Crash Cymbals
Add explosive accents, dynamic punctuation, and controlled bursts of sound to your drumming with Crash Cymbals. These essential cymbals provide the loud, cutting attack needed to emphasize transitions, highlight rhythmic changes, and elevate the energy of any musical performance. High-quality crash cymbals are crucial for expressive playing and defining the emotional arc of a song.
This category includes a wide array of crash cymbals in popular sizes, typically ranging from 14" to 19" in diameter, and varying weights (from paper-thin to heavy). Drummers can choose from different types such as fast crashes, medium crashes, thin crashes, dark crashes, and ozone crashes (featuring holes), allowing for precise selection based on desired decay time, volume, and tonal characteristics.
Crash cymbals are ubiquitous across virtually all genres of music, including pop, rock, metal, funk, jazz fusion, studio recording, and worship music. They offer immediate impact and can be integrated into simple four-piece kits or elaborate professional setups, providing vital sonic exclamation points that cut through the mix effectively.
Modern crash cymbals are crafted using advanced bronze alloys like B20, B8, and specialized proprietary alloys. Manufacturing processes involve precise lathing, hammering (hand or machine), and finishing techniques to ensure durability, consistent sound quality, and optimal responsiveness. Edge design and taper are specifically engineered to provide a quick, explosive response and rapid decay.
Crash cymbals are commonly mounted on boom cymbal stands, straight stands, multi-clamps, and drum racks, secured with appropriate felts, plastic sleeves, and wingnuts to optimize sustain and prevent keyholing. They complement ride cymbals and hi-hats to create a balanced, full spectrum of cymbal sounds. From shimmering, thin crashes that decay quickly in a studio setting to loud, heavy crashes that pierce the stage mix of a metal concert, crash cymbals provide the impact, dynamism, and versatility that every drummer relies on for powerful and articulate playing.
