The range of Meinl's new cymbals for 2015 is almost just as broad as all the cymbal lines the company has. Four new cymbals are added to the Byzance Extra Dry series, six new items to the Byzance Jazz series, including those developed with Ralph Peterson, up to the new Byzance Dark series and affordable HCS series that have new Trash Stacks. In addition, the Classics line received a facelift with a new logo and a new lathing pattern. Most notable for Meinl at NAMM was the fact that the company did not have a booth on the show floor. Instead, they upheld the concept of a trade show with an invitation-only meeting room where all cymbals and percussion were on display. Considering the amount of noise a cymbal booth gives during the four days of NAMM, that is a clever idea.
The first video with this article has all the cymbals mentioned below in detail and in the same order. In almost three minutes you get all the specs on all the cymbals, with Benny Greb playing in the background. We also added the three videos of our interview with Ralph Peterson, who developed two new Jazz rides with Meinl.
Byzance Extra Dry Dual cymbals After the success and huge feedback of selling just a prototype of these Duals through a dealer in the United States, Meinl took the response at heart and started actual production of the Dual cymbals.
There are four new cymbals in the Byzance Extra Dry series: the Dual cymbals. As in the video and on the photos, you can see Dual refers to the finish; it has an extra dry and thicker finish in the center, and an extra lathing and high polished finish on the thinner edge. That makes it a great cymbal that you can use as a ride in the center, and for the crash effect you use the edge of the cymbals.
20" Dual Crash-Ride
22" Dual Crash-Ride
18" Dual Crash
15" Dual Hi-Hat
The Ralph Peterson Rides New in the Byzance Jazz Series are the 22" Symmetry Ride and the 21" Nuance Ride, developed with Berklee Professor and bandleader Ralph Peterson.
Watch our interview with Ralph Peterson and full info on the cymbals on:
Byzance Jazz Tradition Series Byzance Tradition jazz cymbals are handmade in Turkey and hammered into shape by hand. The final processing is done in Meinl's factory in Gutenstetten, Germany. Again, the feedback Meinl got from artists and customers led to these new Jazz Tradition types. They feature a banded lathing on the top side. This provides the wood-sounding definition.
22" Tradition Flat Ride
20" Tradition Medium Ride
20" Tradition Medium Light Ride
13" Tradition Hi-Hat
Byzance Dark - 22" Big Apple Dark Ride The Big Apple Dark Ride is what you call a Sound Expansion: a new cymbal added to an existing line. The Big Apple is already available in the Byzance Jazz series, and now also in the Byzance Dark series. The sound is dark and complex and has a small bell and full bodied ping.
Byzance 15" Extra Dry Medium Thin Hi-Hat Another sound expansion. The Byzance 15" Extra Dry Medium Thin Hi-Hat is the little brother of the 16" version that was brought to the market in 2014. It has an unlathed finish and underwent extensive hand hammering. The sound is warm and slightly trashy while still being articulate.
HCS Trash Stacks The affordable new Meinl Trash Stacks have a China on the bottom and the top is a crash cymbal with long holes cut into it. While HCS is Meinl's entry series, they found that when using brass cymbals the sound quality when using brass over bronze gives great quality as well. And at an affordable price level as well, since it is the entry series. Useful for any type of player!
Of course, they sound trashy, but also have short sustaine making them a perfect effect stack for any setup. Available in two sizes:
HCS 14" Trash Stack
HCS 16" Trash Stack
Also on display at NAMM 2015 were the new Classics with a redesigned logo and a new lathing pattern. Below are the Classics on display at NAMM. Check the Meinl website to see the full range of these cymbals.
Classics 14" Medium Hi-Hat (photo available)
16" Medium Crash (photo available)
18" Classics China
18" Medium Crash
20" Medium Ride
Backbeat Tambourines & the Ching Ring Here are two Meinl Percussion products as well. These are worth mentioning for drummers who like to add nice sound effects. Both the Backbeat Tambourines and the Ching Ring give you a lot of sound effects when adding them to your setup.
The 6" Ching Ring is as stainless steel ring that has 5 pairs of jingles. Put it on your Hi-Hat or ride and you have the coolest effect.
The Backbeat Tambourines come in two sizes: for 10" and 12" snares (or toms) and for 13" and 14" drums. They also have stainless steel jingles - four on the smaller one, six on the bigger version. Attache them with the velcro tape and you're all set.
4" Meinl Kneepad As published in November 2014, Meinl already announced two new product series: the Cajon Brush Collection and a 4" Kneepad for practicing or warm-up before a gig.
Full details are available the article: New Meinl Cajon Brushes and Kneepad
