Byzance Vintage Series
Four new cymbals are added to the Byzance Vintage Series. Two in light weight, and two in a medium weight. The light ride sound a little darker then the medium ride. These cymbals are made and hand hammered in the Meinl factory in Turkey. After shipment to Germany, the cymbals get a lot more treatment in Gutenstetten.

Norbert Saemann, International A&R, Event Management and Marketing at Meinl:

"We wanted to make very well controlled cymbal sounds that do not wash up or build up and still have a clear stick definition. It took us a long time to figure out how to get this specific sound. Right now we are experimenting with different sizes, hi-hats and crashes. So maybe we will come with some additional models as well in the near future."

20" Pure Ride


20" Pure Light Ride


22" Pure Ride


22" Pure Light Ride


Byzance Jazz Series - The Jazz Tradition Rides
Two new 22" Meinl jazz rides in two different weights. These beauties are handmade and lathed in Turkey. The steep bow of the cymbal makes an open crash sound that you won't expect. The medium weight has a higher pitch then the light ride.

Norbert Saemann:

"We wanted to achieve a very authentic, original jazz ride sound that works particular at lower volumes. When playing them at lower volume they have a great definition and a really nice 'woody' sound. The bell is not too overpowering, but still is very present."

22" Tradition Ride


22" Tradition Light Ride


Byzance Extra Dry Series - 21" Transition Ride
This is the sold-out-in-a-day Mike Johnston Signature Cymbal; Watch our interview with Mike on this page:
The Mike Johnston interview - Learn about the teacher and his Meinl Transition Ride

Here's the 21" Transition Ride in a few sound bytes


Classics Custom Series 20" Dark Ride
The name of the Dark Ride has two meanings: it has a dark design, with additional hammering. Also, the sound of the cymbal is created by the bigger hammering marks that make the more heavier sound. The dark surface has added lathing and laser engraved logos.


Soundcaster Custom
Two new B12 China's are added to the Soundcaster Custom series. The holes in both cymbals cause them to sound very trashy. The holes are punched in to get rid of the standard gong-sound you get when creating china cymbals.

10" Piccolo China


12" Piccolo China


HCS 8" Bell
A new HCS bell in the beginner price range of Meinl. Made from brass to create a nice effect to these series.


Additions to existing cymbals series
Meinl added several new cymbals to existing cymbal lines. Watch these fellows at work in the videos below.

Byzance Vintage 10" Splash


Byzance Brilliant 14" Serpents Hihat (Derek Roddy Signature)


12" Splash - Byzance Extra Dry


16" China - Byzance Extra Dry


16" Medium Thin Hihat - Byzance Extra Dry


17" Extra Thin Crash - Byzance Extra Dry


19" Extra Thin Crash - Byzance Extra Dry


20" Extra Thin Ride - Byzance Extra Dry


Byzance Jazz 20" Big Apple Ride


Cymbal Care Kits with protectants
Meinl has some new maintanance kits for all types of cymbals. There is a cymbal polish for the Brilliant series cymbals, where the cymbal cleaner is for all the other existing Meinl finishes. The cymbal protectant protects and 'seals' the cymbal after you have cleaned it. Both Care Kits include the official cotton made Meinl gloves, just to make sure you don't leave any of your fingerprints on your cymbals.

• Cymbal Protectant: Seals and protects cymbal surface.
  
• Cymbal Care Kit 1: Cymbal Cleaner & Cymbal Protectant
  
• Cymbal Care Kit 2: Cymbal Polish & Cymbal Protectant

New Benny Greb 12" practice pad
In addition to the already available 6" Benny Greb practice pad, Meinl also made one to fit right on your snare drum: the 12" Benny Greb Artist Series Masterpad.