Meinl Classics Custom Series Cymbals

MAY 2011 RHYTHM 101
TRY IT WITH...
PREMIER GENISTA
Heavy Rock 22 kit. Big,
powerful, one-up two-down
intermediate priced kit.
MEINL DRUMMER
Gloves. Protect your hands from
blisters and prevent your sticks
from slipping.
get a full-bodied and deep, driving beat.
Finally we have the two chinas, a 16" and
18", which are altogether a different surprise.
Far from being brash and honky, as I was
expecting, in fact they were two of the
smoothest chinas I’ve heard. There’s the usual
china-style attack, but with the cymbals’
gently upturned edges the sound is not the
usual coarse, abrasive assault, but a warmer,
slinkier style of trash.
Verdict
These cymbals are good, honest, clean-
sounding, intermediate-priced Euro-style
cymbals aimed at the more aggressive youth
market. They also have plenty of character.
A massive step up from your budget starter
cymbals in quality and tone, a 20" ride, 18"
crash and 14" hats basic set will knock you
back almost £600 (RRP). But that’s cheaper
than, say, Paiste’s Rudes and Alphas or
Sabian’s APXs. I didn’t get the two so-called
Powerful rides – they’re too toppy and to my
ears unpleasant, but maybe that’s the idea?
Three stars for them, but four stars for
everything else.
Rating ✪✪✪✪✪
MEINL DRUMMER
Gloves. Protect your hands from
RANGE HAS A CHOICE
of 18 different cymbal sizes and types,
categorised Medium or Powerful
CYMBALS HAVE REGULAR
fi ne lathing on the upper surfaces and
neat ½" circular hammerings all round
CYMBALS ARE CLEAN-
sounding, Euro-style cymbals aimed
at the more aggressive youth market
RHY189.gear_meinl 101 3/21/11 2:27:48 PM