Paiste Super Formula 602
SUPER FORMULA 602
Introduction: 1957
Discontinued: 1959
Background: PAISTE started producing cymbals made of B20 bell bronze once they opened the Swiss factory, in 1957 they first came into the market under the name "SUPER FORMULA 602"
Innovation: First B20 cymbal made by Paiste.
Alloy: B20 Bronze
Quality: Professional
Production: Hand hammered and hand lathed bronze.
Applications:
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: Similar to "modern" 602's
Thin ride crash, Thin ride, Medium ride and Medium ride crash
Thin & Meduim
12" 13" 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 20" 22" 24"
Hi-Hats
Hi-Hat "Festival set" #1 - 15"meduim/14"heavy
Hi-Hat "Festival set" #2 - 15"thin/14"meduim
Hi-Hat "Festival set" #3 - 15"thin/16"meduim
Hi-Hat "Festival set" #4 - 14"thin/15"thin
The time span for the Super Formula 602 is about 1957-1959. It precedes the introduction of the Formula 602 series but uses the same alloy.
There is an entirely separate series called "Super" which is not made from B20 (Formula 602 alloy) and came later.
This has caused a lot of confusion over the years. The B20 Super Swiss Made seems to come in two versions, one with the Formula 602 line and one without.
There is also a second style which looks like the Early Formula 602 stamp and has Super written to the upper right.(see below)
Just to round things off there are embossed stamps which look like the Early Formula 602 stamp but leave off the Formula 602. (see below)
This variation is thought to represent the evolution of the trademark for the Formula 602 series just as it was coming out.
Super Formula 602 stamp
Super Formula 602 cymbal
Super Swiss Made
Super Second Gen Stamp
Super Second Gen Cymbal 15"
Pre 602 Stamp
Pre 602 Cymbal 22"
We can't yet say whether there are any cymbals with the Super Swiss Made stamp (no Formula 602 line) which might be some other alloy like NS12. There are some untested claims to that effect. Untested claims meaning that a piece of the cymbal has not yet gone for lab analysis.
Information from: Paiste '57-'59 catalog, Steve Black, Todd Little, Dan Garza
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