Paiste PST X 2018 Additions

89
WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM SUMMER 2018 |
PRICES
Paiste PST X 10"/8"
Splash Stack: £120;
Paiste PST X 12"/10"
Splash Stack: £132;
Paiste PST X 12" Cajon
Hats: £140;
Paiste PST X 16" Cajon
crash: £127;
Paiste PST X 20" Swiss
Medium crash: £187
ALLOYS USED
CuSn8 (2002) bronze,
MS63 brass
FINISH
Brushed
COUNTRY OF
MANUFACTURE
Switzerland
MODELS
AVAILABLE
Splash Stacks, Cajon
Hats, Cajon crash, Swiss
Medium crash
SUITABLE FOR
Rock, dance/electronica,
leftfi eld, industrial,
acoustic, Latin
CONTACT
Korg (UK) Ltd
01908 857100
www.paiste.com
Essential spec
VERDICT: The variety of sounds and
textures from these new models means
their appeal is not limited to any one
type of player. They make inspiring and
affordable additions to many set-ups
whilst benefi ting from Paiste’s
legendary consistency.
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
RATING
NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED
The Swiss Medium crash will
certainly get you heard...
YES WE CAJON!
The Cajon Hats and 16" Cajon crash provide
cymbal accompaniment to the increasingly
popular Peruvian percussive box
accents through to patterns and beats.
Tightening them down chokes the already
instant decay even further; loosening them
off fi nds a pleasing after buzz remaining for a
few nanoseconds after the main note, but
these type of cymbals are all about the
whiplash-quick response. Choosing a
favourite is diffi cult as both pairs work
together really well, particularly for
hand-to-hand patterns and accented fi lls.
With their 12" diameter the Cajon Hats are
suitably quick and bright, though there is a
smoothness to the top-end that gives them a
pleasantly rounded note. They have been
designed for acoustic situations and
dynamically they fi t the bill, projecting well
without being overly assertive. Relaxing the
pedal fi nds their response widening to a soft
blur and stepping gives a feathery ‘chick’.
The accompanying 16" Cajon crash can be
played with either sticks or hands. It sparkles
with brightness, decays quickly when crashed
and gives a clear – if fairly toppy – stick sound
when ridden. The pattern of holes clustered
around the bell brings a delicate spicing of
trashiness. It’s a subtle cymbal but one that is
surprisingly versatile.
Moving up to the 20" Swiss Medium fi nds
any subtlety blasted out of the window.
Combining the tonal attributes of a china and
the playing characteristics of a big crash, what
it lacks in manners it makes up for in sheer
presence. Played tentatively, it almost hisses
with menace, revealing a discordant note and
fi zzing decay. Crashing tears a hole in the
backline while shouldering the bell is enough
to rouse sleeping fi refi ghters in the next town.
In a world of beta cymbals this is very much
an alpha male – aggressive and dominating in
any situation.
While it is undoubtedly loud, its
performance is not just down to the volume
it’s capable of – the frequencies it produces
play as big a part. It’s a brute of a crash, as
abrasive as a squaddies’ night out and,
without hearing protection, a guaranteed
fastrack to tinnitus.
RHY284.gear_paiste.indd 89 11/07/2018 15:48