Meinl Byzance Extra Dry Cymbals and Spectrum Ride
GEARREVIEWS
098 RHYTHM APRIL 2007
The 18" crash takes
things up several gears. It is
extremely dark, markedly loud and
very trashy. Pitched somewhere between
a crash and a china, it erupts with sizzling
energy. The bell is fairly useable as well.
Attacking it with a mallet causes it to swell
magnifi cently, bringing all of its raw
tonality to crescendo.
Unlike the hi-hats and crashes, both of
the Extra Dry rides are completely
unlathed. They have been hammered
from above and below, but not been
subjected to any further processes that
could compromise the cymbalsmith’s
realisation. The 20" model is
understandably dry – it has a dark, low
tone that is full of complexity. The stick
sound it delivers is well separated from
the main body, and is strong and distinct.
A near-total lack of wash ensures that
patterns are reproduced eloquently. The
22" ride is again extremely dry and darker
still. While the stick sound is even more
pronounced, the body smoulders with
exotic warmth. Warming it with a mallet
brings gong-like convolutions to the fore.
Both of the rides’ bells are very cutting.
Holmes’ truth
The 22" Spectrum ride, which is Rodney
Holmes’ new signature cymbal in
everything but name, is less extreme
than the Extra Dry models. Rodney
M
einl’s Byzance range
was created to evoke
the warm, rich tones of
vintage cymbals. It has since
evolved into several distinctive
lines – the two most recent
additions are Extra Dry and Jazz.
The fi rst of these to reach
Rhythm
is
the Extra Drys, along with another
new cymbal, a 22" Spectrum Ride from
the Byzance Dark range, developed with
the assistance of Rodney Holmes.
Hammering it up
The Byzance Extra Dry range comprises
fi ve models – 14" hi-hats, 16" and 18"
crashes and 20" and 22" rides. Byzance
cymbals are individually cast from B20
bronze and hand-hammered. Once the
cymbalsmiths are satisfi ed, the cymbals
are transported to Meinl’s headquarters
in Germany for fi nishing. There, the more
regular Byzance cymbals are lathed and
then buffed or polished, but while the
Extra Dry hi-hats and crashes are lathed
underneath, the similarities end there.
These cymbals have a distressed
appearance, pockmarked with countless
hammer marks. While bearing traits of a
pattern, the hammering is not uniform.
There are areas of increased activity, as
though an insect landed on a cymbal mid-
hammering and it took the cymbalsmith a
few blows to squash it! In contrast, the
bells on each cymbal have been spared
the cymbalsmith’s attention.
The fi nish could best be described as
rustic – the cymbals are left untreated
and the natural discolouring from heat
treatment and metal ageing has not been
Meinl
Byzance
Extra Dry Cymbals
& Spectrum Ride
corrected. Even the logos are partially
submerged beneath the combination of
pits and oxides The results will probably
polarise players; it’s a love-it-or-hate-it
thing. Personally, I think that they look fab.
High and dry
The 14" hi-hats partner a light top cymbal
with a heavy bottom. First impressions
are of a fairly thick and sloshy sounding
pair of hats. There is an element of top end
to them, but none of the usual high
frequencies, so they sound full and meaty,
even when played quietly. Relaxing the
pedal fi nds them accelerating to a dark,
frothy wash and stepping brings about a
fat, positive chick. I liked these hats – they
possess bags of tonal individuality along
with the power to be heard.
The two crashes are fairly thin and,
holding them, you get a real sense of how
uneven their surfaces are. The 16" crash
opens quickly, almost to the point of being
abrupt. It has a dark, slightly trashy, but an
overall sweet tone. The note that remains
decays fairly swiftly, merging
harmoniously with any overtones.
ESSENTIALS
PRICES
Meinl Byzance Extra
Dry cymbals
14" hi-hats £293
16" crash £205
18" crash £253
20" ride £315
22" ride £434
22" Byzance
Spectrum
ride £434
CONTACT
Active Music
Distribution
7 Goose Green
Trading Estate
47 East Dulwich Road
London SE22 9BN
Telephone
020 8693 5678
Website
www.meinl.com
From £205 | With unusual looks
and a dry sound, how does
Meinl's latest line measure up?
Adam Jones fi nds out.
There are areas of increased hammering
activity, as though an insect landed on a
cymbal and it took a few blows to squash it!
All Byzance cymbals
are cast and handworked
in Meinl’s Turkish factory
RHY136.gear_meinl 98 23/2/07 13:07:13