Traditional & Brilliant

[xX_selkiesteo_Xx]

what is the difference in sound between traditional and brilliant finishes on cymbals?

[Aaron]

There isn't anything discernable by the human ear.

[Tim]

the sound isnt really audible. you might be able to tell when they are brand new and not played but once they get the slightest bit broken in you wont be able to tell the difference....so nothing really.

[TravisBarkerrules]

Dont brilliant cymbals have a longer sustain? Just something I have been told not sure if its true.

[Aaron]

Nup.

People convince themselves they sound a certain way, but if you were listening and blindfolded, you'd have no idea.

[skidrumbum]

brilliant ones shine under light more and look like BAM

[Retarded Chipple]

Brilliant ones are really good, hence being called "brilliant." i.e. when you hit one of these cymbals you say "man, that sounds brilliant!"

"Traditional" is a nice way of saying "sh!tty olden day cymbals." They're really only for old people who play old people music like jazz.

:rolleyes:


Hehe....Nah, theres no difference in sound as far as I'm aware

[Sharkey Boy]

^haha you should of just left that post as it was, the sarcasm made my belly happy

[FockerTheLopper]

Brilliant ones are really good, hence being called "brilliant." i.e. when you hit one of these cymbals you say "man, that sounds brilliant!"

"Traditional" is a nice way of saying "sh!tty olden day cymbals." They're really only for old people who play old people music like jazz.

:rolleyes:


Hehe....Nah, theres no difference in sound as far as I'm aware

hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaa

[TTTSNB]

No real difference sound, but traditional cymbals are easier to keep clean, and look better, IMO.

[Bonham#1!]

Rept chipple.

I didn't think there was a difference in sound, and some idiot at my school said brilliant finishes gave it a brighter sound. They may look brighter but thats bout it.

[Chippy569]

the difference is in looks, not sound.


unless you're talking about Paiste's Reflectors.... those have a slightly higher dominant pitch than their non-reflectory counterparts.

[poopoogaypoon]

I'll I can say is...BOOM HEADSHOT!

edit: Does tht answer your question?

[xX_selkiesteo_Xx]

oh. well. thanks

ive never really compared

but ive read a ton of reviews on musiciansfriends that say stuff like

"i got the cymbal in brilliant finish and it rang a little too long, but it wont if you get the traditional finish"

and things along those lines.

so i was just wondering. thanks

[Seafroggys]

Yeah, listening to reviews on Musician's Friend is a sign of mental retardation.

[Jred250]

The two different finishes are pretty much for visual purposes only. The Brilliant finish sounds slightly brighter as first as it has been buffed, but once the shine goes away the cymbal goes slightly duller.

[FockerTheLopper]

Yeah, listening to reviews on Musician's Friend is a sign of mental retardation.

lol I love reading them when someone posts something on these boards and is like "should I buy this or that?" I love going on there and reading the reviews because they're so riduculous "I'd buy this if it were 5 times the price because its so good, I can now play my signles at 800 BPM, thanks MF!"

[metalhead72]

uhh, im going to have to disagree with what most ppl just said.

i recently went hihat shopping, and found a pair of brilliant finish 14'' New beats, brought them home, and they sound bright enough for the rest of the kit. I brought them back and asked a saledude, he brought me back a pair of the same model, but traditionnal finish. Wow. I was amazed at the difference in sound, the trad's were way brighter and louder, i returned home much pleased with my new cymbals.

I asked him why they sounded so different and he told its was because when they polish the cymbal to get it shiny, the sand off alot of the grooves that create harmonics in the tone of the hats.

neway, go listen to the same model in different finishes, youll be surprised at how different they can sound.

[crazyguy832]

That or it's because no two cymbals ever sound the same.

Ever.

Eeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr.

Although that's a pretty drastic change for Zildjian... wouldn't be surprised with Sabian.

[Seafroggys]

^^^

you are god.

to metalhead

[Josiah]

problem is no two cymbals will sound identical even with the same finish, so it's really hard to tell.

imo brilliant tend to have a lil more shimmer to them, in the higher frequencys.

[Plan B.]

uhh, im going to have to disagree with what most ppl just said.

i recently went hihat shopping, and found a pair of brilliant finish 14'' New beats, brought them home, and they sound bright enough for the rest of the kit. I brought them back and asked a saledude, he brought me back a pair of the same model, but traditionnal finish. Wow. I was amazed at the difference in sound, the trad's were way brighter and louder, i returned home much pleased with my new cymbals.

I asked him why they sounded so different and he told its was because when they polish the cymbal to get it shiny, the sand off alot of the grooves that create harmonics in the tone of the hats.

neway, go listen to the same model in different finishes, youll be surprised at how different they can sound.



This is where it's at.

[FockerTheLopper]

problem is no two cymbals will sound identical even with the same finish, so it's really hard to tell.

imo brilliant tend to have a lil more shimmer to them, in the higher frequencys.

Yeah but sabian/zildjian and probably paiste(I know I spelt that wrong) of the same size/make have very very similar sounds/tonalities and everything about them, I know this because when I went cymbal shopping last year for my hats and crash I tried out about 20 of each sabian and zildjian cymbals that had 2 or more of the same make in the store and all of the same model/name/sized cymbals sounded pretty much identical, the differences are so slight that well I can't think of anything but its really small differences

[Josiah]

That can happen. It's very random. I've had 4 of the same crash in front of me, and 3 sound very close, and one is just very different. It's the nature of dealing with orgain elements.

[FockerTheLopper]

That can happen. It's very random. I've had 4 of the same crash in front of me, and 3 sound very close, and one is just very different. It's the nature of dealing with orgain elements.

Yeah but for the most part they'll be similar mostly because they're massed produce to sound alike, a company like istanbul has 2 cymbals same make sounds 100% different

[Chippy569]

not necessarily true. i'm sure you could find to isty's that sound similar.

[FockerTheLopper]

not necessarily true. i'm sure you could find to isty's that sound similar.

Of course you could but generally they are hammered to be different

[Gary Lover]

I am actually not much of a gear head, so I am somewhat uneducated on how the finishes effect the cymbal sound. Seems an interesting discussion though.
Good responses, guys!

Gary :thumb: