Paiste Signature Series Cymbals

GEARREVIEWS
NOVEMBER 2006 RHYTHM 109
This is such a large and varied series I can only offer thumbnail
descriptions, but these are hopefully enough to give a fl avour of
the diversity. The Signatures were a major step forward in Paiste’s
development and they are standing up well in a market where
choice is now massive. They have Paiste’s hallmark brightness and
crispness, but they have gravitas too, something that some earlier
Paistes might have lacked. The Signatures still sound modern and
each cymbal is a fi ne instrument of distinction.
Clarity, sparkling resonance and colour,
the result of the patented Paiste Sound Alloy.
That same delicate transparency
might be too much for some tastes.
★★★★★
RATING
beef than expected, though obviously
focused. They’re sharp as nails and very
nimble. Great for a second voice.
My favourites are the 13" Dark Crisp
pair, which combine most of the qualities
I like in hi-hats – they are sensitive and
crisp but have depth and grittiness. The
14" Heavy hats are also impressive, but
in a different way. A heavy top cymbal
gives you a louder, toppier closed sound.
However powerful the band, you don’t
have to open this pair up to be heard.
I love most Paiste crashes, and the
Signature crashes are as good as they
get. The sparkling clarity I spoke of earlier
is here in abundance. The Full crashes are
superb – they have a beautiful, rounded
and sweet tone, perfectly pitched for
their size. The Fast crashes are thin, dark,
and almost sinister, ideally suited to fast
tempo, fusion style, fussy and accurate
playing. The Mellow crashes are deeper
still – a quick response is followed by
a fairly short decay. I found them
particularly luscious when not played
too loudly. The Power crashes are bigger,
heavier, higher pitched and
louder, with a more strident sound.
The 8" and 10" splashes are
sophisticated and sweet. They’re fl eet,
but have warm body so you feel you’re
getting something for your money.
Colourful crashes
Unlike the crashes, most expensive
chinas bewilder me. I don’t understand
spending a fortune on something that’s
meant to sound like a dinner service
being thrown down a lift shaft. That
said, I found the thin 18" and 16" Chinas
not unpalatable, and they fare pretty
well as rides too. The heavy 18" version
is higher pitched and plays hell with my
tinnitus. One to annoy guitarists with…
Finally, there’s the 13" Mega Cup
Chime. Looking like something an ancient
warrior might wear into battle, it creates a
formidable ding wherever and however
you attack it. It’s also open to beautiful
effects, say if played with a soft beater,
revealing a mellow drone beneath the
sharp ping. A specialist extravagance,
but indicative of the wide range of sounds
Paiste is famous for.
After nearly two decades,
Paiste’s Signatures are still prized
for their luminous sound quality.
The black-faced Dark Metal ride stands
out among the wide range of 20", 21" and 22"
rides. There’s something for all tastes here.
RHY131.gear_paiste 109 6/10/06 06:57:26