Meinl cymbals wiki
The Amun series was a machine hammered line of B8 bronze cymbals launched in 1999 and was available until 2007.
The Artist Concept Models are the product of Meinl cymbal artists and the Meinl R&D team. The first models were developed in 2017 together with Meinl artists Anika Nilles, Matt Garstka, Luke Holland and Thomas Lang. In 2018, two new models developed with Benny Greb and Matt Halpern were added.
These unique models all consist of pre-configured stack combinations chosen by each artist to create their own signature stack sound. These stacks feature combinations of many different lines and series of Meinl cymbals.
B10 bronze is an alloy made from 90% copper and 10% tin. Meinl's Professional Range B10 marching series cymbals are made from B10 bronze.
B12 bronze is an alloy made from 88% copper and 12% tin. Meinl's Pure Alloy, Pure Alloy Custom, Classics Custom Dual, Classics Custom Brilliant, Classics Custom Extreme Metal, Classics Custom Dark, Professional Range B12 and Professional Range Arena marching series cymbals are made from B12 bronze.
B20 bronze is an alloy made from 80% copper and 20% tin. Meinl crafts cymbals from B20 bronze by hand in its own Turkish cymbal factory. All of the Byzance Foundry Reserve, Byzance, Symphonic and portions of Candela series cymbals are made from B20 bronze.
B8 bronze is an alloy made from 92% copper and 8% tin. Meinl's HCS Bronze, some of the Candela and Generation X models and Student Range marching series cymbals are made from B8. It's also referred to as "sheet bronze". Meinl has been making cymbals from B8 bronze since 1976.
Similar to the bell portion of a cymbal, bells are made with the same shape but with extra heavy weight. The sound is also like a cymbal bell but with a much higher pitch and longer sustaining ring. These are effects cymbals that can be used for heavy bell riding or as accents in a percussion rig.
Like splashes, bells usually come in sizes between 8" and 10". This makes it easy to mount them inverted over your ride on the same stand or as a stand-alone cymbal. Their ultra-long sustaining ring makes for a cool white noise effect.
Between 1987 and 1992, Meinl offered a "blindfold cymbal test" at the Musikmesse convention in Frankfurt and the NAMM show in Anaheim. For this test, people were asked to come up on a small stage at Meinl's booth and compare a Meinl cymbal with a competitive brand, judging by ear alone. Not everyone dared to go up and take the test in public.
Bronze is an alloy made from melting copper and tin. It has been used for making musical instruments for centuries. Several different types of bronze are used for various lines of cymbals within the Meinl catalog, each with their own sonic characteristics.
Byzance Brilliant cymbals made their way to the market in 2004. The cymbals have a highly polished surface to bring out a mirror-like shine. The sound result is slightly refined with a smoother, lower frequency and added shimmer. Made in Turkey from B20 bronze.
The Byzance Dark series was launched in 2002. Between 2002 and 2004, the Byzance Dark series was actually named Byzance Dry. Hand hammered and completely unlathed, Byzance Dark cymbals immediately hit the sweet spot with crashes that open up just enough, then get out of the way. Hihats and rides provide clarity, cut and volume along with a spirited dark tone. Made in Turkey from B20 bronze.
The new Byzance Dry series was introduced in 2004 and was only available for a short time. These cymbals had a matte, sandblasted surface.
In 2015, Meinl introduced the first Byzance Dual hihat, crash, and crash-rides as part of the Byzance Extra Dry line. In 2020, these cymbals were categorized as their own Byzance sub-category, the Byzance Dual series.
They quickly rose in popularity and have become instantly recognizable for their stunning appearance and sound. The center is raw, bearing hand hammer markings, while the edge is lathed and buffed to a brilliant finish. Made in Turkey from B20 bronze.
The Byzance Extra Dry series debuted in 2007. Although they appear to be raw, these cymbals are extraordinarily refined through extensive hand hammering and thin weights. Designed to be dry, fast, trashy and low, this is one of the most intriguing voices within Byzance that attracts many drummers. Made in Turkey from B20 bronze.
The Byzance Foundry Reserve series was introduced in 2019. They are a limited collection of our finest hand-made Turkish cymbals, showcasing the stunning, sonically rich works of art our cymbal smiths create. Tonality and nuance are added with extra hand hammering, resulting in deep craters that riddle the surfaces. Made from B20 bronze and hand hammered into shape.
The Byzance Jazz series was introduced in 2007. The series was initially developed in cooperation with Meinl cymbal artist, Wolfgang Haffner, and won the prestigious M.I.P.A. award the same year. These cymbals are deeply expressive and are known for their melt-in-your-stick response that develops from their hand hammered profiles and thinner weights. In addition, many unique and complex rides—like the Monophonic and Tradition rides—have been created within this line to help you find your voice behind the kit. Made in Turkey from B20 bronze.
Byzance Traditional was the first Byzance cymbal series Meinl launched, and it made its debut in 2001. To this day, all Byzance cymbals are hand hammered from B20 bronze in Meinl's own Turkish foundry. The Traditional Series features our broadest voice for Byzance with a wide variety of sizes and weights that blend into any musical setting.
The Byzance Vintage series become available in 2010. In the beginning, all Byzance Vintage cymbals had a sandblasted surface. This series was born from the Sand Ride, a flagship cymbal developed with Meinl cymbal artist, Benny Greb. It now includes a wide array of cymbals that have helped to define the Meinl sound. A newer addition to this line are Vintage Pure cymbals. These cymbals toe the line of being completely raw to couple relic sounds with modern appeal. Made in Turkey from B20 bronze.
Candela is a series of cymbals launched in 1999. They were developed specifically for the sound, feel and dynamic requirements of percussionists. The cymbals are thin enough to respond to any stick, mallet or multi-rod, as well as your hands. Candela cymbals are made in Turkey and Germany from assorted bronze alloys and feature various profiles, lathing techniques and finishes.
Largely considered the original effects cymbal, the china is easily identified by its upward facing flanged edge that gives the cymbal an exotic, Chinese gong-like effect. They can be mounted right side up on your stand (lip facing down) or inverted (lip facing up). Chinas are great for both power and nuance.
They can make your playing take off when music levels peak by crash-riding on them with quarter or eighth notes using the shoulder of your stick, or ride on the top in quieter jazz settings to add a new flavor to the music. Chinas encompass a large size range, from 12" to 22", and Meinl chinas cover that range with a multitude of finishes for any style.
A china ride cymbal is a combination between a china and ride cymbal. The outer 1" or 2" edge is bent slightly upwards, which shortens the sustain and creates the Chinese type sound. China ride profiles are usually kept flatter than traditional chinas to give you a softer china sound that you can ride on easily.
They are great to use as a secondary ride (especially for jazz) or like a traditional china for power and trashiness. Meinl offers a 22" china ride in the Byzance Jazz line which is equipped with rivets to give you that melt-in-your-stick feel.
The semi-pro Classics series was added to the Meinl catalog of cymbals in 1996 and was available until 2019.
The Classics Custom series first appeared in 2011 and is made from B10 bronze. It is now made from B12 bronze. It's the start into Meinl's catalog of mid-range cymbal lines that are made in our German factory. Bright and focused with a shimmering response, Classics Custom is best suited for drummers who want cymbals that speak with a clear, loud voice. They feature a smooth, highly reflective surface.
The first Classics Custom Dark models were introduced 2014 as part of the Classics Custom series. As more dark models were added over the years, our unique Classics Custom Dark cymbals were categorized as their own series in 2017.
Their aggressive and loud sound is met with a dark and slightly warmer tone to give power players an entirely new cymbal flavor. They were made from B10 bronze alloy, and are now made with the same B12 bronze alloy as Classics Custom in our German factory and feature a dark finish with extra deep hammering.
The Classics Custom Extreme Metal series was born in 2013 to give heavy metal drummers a tough line of cymbals that can endure intense playing at a blaring volume. They have the same brightness, clarity and shimmer as Classics Custom, but with a double-shot of punch and volume for more power and precision to climb above the roar of distortion charged amps. Made from B12 bronze alloy (B10 in earlier years) in our German factory.
These cymbals provide punch, flair, accents, energy, crescendos—you name it. In their most basic form, crash cymbals emphasize the first beat of a measure. They are typically struck with a glancing blow toward the edge together with a bass drum note. They're also great for playing big, rolling crescendos at the end of a song. They can be played with sticks, brushes or mallets.
Crash cymbal sizes range from 14" up to 22" (sometimes even bigger). Most professionals have more than one crash in their kit for extra sound options. Personal preference will help you decide the right size and amount of crashes in your set, but having at least one crash with a hihat and ride is widely considered a basic "complete" set of cymbals. Meinl crash cymbals cover every size and finish for an enormous array of sound options.
Serving two purposes—acting as a ride and crash cymbal—crash/rides have a weight that falls in-between these two types for an all-purpose cymbal that can provide plenty of cut and wash. They are great for elevating energy quickly by going from playing on the top with the bead of your stick to glancing blows toward the edge for heavy crash sounds. The same goes for the other way—with a crash/ride, you can instantly change from wide open crash-riding with the shoulder of your stick to bell patterns or staccato-like sounds on the bow of the cymbal.
Meinl's Custom Cymbal Shop started in 1995 and represented a new approach to cymbal making for Meinl. Available were three fundamentally different cymbal and sound types: Basic, Fusion and Rock, as well as three finishes: Regular, Brilliant and Champagne 64. Some of the unique sizes were also considered odd at that time, like 23", 25" and even 26" rides.
Several well-known manufacturing techniques made their debut in the Custom Cymbal Shop, like sandblasting the cymbal surface (Champagne 64 finish). Sandblasting continues to be utilized on our Sand Series and Byzance Vintage models.
The bell of a cymbal is its center part which transfers into the cymbal profile. It varies in size and thickness and is responsible for a major part of the cymbal's sound. The bell of a ride cymbal is often directly hit with the stick and creates a cutting, high-pitched sound. The size of the bell often depends on the style of music that a particular cymbal is used for (Heavy Metal – Rock: big bell | Pop – Fusion – Jazz: small bell).
A stack consists of two or more cymbals of various types, sizes and shapes that are stacked on top of each other to create short sound effects that are typically trashy. The options to create cymbal stacks are virtually endless, as any type of cymbal can be used to invent creative stack sounds. Meinl offers many pre-configured stacks in the Artist Concept series, where Meinl Cymbal artists create their own signature stack configurations.
The legendary Dragon series was introduced in 1984. Meinl imported these cymbals from Wuhan, China, and finished them in their German factory. To this day, Meinl Dragon cymbals (especially the rides and china) still have a following. Although they have been out of rotation from the Meinl catalog, they are traded online across many used instrument selling platforms.
The Meinl Drumbal is a cymbal which is used on a drum for completely unique sound effects (like a hand clap on a snare). Sizes include 8" or 10". Drumbals have a handle attached so you can pick them up and place down on your drums easily. Meinl Cymbal artist, Johnny Rabb, designed Meinl's Generation X series drumbals and has perfected their use in his music. Various videos of Johnny Rabb can be found online where he uses the Meinl drumbals in his playing.
A flat ride is a twist on standard ride cymbals where the cymbal doesn’t include a bell and typically has a shallow, flat profile. By leaving the bell off the cymbal, your stick sound becomes highly articulate and defined with almost no wash to overtake it. The volume of flat rides is also much lower than most cymbals, and they are typically the quietest cymbal in setups that have them. Flat rides are mainly used for quieter settings like small clubs, and they are ideal for jazz music. Meinl offers a variety of flat rides in the Byzance Jazz series.
FX9 is an alloy consisting of 69% copper, 15% zinc, 15% manganese and 1% aluminum. Due to its unique sound characteristics, this alloy is mainly used for effect cymbals. Some of Meinl's Generation X series cymbals are made from FX9 alloy.
The Generation X series started in 2001 when Meinl released the "Safari" cymbals in cooperation with Meinl cymbal artist, Johnny Rabb. Generation X began a whole new and unique collection of unconventional sounds and innovations. Other additions were the "Alien Hats" (developed with Marco Minnemann), and "Tom's Becken" (developed with Thomas Lang) in 2002. More experimental and unique sounds have been added to the series ever since.
Gustav Strobel was Meinl's first ever employee, hired in 1964. He worked for the company for almost 40 years and passed away in 2010.
The HCS series came to market in 2007 and is made from MS63 brass alloy. Meinl has long history of producing high-quality cymbals from brass for the entry level drummer. This line offers drummers of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to build out a full drum kit at an incredible value. Meinl is proud to offer the widest variety of cymbal models and types in this price range. Made in Germany with a traditional finish.
The HCS Bronze series was new for 2020. Made from B8 bronze with additional lathing, HCS Bronze cymbals offer more value than any other cymbal line in our catalog. Whether you are just starting or looking to expand, there is a wide assortment of sounds to choose from. Made in Germany with a traditional finish.
Go to series
The Headliner series was introduced in 1984. The name "Headliner" has been used for various Meinl cymbal lines, like the 1999 Headliner "Real Bronze" and "Real Brass" cymbal sets. Headliner series cymbals were available until 2006.
The Headliner Colored Cymbal series was introduced in 1986. Available finishes were black, blue, green, yellow and red.
Hihats are a pair of cymbals that include a top and bottom cymbal. These cymbals are mounted on a pedal activated stand facing opposite directions so their edges come into contact with each other when the pedal is pressed down. They can be played by foot where the two cymbals are clashed together or by hand using drumsticks.
Hihats, along with bass and snare drum, form the most basic time-keeping "ingredients" needed for drum set playing. The standard size of hihat cymbals is 14" diameter; however, other sizes have gained popularity over decades, ranging from 10" up to 16". Meinl offers hihat cymbals for all styles of music and in any price range.
The Laser series was established in 1983. These cymbals were made from B8 bronze and aimed at the semi-professional market. The series was updated over the years and was available until the early nineties.
In 2002, Meinl began using modern laser etch technology to engrave serial numbers and certain logos into the cymbal's surface. This technology is widely used today on many Meinl cymbals.
Aside from logos bearing the black ink color, the rest of the logos you see are laser etched (they typically have a deep bronze or amber color).
The Laser Time series was introduced in 1987. The sound and design of Laser Time cymbals was inspired by Meinl's Raker series.
Lightning crashes and splashes were introduced in 1994. Waved edges around each cymbal created a controlled and shorter sustain.
The Livesound series debuted in 1994 and featured various cymbal models, pre-configured cymbal sets, as well as a range of marching cymbals.
The MIPA award is the "Musikmesse International Press Award" and has been awarded every year at Musikmesse in Frankfurt, Germany. Over 90 dedicated music magazines from all over the world are called upon to nominate and vote for the best musical instruments in 23 different categories. Meinl has won MIPA awards in the "best cymbal" category as follows: Generation X (2003), Byzance Jazz (2007), Soundcaster Custom (2009), Byzance Vintage Sand Series (2010), Pure Alloy (2017), Byzance Foundry Reserve (2019).
The Marathon Pro-Starter set was introduced 1987 and made from brass. The set included a protective cymbal bag.
The Mb10 series was introduced in 2006, and these cymbals were made in Germany from a new material never before used for cymbal making: B10 bronze alloy. The line was available until 2016.
The Mb20 line of cymbals was launched in 2005. They were hand hammered in Turkey from B20 bronze and geared toward the needs of heavy metal and rock drummers. They were fairly heavy, yet had a warm sound. Many of Meinl's heavy and rock artists like Lamb of God's Chris Adler played Mb20 cymbals.
The sound and popularity of these cymbals paved the way for Meinl to be known as the "Heavy Metal" cymbal brand at the time. They were available until 2016. After being discontinued, the most popular Mb20 models were transferred into Byzance Brilliant Heavy Hammered models.
The Mb8 series was made available in 2008. Machine hammered in Germany from B8 bronze, the series was made as a typical heavy rock type cymbal sound. Mb8 was a part of the Meinl catalog until 2016.
The MCS line consisted of a pre-matched B8 bronze cymbal set, as well as optional single cymbal models in all common sizes and types. MCS cymbals were available between 2002 and 2019.
A new era in the history of Meinl began on January 1st, 2000 when MEINL USA L.C. opened its doors in Miami, Florida. The first Meinl USA president was Richard Boveri. In 2002, Meinl USA moved to Nashville, TN where it is still based to this day serving Meinl's USA and Canadian markets.
The Meteor cymbal series was established in 1983 and was made from brass. The series was updated over the years, including new elements like the Meteor Turbo New Player set that was introduced in 1987. Meteor was available until the early nineties.
MS63 is an alloy consisting of 63% copper and 37% zinc. Meinl's HCS, some models in the Generation X series and the Student Range Brass marching series cymbals are made from MS63 brass alloy.
In 2010, the M-Series realized another era in the Meinl's cymbal production. After years of research and a considerable investment, Meinl was able to manufacture B20 bronze in their German cymbal factory. These cymbals ran until 2016.
M-Series Fusion cymbals were introduced as a branch of the M-Series line in 2013. They featured an additionally lathed outer edge which created a more sensitive response. They were available until 2016.
Launched in 1997, One Of A Kind cymbals were a series of hand hammered cymbals made in Germany from B8 bronze. In addition to all types of sizes, profiles and bell shapes, three unique finishes were available: Brilliant, Antique (dark look), and Champagne 64 (sandblasted). One of A Kind cymbals were available until the early two thousands.
In 1974, Meinl became the first cymbal manufacturer to offer cymbals in pre-packaged set configurations.
Meinl's Profile series was launched in 1984 and consisted of three sub series: High-Tech, Rock Velver and Volcanic Rock. Made from B8 bronze and being the first robotically hammered Meinl cymbal line, Profile represented a new era in Meinl's cymbal production. The series was available until the late eighties.
The Pure Alloy series was added to our catalog in 2017. These cymbals sonically bridge the gap between the darker Byzance cymbals and brighter Classics Custom lines. They are precision hammered into shape using high tech computers in our German cymbal factory and feature a traditional finish. Pure Alloy cymbals have a unique ability to be both reminiscent of older traditional cymbals while being highly relevant in modern day music.
An offshoot of Pure Alloy, The Pure Alloy Custom series was developed in 2020 and is made using the same computerized hammering as Pure Alloy traditional cymbals. Compared to the Pure Alloy series, the custom models are slightly lighter, giving them a warmer body and faster decay, and they feature a dark finish that we call Smoked Bronze. Another unique element of these cymbals is their fully lathed and brilliant finish underside.
The Raker series was introduced in 1985 and was machine hammered from B8 bronze in Germany. It was made particularly for the needs of heavy drummers. Drummers like R.E.M.'s Bill Berry or Accept's Stefan Kaufmann were using Raker cymbals exclusively. The Raker series was discontinued in 2005, but they still have many fans today within the drum scene.
The Reference Class series launched in 1989. The cymbals were machine hammered from B8 bronze and featured a radically new brilliant finish, along with a hammered cymbal bell.
The ride cymbal is as important of a time-keeper cymbal as hihats, and it's often used with hihats to form a basic, starter cymbal set. Ride cymbals typically range from 20" - 22" in diameter, making them the largest cymbal in most setups. Rides are one of the most versatile cymbals because they deliver three different sounds depending on where you strike them. The raised cup in the center responds with accented bell effects, while using the bead of your stick on the bow (about halfway from the bell to the edge) gives you the classic ride sound (think of a “ping” sound).
Finally, you can strike toward the side with the shoulder of your stick for big crash swells. Drummers always look for the "perfect ride" as musical trends and personal drum styles are always changing. The Meinl ride cymbal catalog includes any sound imaginable from traditional rides to complex jazz rides.
In 1969, Meinl introduced their first two cymbal series: Romen Mark 70 and Romen Mark 74, which were made from nickel silver. Before 1969, the cymbals Meinl made were not categorized into any series name. Also, cymbal descriptions such as hihat, ride and crash weren’t used. Instead, Meinl cymbals were only differentiated by their diameter.
The Sand Ride is Benny Greb's signature ride, and it was introduced in 2010. An extensive amount of research and development was necessary to launch this cymbal. Its surface is sand blasted with fine grain sand to dampen the sound for a super human vintage touch that has an exquisite mix.
To this day, the Sand Ride is one of Meinl's most popular cymbals. Many more sand series cymbal models were developed in the following years (hihats, crashes, crash-rides, rides), all of which are Benny Greb signature cymbals. The 20" Sand Ride was honored with the 2010 M.I.P.A. award. Made in Turkey from B20 bronze.
Developed in 2004, Soundcaster cymbals were the first models to be made from B12 bronze. Sound wise, they had a warm and dark overall tone, yet they also had a bright and lively sounding attack. They bridged the sound gap between B8 and B20 bronze. Soundcaster cymbals were available until 2006, where they were developed into Soundcaster Custom and Soundcaster Fusion lines.
Introduced in 2005, Soundcaster Custom cymbals were a brilliant finish version of Meinl's Soundcaster series. They were available until 2016.
Soundcaster Fusion cymbals hit the scene in 2009. They featured an additionally lathed outer edge that contrasted the center part of the cymbal and created a more sensitive response. The line was a M.I.P.A. award winner and was available until 2016.
For quick bursts of sound that instantly punctuate any groove or fill, splash cymbals add a unique inflection that can really style a piece of music or solo. Splashes are the smallest cymbal types in most kits, typically ranging from 6" to 12" in diameter. They are also very thin and lightweight to deliver a lightning-fast response that fades away quick. Meinl splashes come in a large variety of finishes from extra dry to dark to brilliant to expand your sound palette.
A stack consists of two or more cymbals of various types, sizes, and shapes that are stacked on top of each other to create short effect sounds. The options to create cymbal stacks are endless, as literally any type of cymbal can be used in order to invent creative sounds. Meinl offers many pre-configured stacks in different sizes and shapes and in all price ranges.
The Streamer cymbal series was introduced in 1982 and was made from nickel silver. It featured a galvanized, nickel coated surface that was very unique at the time.
In 2011, Meinl Symphonic Cymbals came onto the scene. These cymbals are cast from B20 bronze alloy and are hand hammered then lathed in the same Turkish foundry as the Byzance line. They come in five weights of hand crashes and a wide range of suspended cymbals in multiple sizes. Meinl Symphonic Cymbals were developed with the help of some of Germany's most respected classical percussionists, and today they are used in orchestras all over the world.
These masterpieces of instrument making are traditionally hand-crafted in Germany from nickel silver alloy. They satisfy the highest sonic demands of leading orchestras, modern music and sound therapy.
A trash china maintains the standard china cymbal size and shape but with added hole cut-outs to boost trashiness and shorten the sustain for a lightning-fast response. The term “trash” refers to a cymbal sound that is earthy, gritty and dirty. Trash chinas achieve this sound through their specially cut-out holes in the cymbal surface, along with their classic china shape with flanged edge.
These holes dry the cymbal out—meaning they reduce the ring—while adding a host of complex tones that give the cymbal an extra trashy bite.
One of the most popular effects cymbals is the trash crash. The term “trash” refers to a cymbal sound that is earthy, gritty and dirty. Trash crashes achieve this sound through specially cut-out holes in the cymbal surface, along with thinner weights. These holes dry the cymbal out—meaning they reduce the ring—while adding a host of complex tones that give the cymbal a trashy bite.
A trash splash maintains the standard splash cymbal size but with added hole cut-outs to boost trashiness and shorten the sustain for a lightning-fast response. The term “trash” refers to a cymbal sound that is earthy, gritty and dirty. Trash splashes achieve this sound through their specially cut-out holes in the cymbal surface, along with thinner weights. These holes dry the cymbal out—meaning they reduce the ring—while adding a host of complex tones that give the cymbal a trashy bite.
Introduced in 1990, Tri Tonal was a signature series, which Meinl developed for and with the help of Billy Cobham, a Meinl artist at the time. Tri Tonal included 14" hihats, an 8" splash, 16"/18"/20" crashes, a 22" china with three rivets and a 22" ride cymbal that had an oversized hammered bell. The series was only available for a short time.
X-hats, or auxiliary hihats, are used as secondary hihats. X-hats are used to offer a totally different flavor from main hihats in a setup, and most differ in size from main hats as well. Most players mount x-hats on a closed hihat stand or regular cymbal stand, where they are only played with sticks. X-hats can be placed anywhere around a drum kit, from next to main hihats to the complete opposite side of the drums for easy reach anywhere.
Meinl's XL Cymbal Concept was introduced in 1997. Using the slogan "More Cymbal, More Sound", Meinl offered ½" intermediate sizes like a 20 ½" ride or 18 ½" crash at the same price as the whole size version.
