Meinl Cymbals Explained: Features, Types and Tips

Meinl cymbals are made by a German company founded in 1951, now one of the largest cymbal manufacturers in the world. The brand produces a wide range of instruments — from entry-level brass cymbals to hand-hammered bronze professional models — under several distinct series, each aimed at a different type of player and budget. Understanding the range helps you choose the right instrument rather than spending more or less than your playing actually requires.

Materials and Manufacturing

The material largely determines the quality tier. Entry-level models use brass alloy, which is inexpensive to machine and produces a bright, clangy tone that many players find acceptable for practice but limiting for performance. Mid-range and professional models use B8 bronze (92% copper, 8% tin) or B20 bronze (80% copper, 20% tin), with the higher tin content in B20 delivering a warmer, more complex sound with greater wash and harmonic depth. Hand-hammering adds further tonal complexity by creating irregular surface profiles that scatter sound in more nuanced ways than machine-hammered equivalents.

The Main Series

The HCS series is the entry-level range of Meinl cymbals — made from brass, aimed at students and beginners who need a functional kit at minimal cost. The sound is acceptable for practice and learning. The Classics Custom series steps up to B8 bronze and offers a noticeably better tone, with more definition and a cleaner wash. It suits intermediate players who want a reliable gigging cymbal without the cost of professional bronze. The Byzance series is the professional range — B20 bronze, hand-hammered, available in dozens of variants for different styles and preferences. Byzance is what touring and recording drummers typically use.

Style Specialisation

Meinl cymbals cover a wide range of musical styles through model variations within each series. The Byzance Jazz line uses thin, unlathed profiles that produce dry, low-volume sounds suitable for small-group jazz and acoustic settings. The Byzance Dark series favours heavily hammered surfaces and dark, complex tones for rock and studio use. The Classics Custom Metal line offers bright, aggressive tones for heavier music. Understanding which line targets your style saves you from purchasing a cymbal that is technically high quality but tonally wrong for your music.

Where to Listen Before Buying

Meinl publishes demo videos for almost every model in the Meinl cymbals range on their YouTube channel, with consistent recording conditions that make model comparisons useful. Listening through these before purchasing gives a reasonable indication of tonal character. In-person testing at a drum shop is better when possible, as recorded audio cannot fully convey the physical response and projection of a cymbal at volume. Major UK retailers carry a representative selection of the range.

For advice on which model to buy, see the buyer's guide. For specific recommendations at different budgets, see the best for the money.

Frequently Asked Questions