Paiste Masters Extra Thins Dark Splashes

95
WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM OCTOBER 2018 |
PRICES
Paiste Masters
18" Extra Thin: £407;
19" Extra Thin: £430;
20" Extra Thin: £467;
8" Dark splash: £210;
10" Dark splash: £224
ALLOY USED
CuSn20 (B20) bronze
FINISH
Buffed
COUNTRY OF
MANUFACTURE
Switzerland
MODELS
AVAILABLE
Dark splashes and Extra
thins
SUITABLE FOR
Acoustic, jazz, Latin,
world music and
crossover genres,
anything requiring
subtlety and nuance
CONTACT
Korg (UK) Ltd
01908 857100
www.paiste.com
Essential spec
“THERE’S A SOFTNESS TO THE
CRASH AND A LUSHNESS TO THE
NOTE THAT SUGGESTS THAT PAISTE
HAS MET THE BRIEF...”
VERDICT: These cymbals are worthy
additions to Paiste’s Masters series –
they’re beautifully crafted, thoroughly
musical, wonderfully subtle and very
playable. Such qualities don’t come
cheap though and even the smallest of
offerings here carries a considerable
price tag.
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
RATING
the smoothest of decays. Taking it into ride
territory means playing quite delicately as the
wash soon bubbles up when the dynamics are
raised. Tickling it with mallets allows the
whole crash process to be slowed down and
savoured, from the fi rst hint of a note through
the rising crescendo to the inevitable cresting
and subsequent fade. Meanwhile, the deftest
of touches from a bare palm is enough to
persuade it to open as well, making it a
genuinely hand-friendly cymbal.
Moving up to the 19" brings with it a
noticeable step down in terms of pitch and an
increase in depth and saturation. It’s
luxuriously rich and crashes with something
akin to elegance, establishing its presence
with the sort of unfl appable poise usually
found in the leading character of a period
drama. Tonally, it’s as equally balanced as the
18" and as the swell recedes the note lingers
on in a shimmering decay. Taking the stick tip
to it brings a surprisingly expansive response;
it’s slightly loose but deep and buttery and
carries time capably above complex eddies
of wash.
Progressing to the 20" fi nds the extra inch
bringing with it a change in character. There is
a similar step down in pitch and widening of
the note but overall this cymbal feels a pinch
heavier and a fraction less subtle than the
other two diameters… it’s still supremely
civilised for a 20" cymbal, though, and
FROM MASTER DRUMMER
TO MASTERS SERIES
Drumming legend Jim Keltner
was the inspiration behind the
development of the Extra Thins
SPLASHING OUT
The Dark splashes are the
first and, so far, only
splashes to join the ranks
of the Masters series
SUPERSKINNY SWISS PIES
All you need to know about the
Extra Thins is contained in the
name... they’re thin and then some
crashes beautifully. Riding gives a tighter stick
sound over a more controllable wash while
the fl at of a hand is still enough to bring it
to life.
Turning to the Dark splashes fi nds them
both springing into action with the sort of
urgency you’d expect. There’s a high degree
of silveriness and warmth to both and they
slip through the air with graceful ease.
Personally, I think that anything beyond a 10"
diameter is too big for a splash as you are
then entering the realm of undersized
crashes. Certainly for the Masters series
Paiste seems to agree and the pair of Dark
splashes keeps things short, sweet and to
the point.
RHY286.gear_paiste.indd 95 05/09/2018 16:23