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Zildjian's A Custom series of cymbals were developed as a contemporary interpretation of the company's timeless Avedis series cymbals. Rather than being an abrupt departure in sound terms, they were intended to offer drummers another cymbal voice, but still a classic Zildjian one.

 

Combining radical rotary hammering techniques with thin to medium weights, brilliant finishes, and research and development assistance from drumming wizard Vinnie Colaiuta, the A Customs were well received and have become a popular line.

 

The A Custom Fast splashes and crashes represent a further update on the A Custom sound and of course offer another set of crash and splash choices. While this doubles up the options of splash varieties across all three sizes, for the crashes it means that there are as many as four different styles of A Custom crash cymbal in some diameters (crash, Fast crash, Medium crash and Projection crash).

 

The Fast Show

 

Such choice is undoubtedly a good thing, enabling you to mix and match different cymbals into a truly personal selection. Whether your nearest shop is accommodating enough to stock every listed cymbal on any given day is probably another matter. The cymbals are cast from Zildjian's proprietary formula which roughly breaks down as 80 percent copper, 20 percent tin and traces of silver.

 

Zildjian claims that it is not so much the ratio of these ingredients, but the way that they are mixed together that makes the cymbals uniquely Zildjian. Since being established by Avedis Zildjian in 1623, the process remains virtually unchanged. The exact recipe still remains a closely guarded secret, to the extent that access to the melt room in Zildjian's factory, where every one of their cymbals begins life, is only ever granted to two employees outside of the Zildjian family.

 

The cymbals all feel pleasantly thin but are not especially pliable and bear similar working details, namely lots of neat lathing bands. The lathing is uninterrupted from the centre hole to the edge of each cymbal. Small hammer marks are visible beneath the lathing belts and these are again arranged in tidy, closely formed clusters.

 

A similar profile, consisting of a gentle taper leading down from the bell, is shared by all the cymbals. The 18" crash possesses a slightly more pronounced bell than the other models, but conforms in all other visual aspects.

 

Quick as a flash

 

The cymbals are described in the Zildjian catalogue as having a brilliant finish and have been buffed to a warm golden hue. The lathing influences the surface detail to the degree that the sort of mirror smooth finish worn by other A Custom cymbals is not possible, but they do reflect light very efficiently. Under stage lights the lathing bands encourage a shimmering effect which is magnified when the cymbals are struck.