Common Zildjian S Mistakes to Avoid

I've set up more cymbal stands than I can count over the years, and the same handful of mistakes come round again and again with Zildjian S cymbals — almost never the cymbal's fault, almost always how it's been chosen or fitted. Here's the honest list of where Zildjian S owners most often trip up.

Choosing a Zildjian S Cymbal by Diameter Alone

Two crashes at the same size can behave completely differently depending on weight. Buying purely by inches and ignoring whether it's Thin, Medium-Thin, Medium or Rock is the single most common mistake I see, and it's usually why a cymbal ends up sounding wrong for the room it's actually being played in.

Ignoring the Weight Options Entirely

Weight changes volume, attack and how quickly a cymbal opens up far more than diameter does. A Rock-weight crash and a Thin crash at the same size are built for genuinely different situations — one for cutting through a loud band, one for controlled, dynamic playing. Match it to what you actually play, not just the number stamped on the bell.

Over-Tightening the Wingnut

Cymbals need to move. Clamp a wingnut down too hard and you choke the sustain, increase stress right around the mounting hole, and risk a crack developing over time. Snug enough to stop excessive wobble is plenty — you shouldn't need real force.

Metal-to-Metal Contact on the Stand

Skipping the felts, sleeves or plastic tube protection between a cymbal and its stand hardware is a quick way to damage the mounting hole and dull the sound. It's cheap, simple protection, and there's no good reason to leave it off.

Picking a Crash That's Too Bright for the Room

A crash that sounds exciting played alone in a quiet room can turn harsh the moment it's combined with loud guitars and a bright vocal mic. Test cymbals in a setting as close as possible to how you'll actually use them, not in isolation on a shop floor.

Judging a Cymbal on Its Own

A single cymbal rarely tells the whole story. How it sits against your other crashes, your ride and your hi-hats matters just as much as how it sounds by itself. Bring the rest of your setup, or at least think about it, before committing to something new.

Skipping Proper Storage and Transport

Stacking cymbals loose in a bag, or leaving them exposed in a hot car, is asking for scratches, warping and unnecessary wear. Sleeves or a proper cymbal case, plus a quick check of the edge and mounting hole now and then, is genuinely cheap insurance for something that should otherwise last for years.

A Word on Authenticity, Too

Worth a quick mention while we're on mistakes: a genuine Zildjian S cymbal always carries a proper, clearly stamped logo in the bell. If you're buying secondhand and that stamp looks blurry, off-centre or simply absent, ask the seller a direct question before you hand over any money. It's a rare issue, but a cheap one to check.

Avoiding These the Easy Way

Most of this comes down to slowing down before you buy or fit anything new. If you're still deciding what to buy in the first place, our Zildjian S buyer's guide covers exactly that, and our full overview explains what each type in the range is actually built for. New to all this? Start with our beginner's guide instead.

Frequently Asked Questions