Z Custom 14" Splash

Group: Splashes
Type: Splash
Size: 14 Inch
Series: Z Custom
Weight: 788g (2005 Serial Number)
Years of production: 2005 - 2009
Sound file: Z Custom 14" Splash vs Paiste RUDE 14" Crash/Ride (reviewed below)
Zildjian's Description: <<< - >>>
Review: "The 14" splash was the least captivating of the Z trio for me. There's nothing wrong with it, but the other two were the real characters for me, and played next to them, it didn't strike us as anything out of the ordinary. It's designated a splash, but at 14" could be regarded as a small crash. It's been hammered in the same way as the 20" Custom crash, but is too small to have much of an Oriental flavour about it.
Nonetheless, when it's next to the A Custom 14" Medium Crash it was indeed darker and faster, as it was also slightly thinner. It has more of a splashy sound to it, while the 14" A (Custom) has more body, soread, and roundness."

Review written by Music Radar Team (musicradar.com, December 11, 2007) retrieved January 3, 2024

Review: (See my above video) The Z Custom 14" Splash is not the best name for this model, as it doesn't really produce the sort of sound usually associated with that model. "Accent Crash" might've been a better title, as this is what this seems to be more than a splash. Weighing in at 788 grams, this really packs a wallop as a full-sounding, high-pitched, and medium quick crash. I think this would be a nice compliment to a heavy 16" crash. Or, if one played all loud/heavy crashes, this could be used as it was intended, as long as it was understood that its splash properties depended solely on comparison.

Review written by Bluejacketsfan

Review: "Hammer marks that fan outward from the bell give the 14" splash the formidable modern look of many Z Customs. And at 14" this cymbal make a very big splash. In fact, this cymbal lies in the gray area between splashes and crashes, and could be used as a transition between them as well as standing alone.

When struck full on, the 14" splash produces a full-bodied response, without the papery thinness of smaller splashes. Yet its timbre is not quite as long and round as a crash. The cymbal speaks loudly, making its statement with rich, bright harmonics. Then it decays fairly quickly."

Review written by Martin Patmos ("Product Close-Up - Zildjian ZBT Rock And New Z Custom Models - For Those About To Rock"), Modern Drummer, October 2005, p. 35)

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