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Zildjian 18" A-Series China Boy High

4.0 out of 5 stars from 2 customer ratings ()

China Boy Cymbal

  • Size: 18"
  • A Series
  • Regular design
  • High "China" sound
  • Medium-long decay time
  • Available since November 2018
  • Item number 452389
  • Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
  • Hand Hammered Cymbal No
  • Finish Regular, Traditional
  • Alloy B20 Bronze
£307
All prices incl. VAT
On request
1

That classic Zildjian sound

The A Series is the undisputed classic within Zildjian's catalogue and remains one of the most widely played cymbal ranges in the world. The bright, cutting character typical of A Series cymbals has helped shape the sound of Jazz, Rock and Pop music for decades and sits comfortably in a wide variety of musical settings. The range itself is equally diverse, encompassing hi-hats and rides in numerous sizes and weights, thin to medium crashes, and a selection of effects cymbals. The 18" China High delivers a powerful, bright China sound with a medium decay.

Zildjian 18" A-Series China Boy High

Precisely crafted B20 cymbals

Like all of the manufacturer's current cymbal lines, the Zildjian A Series is produced entirely in the company's own factory in Norwell, Massachusetts. The cymbals are made from B20 bronze, the established standard in the premium segment and an alloy widely associated with a full, warm and complex character. Even more important to the signature sound of the A Series, however, is the manufacturing process. Unlike the darker K Series, which features more irregular hammering, the A Series uses a precise and consistent hammering technique. The clean lathing pattern, finished with fine tonal grooves, extends the cymbal's upper frequency response, while the wholly mechanical production process ensures tonal consistency throughout the range.

Surface of the Zildjian 18" A-Series China Boy High

A premium all-rounder

The cymbals in the Zildjian A Series are true all-rounders, offering a classic and timeless sound at a professional standard. Their bright, clear, and yet natural character allows them to blend seamlessly into the overall voice of a drum kit while still maintaining enough presence to cut through a mix without becoming harsh or abrasive. That's a quality that's appreciated both on stage and, in particular, in the recording studio. Anyone looking for a dependable, dynamic premium cymbal that performs well across almost any musical style is likely to find exactly that in the classic A Series.

Zildjian logo

About Zildjian

The Avedis Zildjian company is one of the world's oldest manufacturers of musical instruments. In addition to cymbals and gongs, the Zildjian range also includes drumsticks, percussion mallets, and accessories. The company's history dates back to 1618, when an Armenian, Avedis Zildjian, made his first cymbals from tin, copper, and silver near Constantinople. In the early 20th century, the company moved its headquarters to the United States, where a short time later the era of big bands and Swing music began. Zildjian worked closely with the most famous drummers of that era and over the decades earned an excellent reputation among Jazz drummers. Since Ringo Starr led the way more recently, Zildjian cymbals have also become increasingly popular among Rock drummers, and today the range includes cymbals for every conceivable genre, ranging from affordable entry-level cymbals to handmade models of the very highest quality.

Exceptional versatility

Since its origins in the 1930s, the Zildjian A Series has played a major role in shaping the sound of modern music. The range is named after Avedis Zildjian III, who involved pioneering Jazz drummers such as Gene Krupa in its development. The goal was to create a thinner cymbal with a more sensitive response. Later, Rock and Pop pioneers including Ringo Starr of The Beatles and Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones embraced the powerful, cutting sound of the series. The list of influential drummers who have used Zildjian A cymbals on landmark recordings is almost endless and extends deep into the world of guitar-driven Rock. Dave Grohl, for example, used cymbals from the A Series during the recording of Nirvana's Nevermind. Among the best-known models in the range are the 14" New Beat Hi-Hat, the 21" Sweet Ride and the various Medium Thin Crashes, all of which can be heard on countless Rock, Pop and Jazz recordings.

2 Customer ratings

4 / 5

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quality

2 Reviews

D
Perfect accompaniment
Drumaddict 15.05.2022
I like China cymbals for crashing and for the tonal variety needed when playing accents but they need to be musical and they need to work with the other cymbals that I have. This ‘A’ series China boy high does just that - it provides the perfect accompaniment to my other ‘A’ series cymbals- new beat hats, sweet ride & medium thin crashes. It’s tone compliments and does not overpower the other cymbals . The quality is as you would expect from zildjian and I quite like the sultry dull lathed look of the ‘A’ series compared to the shiny appearance of the ‘A’ custom. Obviously these cymbals are more suited to semi acoustic settings but I know from experience that sound engineers quite like them because they don’t bleed into the vocal microphones as much as heavier cymbals. A good value good sounding China cymbal that works very well with other ‘A’ series cymbals. Good job Thomann and nicely protected and packaged in transit. Thanks
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a
A China boy high.
alainy 20.05.2024
Not the sound like the Avedis China boy High in 20 or 22” sold long time ago. The A China boy high in 18” has a different sound. I don’t know why zildjian stops producing their top cimbals , shame ! The cimbal sound is oke and acceptable cos it is still a Zildjian. The sound is higher in tone and pitch and shorter in sustain compared to the old Avedis China boy high 20”mentioned before in this revue. So after all an ok cimbal but not wow and not an alternative on the old China boy high.
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