DRUM! Magazine – Issue 15-4, Pg. 124-125

Made from the same B12 bronze alloy as Meinl’s Soundcaster series, Soundcaster Custom cymbals are essentially flashier versions of their original counterparts. The stunning finish is the result of delicate lathing, precise hammering, and some high-tech computer polishing that results in a supremely shiny cymbal with a glassy, warm sound.

The Soundcaster Custom family does not offer as many options as the Soundcaster line, but it provides enough cymbals to suit many tastes. Pick from the usual range of splashes, crashes, and rides, and grab an 18″ China and a 22″ Mega Bell ride for more exotic sounds. Additionally, many cymbals are available in three weights: Thin, Medium, and Powerful. Being an astute DRUM! reader, you can probably guess that Thin cymbals are sharp, Powerful cymbals are loud, and Medium cymbals offer a bit of everything.

A Dash Of Splash. The Soundcaster Custom line offers extra-thin 8″ and 10″ splashes. Though they do have some inherent sharp attack because of their weight and size, the splashes contain a pleasant full-bodied tone that is very common to the entire cymbal line. The 10″ sounds more like a tiny crash than a splash. Close your eyes and imagine what that would sound like. Sweet, huh?

Crash Bash. I don’t really like small crashes very much, so the Medium 14″ and 15″ models just didn’t do it for me. Both crashes are sharp, but they each possess a dull overtone that is much too audible. For their size, they seem to be too thick, and I’d be very curious to hear them in the Thin variety. All the crashes in the Custom line sound incredibly alike, which is a great thing, but vary enough to allow you to create a distinct crash palette. Go ahead and grab a quick Thin, full-bodied Medium, or a brawny Powerful, and you’ll have a setup that you can use anywhere from pop to metal.

Tip Of The Hats. Each of these sets has a place, but my clear favorite is the Medium Soundwave. The scalloped edge of the bottom hat allows air to escape easily for a faster chick, but it also seems to cut down on some of the overtones found in the regular Medium hats. The Powerful hats possess a very loud chick and stay true to the cymbal line’s glassy surface one. Their heavy open wash is particularly juicy. The Powerful Soundwave hats are brighter and clearer than the standard Powerful hats, but both sets are a bit too thick and heavy to work effectively in medium to low volume settings. Loud settings? Bring ‘em. Rockers love thick and heavy.

Oriental Delight. Meinl says the 18″ Soundcaster Custom China is “extensively hammered,” but I don’t see it unless “extensive” also means “subtly.” The hammering is fairly light and very precise, so you will definitely not mistake it for some handmade artifact. This China attacks very quickly and has a consistent tone that lacks some of the trashiness found in more raditional China cymbals. Think of it as a modern twist on an old favorite.

Ride, Captain, Ride. I used the Medium ride extensively in live situations because of its combination of warmth and brightness, but I was troubled by the lack of tonal separation between the bow and the bell. The bell’s lack of volume prevents it from standing out on stage and it could benefit from an increase in volume. The Powerful ride is pitched higher than the medium ride, but it does possess the strident bell missing from its lighter sibling. It has more stick definition due to its heavier weight but also less sustain.

We’ve Got The Biggest Bells. Just by looking at the 22″ Mega Bell ride, you will realize that it is not a ride for low volume situations. In fact, if you close your eyes and sit with the cymbal in an empty room, you may hear its mega metal mojo rumbling. This colossal bell is pressed from a sheet of bronze, and it is designed to allow heavy hitters to cut through the guitars and basses in your band and just about in every other band within city limits. The entire ride is very loud and pingy, but the bell wasn’t quite as loud as I thought it would be. Maybe I expected too much, but a bell that big should cause ears to bleed. Overall, the bell’s sharp, loud ping is very piercing and its exaggerated shape will grab people’s attention. Be aware that crashing this thing is potentially lethal. A good wallop will rattle the windows.

Generally, the bells are the weak point of the ride cymbals. A metal player looking for some cut should probably skip the Mega Bell and head for a Powerful ride. It will fit better in a cymbal bag, too.

Verdict. Because they were among a bunch of Meinl cymbals shipped to our office several months before the other Soundcaster Customs, I have played over a dozen gigs and even recorded a demo with a set of 14″ Medium Soundwave hats, 17″ and 18″ Medium crashes, and a 20″ Medium ride. I probably would have also used a couple of Thin crashes on our faster songs had hey been available to me when we recorded, but the Medium cymbals offer a great balance of warmth, shimmer, and sustain that comes off extremely well in the studio. If you want to fine-tune your cymbal sound some more, there are enough options in the entire Soundcaster Custom line to get you set up to your liking. Under stage lights, the cymbals absolutely sparkle. Taking account of the sound and look of these pies, it seems like they’re Custom-made for up-tempo, energetic music. I don’t want to overstate things, but what these cymbals and I have is magic. Pure magic.