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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
Finish: Brilliant
Full specs can be found on the Zildjian website – https://zildjian.com/products/a-custom-splashes
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.
Originally Published – 2/29/2019