A Custom 18" Fast Crash
Group: Crashes
Type: Fast Crash
Size: 18 Inch
Series: A Custom
Weight: 1180g, 1185g, 1263g, 1285g, 1304g (2002 Serial Number), 1307g (2008 Serial Number), 1327g
Median Weight: 1285g (n=7)
Years of production: 2002 - Present
Sound file: A Custom 18" Fast Crash
A Custom 18" Fast Crash
A Custom 18" Fast Crash
A Custom 18" Fast Crash
A Custom 18" Fast Crash
A Custom 18" Fast Crash
A Custom 18" Fast Crash
A Custom 18" Fast Crash
Zildjian's Description: <<< - >>>
Review: "These A Custom models are very aptly named. Their quick decay makes them great for punching accents in close succession. I love to use double crashes at the end of phrases, and these are perfect for that. The range of voices goes from high and fiery in the 14" to lower and smoldering in the 18".When I hit each size, in order, the pitches seemed to go down in whole steps.
As with the rides, the hammering on the Fast crashes is very subtle. The profile of the cymbals is rather flat, which probably promotes the quick decay. The bells on all but the 18" are small but still satisfying to hit. The Fast crashes responded quickly when struck with mallets. The highs were still there, but there was lots of warmth as well.
Gregg Stein of Zildjian was kind enough to supply a “standard” A Custom 16" crash for comparison with its Fast sibling. I put the two cymbals side by side and played them with sticks and brushes. The Fast crash had a higher voice and greater definition. The bell was especially more penetrating. The standard crash had a longer sustain, while the Fast crash was true to its name and died away quickly."
Review written by Chap Ostrander ("New Zildjian A Custom Models - Added Punch For The A Team", Modern Drummer, July 2002, p. 43)
Review: "There are so many lines of cymbals manufactured by most cymbal companies, it is difficult to imagine what they sound like from their name. If someone asked you what is the difference in sound between an 18″ thin crash and an 18″ fast crash, would you know the answer? I wouldn’t. That’s the sort of thing we will be working out here at Percussion Reviews. The current article is a review of the 18″ A Custom Fast Crash from Zildjian.
The lathing is fine, and includes the entire cymbal. Zildjian states that they use a special rotary hammering technique for the A Custom line, and certainly, the hammering and lathing procedure can result in very different sound, even though the alloy is the same, and the hot ingot is handled through the rollers in the same way. But, of course, we don’t know all the details. That is part of the secretive culture belonging to the cymbal making process."
Review written by John E. Johnson, Jr. ("Zildjian 18″ A Custom Fast Crash Cymbal", hometheaterhifi.com, March 15, 2011)
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