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Zildjian A Custom Splash Cymbal - 10"

By Joseph "Stix" Davis - 2/29/19

As the name implies, a splash cymbal is small, and produces a fast, colorful sound, with very quick decay. The Zildjian A Custom Splash - 10" is paper thin, bright, with a brilliant finish.

Price

Prices listed are an average from several different online stores.

New: $135

Used: $75

Specifications

Size: 10"

Finish: Brilliant

Sustain: Short

Weight: Paper Thin

Full specs can be found on the Zildjian website - https://zildjian.com/a-custom-splashes.html

Sound Test

For this demonstration, I'm using my Audix Fusion Series microphones with no EQ, compression, reverb, or processing of any kind. I start with a close up of the splash cymbal. I then play the whole kit in a few different styles. I demonstrate the bell at the end for a few hits, but there's not much of a bell, since the cymbal is small.

Final Thoughts

Splashes are versatile and can fit in many musical situations, if used correctly. This is the smallest cymbal on my kit. I primarily play country rock, and I never ride the splash cymbal. Not saying you can't, but I don't. I use it as a stand alone crash for softer and slower songs, where I want the lower volume and the quick decay. If I'm playing something louder and faster, I'll use it as an accent in between other crash cymbal hits, during a drum fill, or I'll hit the splash and a different cymbal at the same time, so the sounds combine. Most of the body comes from the bigger cymbal, and the bright accent comes from the splash.

Splash cymbals are a great way to add a colorful accent to your cymbals, without taking up a lot of space, or costing a lot of money. You certainly won't need a dedicated stand to hold a splash cymbal. A clamp-on cymbal holder like the Pearl CH70 allows you to attach a splash to another cymbal or tom stand.