Zildjian 18" K-Custom Hybrid Crash

The Zildjian 18" K-Custom Hybrid Crash was a stand-out purchase for me. I have been using the cymbal regularly now for over a year and it has seen many gigs in this time.

The sound of this cymbal is exquisite. It has studio quality tones even in a live setting. Dark in tone with a beautiful decay that sustains for just the right amount of time. The wash of the cymbal is smooth and the crash can cut through any type of music with ease. This particular cymbal also boasts a beautiful, crystal clear bell suitable for accents. The stick definition is also quite clear when playing the bow of this cymbal. I drum to many different genres and I am yet to find one where this cymbal will not suffice. This cymbal has quite a sharp edge and if you are wash-riding frequently you will find that it eats up your sticks very quickly - just something to watch out for, but a small price to pay for the beauty of the attack and decay of this cymbal.

Over the past year this cymbal has been gigged extensively, not to mention all the time in the practice room. Structurally it has a solid feel, not too buttery, and not too rigid, just a feel right in the middle which makes for a excellent feel. The cymbal is easily cleaned and maintained.

Overall I would highly recommend this cymbal for everyone no matter what the genre. It is suitable for everywhere from the practice room right up to the big stage and studio.

I was listening to this cymbal carefully at youtube clips before ordering it.
Once I got to try it for real I realized this is a somewhat heavier cymbal than my 17" K dark custom. It has longer sustain than I had expected and it's a bit louder than my other cymbals, that makes a bit of a dynamic issue in the kit.
While playing the bell, the sound is a bit awkard to my ears.
But other than that it's a really good crash. Actually the whole K-Custom Hybrid line seem really useful.