Paiste Formula 602

Formula 602

Introduction: 1959 (2019 website)

Background:

• Formula 602 sounds are very precise, very clear and very pure. They are suited to acoustic music, jazz, classical performances and recording. Only a delicate touch is required to produce their distinctive, cool and natural response. (1)
  
• One of the world’s most referred and legendary cymbal line in history. Renown and loved for its fine, pure, soft, delicate musical tone, that requirea precise playing. Reintroduction of the most popular models, faithfully re-created in terms of sound and look in 2011. Forged from the legendary «602 Bronze» (CuSn20), handcrafted from start to finish by highly skilled Swiss craftsmen, Formula 602 Classic Sounds cymbals produce a true, pure sound of unique clarity and consistency. (2019 website)
  

Innovation: First B20 cymbal made by Paiste. In 1976, the Formula 602 Dark Ride inspired a new line-up of dark cymbals in the Sound Creationseries. The Formula 602 line also saw the introduction of the Sound Edge Hi-Hat and the Flatride.

Alloy: B20 (CuSn20)

Quality: Professional

Offered as: Formula 602 - Formula 602 Modern Essentials

Production: Hand hammered and hand lathed bronze.

Applications:

• Most volume settings • Live and recording • Wide range of music styles such as Pop, Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Funk, R&B, Classic, Avant-garde, Big Band, Country, Blues and Gospel.
  
• Low to medium loud settings • especially well-suited for recording, live • Jazz, Fusion, Blues, moderate Pop and Rock, Country, Folk, acoustic music. (2019 website)
  

Users: Professional musicians and enthusiastic drummers, refined drummers and sound specialists with precise requirements that need a fully developed character in their cymbal sound

Sound:

• Musical, transparent, beautiful, rich, colorful, full, clear, expressive sound • The model range features everything from particularly delicate, well balanced and sensitive to expressive, potent and powerful and projective qualities
• Warm, silvery, mellow, cool, light, fine, precise and controlled • Cymbals with clarity and retro vintage character combined with a velvety, sensitive, very responsive feel. (2019 website)
  
• The following description appeared in the 1969 Paiste catalog:
  
  "The sound of your cymbals and the way they are put together distinguish you from other drummers. In Paiste production, it is decided in advance how the cymbals must sound. Also, whether they are going to be Medium Ride or Thin, Medium or Heavy, Paper-thin or Hi-hat cymbals. These cymbals are made according to precisely determined shapes and to measurements with an accuracy with 1/100 of a millimeter. Several technical controls have been built into the production process. These are executed by specialists, using appropriate measuring equipment. Nevertheless, only the trained ear of a drummer can be the final judge of the sound quality. Every cymbal that leaves the plant is flawless, both in material and in sound.
  
  Each cymbal has to meet rigorous standards for sound characteristics and quality. There are 5 specific sound qualities from which to choose. The sizes most in use are between 16" and 20". The complete range, however, includes all sizes between 10" and 28".
  
  SIZZLE cymbals are often discussed among drummers. The important thing is never to use a cymbal of inferior quality, since rivets will not make it better. You should first select the cymbal, MEDIUM or MEDIUM RIDE and then add the rivets. Six of these set about 1 1/4" from the outer edge, give a good effect. Upon request selected cymbals will be delivered with the rivets already mounted.
  
  Many drummers own several cymbal-sets and more than one Hi-hat pair. They exchange these according to the music's requirements. Studio musicians require several sets as a matter of course."
  
  

Rides

• Dark Ride - 22"
  
• Flatride Heavy - 20" 22"
  
• Flatride Medium - 14" 16" 18" 20" 22"
  
• Flatride Thin - 14" 16" 18" 20" 22"
  
• Heavy - 10" 11" 12" 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24" 26"
  
• Medium Ride - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
  

Crashes

• Medium - 10" 11" 12" 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24" 26"
  
• Paperthin - 10" 11" 12" 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24" 26"
  
• Thin Crash - 12" 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24"
  
• Thin - 10" 11" 12" 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 21" 22" 24" 26"
  

Hi-Hats

• Extra Heavy Hi-Hat - 11" 12" 13" 14" 15"
  
• Heavy Hi-Hat - 13" 14" 15"
  
• Hi-Hat - 13" 14" 15"
  
• Medium Hi-Hat - 13" 14" 15" 16"
  
• Sound Edge Hi-Hat - 13" 14" 15"
  

Chinas (& Swishes)

• China Type - 15" 16" 18" 20" 22"
  

Splashes (& Bells)

• Bell - 8" 10" 12"
  
• Heavy Bell - 8" 9" 10" 11" 12" 13"
  
• Splash - 11"
  

Seven Sound Set

(introduced 1964)

• 1 Bell - Seven Sound Set 1 - 8"
  
• 2 Splash - Seven Sound Set 2 - 11"
  
• 3 Bright Ride - Seven Sound Set 3 - 17"
  
• 4 Flatride - Seven Sound Set 4 - 18"
  
• 5 Ride/Crash - Seven Sound Set 5 - 18"
  
• 6 China Type - Seven Sound Set 6 - 18"
  
• 7 Deep Ride - Seven Sound Set 7 - 20"
  
  

The following description of the Seven Sound Set was printed in Paiste's 1969 catalog:

"A set of seven cymbals each in a new unusual sound-colour. Sound colours the demanding drummer is looking for to enrich his personal cymbal set. Particularly, the SEVEN SOUND SET enables the studio drummer to fulfill the many and often unusual sound demands involved in modern recording and studio work."

Joe Morello Set

• Joe Morello 17" Crash
  
• Joe Morello 18" Crash/Ride
  
• Joe Morello 20" Ride
  
• Joe Morello 14" Hi-Hat
  
  

"It is a tribute to the very precise production methods and sound control employed by the Paiste company, that they are able to produce, in quality, exact replicas of the set originally selected. The JOE MORELLO SET fulfills the wish of all those drummers anxious to obtain the cymbal sounds of this fine musician. The JOE MORELLO SET consists of the following cymbal sizes:

   1 pair 14" Hi-hat

   1 17" cymbal

   1 18" cymbal

   1 20" cymbal" 

Concert

Medium Weight (pair) 17" 18" 19" 20" 21"
Medium-Heavy (pair) 18" 19" 20"
Medium-Thin (pair) 18" 19" 20"

Marching

Marching - 13" 14" 15" 16"
Marching Sound Edge (pair) - 14" 15" 16" 18"

Formula 602 Modern Essentials

Introduction: 2013

Background: Forged from the legendary «602 Bronze» (CuSn20), offering a complete new wide and dynamic sound dimension, developed in close collaboration with Vinnie Colaiuta, handcrafted from start to finish by highly skilled Swiss craftsmen, conceived and executed according to Vinnie’s uncompromising sound concepts for a wide all-round application. Formula 602 Modern Essentials cymbals combine the essence of the Formula 602 Classic Sounds models – transparency and stick definition – with the richness, warmth, darkness and a bit of complexity of the Signature Traditionals series besides providing slightly more pizzazz than its Classic Sounds siblings.

Alloy: B20 (CuSn20)

Quality: Professional

Offered as: Formula 602 - Formula 602 Modern Essentials

Production: Hand hammered and hand lathed bronze.

Applications: Low to medium loud settings •especially well-suited for recording, live • extremely versatile cymbals for a wide range of music styles such as Pop, Rock, Jazz, Fusion, Blues, R&B, Country, Folk, acoustic music

Sound:Deep, full, rich, warm, lively, silvery, dynamic, controlled and precise • Cymbals that combine clarity, consistency with deepness and warmth, yet providing a modern versatile sound character with dynamic, potent, well balanced qualities and a responsive, soft feel

Rides

• Ride - 20" 22" 24"

Crashes

• Crash - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20" 22"

Hi-Hats

• Hi-Hat - 14" 15"

Chinas (& Swishes)

• China - 18" 22"

Splashes (& Bells)

• Splash - 8" 10"
  
  

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Information from:

1. Modern Drummer Equipment Annual 1988-89
2. PAISTE/Ludwig Seven Sound Set Leaflet
3. Paiste "Six Cymbal Lines" Ad 1981
   
   

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