

i have alot of cymbals, and i like to use em all. it gives you more options, and it can't be bad for you. unless you have like 30 cymbals and don't have room to move...

right now i am using a setup consisting of 3 crashes, a ride, and hats. i am only using that little because i don't have enough clamps on my rack to hold the rest of my stuff, and i don't want to have to take a rack and stands... that just defeats the purpose of a rack.

i have 3 more crashes, another ride, 2 splashes, and a china i intend to add to my setup once i get enough clamps. that would give me 6 crashes, 2 rides (crash rides), 2 pairs of hats, 2 splashes, and a china for a total of 13 cymbals.








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PDP, Tama, and Pearl Drums
DW, Pearl, and Gibraltar Hardware
Sabian, Zildjian, and Saluda Cymbals

www.myspace.com/EOTEband

I'm a cymbal junkie! I typically use hats, 3 crashes, ride, 3 splashes, bell, and a china. I have more cymbals for different venues. 3 extra rides, xtra china, and extra hats. P.O.Y!








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It's so important to make best friends in life!

Tama and Medicine Man Drums, Zildjian, Remo, Roc-n-Soc, DW and Pro-mark.

I am a minimalist when it comes to how many cymbals I use at once, but I have a few of each type of cymbal which I interchange depending on situation. I'm thinking about adding a couple bells, another crash, and a china however...just to give myself some more melodic possibility when it comes to the metals.








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www.myspace.com/alanselectronicmuse

I think a lot of cymbals looks good on big kits but on 4 or 5 pieces i think it looks odd to have excessive amounts of cymbals.

I play a four piece with hats, crash, splash, ride and china but i am hopefully getting a new crash in may.








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Mapex
Sabian AAX
Vic Firth

i agree with Vanden, less is more. I use to want the biggest baddest everything, now I am making a 360 i want the least with the most.








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Mapex drums
instanbul
Roland V-drums
Hand percussionist

Vanden wrote:

I think a lot of cymbals looks good on big kits but on 4 or 5 pieces i think it looks odd to have excessive amounts of cymbals.

I play a four piece with hats, crash, splash, ride and china but i am hopefully getting a new crash in may.

since when should what looks cool or in style affect your drum setup? its YOUR choice. yes if terry bozzio had a 25 piece drum kit with just a ride and a pair of hats it would look weird, but play what you want the way you want it.








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PDP, Tama, and Pearl Drums
DW, Pearl, and Gibraltar Hardware
Sabian, Zildjian, and Saluda Cymbals

www.myspace.com/EOTEband