ZILDJIAN EFXCYMBALS

ManualsBrandsZildjian Manuals14" Crash Cymbals14" EFX Cymbal

EXCLUSIVE

From £232 Zildjian unveils four new EFX cymbals for

2010.AdamJones ﬁnds them refreshingly different

92 RHYTHM MAY 2010

siscustomary, Zildjian began the

year by revealing a cache of new

models to the drummingworld.

The ﬁ rstselections from this new

bronze crop to reach

Rhythm

wasaquartet

of EFX cymbals. Originally designed for the

Remix range, EFXs are highly modern

instruments whose deﬁning feature is a

series of holes and shapes that are cut out

of each cymbal.

Build

The EFXdesign wastransferred to the A

Custom rangein2007because drummers

were buying the Remix EFX model and

removing the jingles that came attached to

the cymbal. Sincethen ACustom EFXs have

been spotted on many players’ kits from a

wide spread of genres.

Aside from apair of EFXs in Zildjian’s ZHT

series, the design has remained in A Custom

territory. Until nowthat is, as twoofthe new

cymbals are from the K series. The pair of Ks

are sized at 16" and 18", while the two new A

Custom models are in 14" and 20" diameters,

neatly book-endingexisting16" and 18"A

Custom EFXs.

EFX cymbals resemble regular cymbals in

nearly all aspects; the difference lies in what’s

missing. Three cigar-shaped cut-outs radiate

outwards at intervals of 120°. Between each

cut-out arepatterns of four holes. These are

spaced evenly,with three followingthe curve

of the cymbal in a line while a single hole is

placed closer to the bell, making a triangular

formation. The presence of the cut-outs

inﬂuences the tuning of the

cymbals, encouraging conﬂicting

frequencies. Theyalso interrupt the

ﬂ ow of energy across the cymbals,

making them decay quicker in a process

that could be compared to short circuiting

the vibrations.

ReadersofMarch’s issue will have noticed

Dave Grohl usingaprototype 20"ACustom

EFX. In the same article,Grohl’sdrum tech,

Gersh, described his ideal cymbal as one that

sounds naturally as though it’s been

compressed, addingthat the 20"EFX ﬁ tted

the bill perfectly.

The pair of all-new K EFXs has been

created because of requests from UK

drummersfor mellowerversions of EFXs.

They are easily distinguished by their

traditional ﬁ nish, in contrast to the brilliant

ﬁnish of the A Customs. The two ranges also

differinweight, with KEFXsbeingclassiﬁed

as thin while ACustoms arepaper thin.

Hands on

An unintended side beneﬁt of the apertures

cut into the EFXs is the ease with which the

cymbals can be picked up and placed on a

stand. The ﬁrst to submit was the 14" A

Custom which opened quickly in abright,

aggressive manner. Its sound was

recognisably that of acrash cymbal, but one

with adistinctly trashyslant. The main body

of sound decayed quickly and suddenly,

leavingaquieter residual wash to subside

slowly. This was only audible in isolation; in a

playing situation it would be, to borrow a

phrase, crash’n’go. Listening to the decay I

could detect some oscillation, which was, no

doubt, a product of the cut-outs.

Being a much larger cymbal, the 20" A

Custom was an altogether different and wilder

beast. It delivered shattering attack with a

seething, trashytone that rose above

everythingelse forthe momentiterupted

before rapidly decaying. As with the 14"

model, once the opening crash had choked

back, a longer but quieter decay took over.

The combination of the toppyand trashy

elements gave this cymbal piercing but

shimmering qualities. Where china cymbals

areabrupt and dry, this EFXbehaved

technically more like a crash, swelling and

dissipating. The frequencies involved and the

ferociousness of the response suggests a

blurring, if not aredrawing, of boundaries.

The twoKEFXsweredarker variations on

the theme.Much deeper voiced, their sound

was that of warm crashes being skewed with

trashiness. This made them aggressive, but

not blindingly so. Both produced a slightly

gongy ‘pah’when hit,which then became

ZILDJIAN

EFX CYMBALS

KEFX HASBEEN

created because of requests from

UK drummers for mellower EFXs

RECOMMENDS

PRICES

A Custom 14"

EFX, £232

A Custom 20"

EFX, £369

K 16" EFX, £303

K 18" EFX, £355

CAST OR

PRESSED

Cast

ALLOY USED

ACustom and K

proprietaryformulas

FINISHES

Natural and polished

HAND OR

MACHINE

HAMMERED

Machine

COUNTRYOF

MANUFACTURE

USA

DIAMETERS

AVAILABLE

14" to 20"

MODELS

AVAILABLE

EFX

SUITABLE FOR

Rock, metal, jazz, pop,

experimental

CONTACT

Yamaha Music UK Ltd

Sherbourne Drive

Tilbrook

Milton Keynes

MK7 8BL

Tel: 0870 4445575

Website: www.zildjian.

com

ESSENTIALSPEC

RHY176.gear_zildjian 92 19/3/10 2:38:15pm

Summary of content (2 pages)

PAGE 1
EXCLUSIVE K EFX HAS BEEN created because of requests from UK drummers for mellower EFXs ESSENTIAL SPEC PRICES A Custom 14" EFX, £232 A Custom 20" EFX, £369 K 16" EFX, £303 K 18" EFX, £355 CAST OR PRESSED Cast ALLOY USED A Custom and K proprietary formulas FINISHES Natural and polished HAND OR MACHINE HAMMERED Machine COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE USA DIAMETERS AVAILABLE 14" to 20" MODELS AVAILABLE EFX SUITABLE FOR Rock, metal, jazz, pop, experimental CONTACT Yamaha Music UK Ltd Sherbourne Drive Til
PAGE 2
THE 20" A CUSTOM delivered a shattering attack with a seething, trashy tone THREE CIGAR-SHAPED cut-outs radiate outwards at intervals of 120° integrated with the rest of the crash. They sat well together and gave a musical response that was loaded with sharp urgency. An unusual, but captivating blend of sounds and tones. Verdict These new EFX models are a clear indication of 21st Century drummers’ appetites for ever more complicated cymbals.