Meinl Byzance Series Jazz Cymbals

GEARREVIEWS
SEPTEMBER 2007 RHYTHM 093
It's a Hit
Our reviewer is about as
jazzy a player as Meg White
but he doesn’t want to give
the review models back!
Hats More Like It
The Byzance Jazz range
features plenty of ride cymbals
but only one pair of hi-hats
Though by their very name these cymbals are pitched at jazz-orientated
players, they could be employed in a wide variety of musical scenarios.
The differences between the Byzance Jazz cymbals and other warm-
voiced cymbals can be subtle, but are important nonetheless, and Meinl
deserves credit for recognising this and commissioning the cymbals.
As a company, Meinl could be viewed as a model of German effi ciency,
making strong creative decisions. These cymbals are both fi nely crafted
and competitively priced.
Another great addition to the
already impressive Byzance range
Some splashes and dedicated Chinas with the same voicing
would be nice
RATING
★★★★★
Hearing the Light
The standard rides are divided into three
different weights: Extra Thin, Thin and
Medium Thin, each available in 20” and
22” diameters. The 20” Extra Thin ride is
extremely dark and warm, and gives a
fairly wide stick sound. It really is thin, so
a lapping wash is never far behind –
getting the cymbal to open for a crash is
just a question of fl icking the stick. The
next 20” model supplied was the
Medium Thin ride. It’s not as complex as
the thinner model but has more focus as
a result. It is still bathed in warmth and
opens up almost as easily.
Moving up to the 22” rides, the Extra
Thin model is a fabulous cymbal full of
complexity. It has a huge, buttery stick
sound, beneath which the wash
shimmers, almost as though it was
riveted. The 22” Thin ride sounds drier
than the Extra Thin, but less wash makes
for a beautifully articulate cymbal that's
still warm and gentle.
As well as the three weights of ride in
both diameters, there is an extra category
of ride termed 'Sweet', only available in a
20” diameter. The 20” Sweet ride
supplied (the alternative being a Sweet
Light ride) stood out from the other
models on account of its more intensive
hammering and larger bell. It possesses a
markedly tighter stick sound and less
wash, making it sound comparatively
cleaner and therefore more able to carry.
The very useable bell was the fi nal icing
on the cake for a cymbal that was, for me,
an all-round success.
RHY142.gear_meinl 93 14/8/07 20:17:18