Zildjian Z Custom Cymbals – Reviewed

November 15, 2024

Here’s the latest video from the Drummer’s Review Live Room featuring a selection of Zildjian Z Custom cymbals

Featuring…

14″ & 15″ Hi-Hats
16″, 17″, 18″, 19″ & 20″ Crashes
18″ & 20″ Chinas
21″ Mega Bell Ride
22″ Ride

Filmed September 2024 at Paul Caboche Studios, Cornwall, UK. (scroll down for recording & equipment details)

“All models are fairly thick and heavy in weight, although perhaps not quite as heavy or thick as older Z Customs giving them a slightly faster response.”

Zildjian Says…“After a 15-year hiatus, the coveted Z Custom cymbal series has returned to the Zildjian portfolio. Z Custom addresses Metal’s growing worldwide popularity, delivering explosive, bright and loud sounds that drummers have been requesting for years, with reimagined durability. Z Custom is built for the stage or studio, allowing for limitless musical expression.“

“To our ears each model sounds smaller than its actual diameter, with the 16” sounding more like a 14” and this trend carries on as you move up through the sizes.”

Zildjian Z Custom Cymbals – UK RRP’s:

14″ HiHats – Pair £519.00
15″ HiHats – Pair £569.00
16″ Crash £309.00
17″ Crash £339.00
18″ Crash £359.00
19″ Crash £389.00
20″ Crash £409.00
18″ China £379.00
20″ China £419.00
21″ Mega Bell Ride £449.00
22″ Ride £489.00

“There’s little doubt that the Z Customs have a very particular target market, and any rock or metal drummer would be highly advised to check them out.”

Pro’s:

Fantastic ‘Glassy’ tone
Fast stick response and good definition
A welcome return to a highly popular cymbal range

Con’s:

Slightly expensive for a relatively niche cymbal range

For more details on the Zildjian Z Custom range, head to: https://zildjian.com/collections/z-custom-cymbals

Drummer’s Review, based in North Devon, England would like to thank the https://www.bathhotellynmouth.co.uk/ for the use of their hotel for this photo shoot in their stunning bar. Photography by Guy Harrop on location at Bath Hotel in Lynmouth, Devon.

Recording Details:

Filmed at Paul Caboche Studios (Cornwall UK).

Microphone List:

Kick Rear: Audix D6
Kick Front: Electrovoice RE27ND
Snare Top: Electrovoice PL80
Snare Bottom: Electrovoice PL80
Hi Hat: Oktava MK-012-01 Cardio
Over Head wide: AKG C414B (pair)
Centre Over Heads: AEA R88 MK2 Stereo Ribbon Mic
Front Centre Room : AEA R88 MK2 Stereo Ribbon Mic
Wide Room Mic’s: sE2200T Tube Mic’s (pair)

Recording Process:

Microphone Pre amps: 16x Rupert Neve Designs 5052

Pre amp outs to Avid HD analog to digital converters connected to Avid HDX card

Recorded into Pro Tools Ultimate latest version running HDX cards mounted in an Apple Mac Pro 2019 16core.

Audio Template Details:

Basic EQ:

Basic EQ setting using the EQ section of the Neve 5052 mic Pre-Amps. No post recoded EQ or processing applied.

A Note From Paul…

“The microphones were set up with the overheads and room mic’s measured to the centre of the snare drum to keep the phase of any stereo pair in phase. The AEA R88 MK2 mic’s being stereo mic’s had no issue with phase but the front centre room mic and centre overhead where aligned with each other to keep the same stereo image. The phase reverse switch on the front kick mic was used to correct the phase between the two bass drum mic’s. The phase reverse switch was engaged on the bottom snare mic to correct the phase between the two snare mic’s. Hi pass filters only used on the hi hat mic, Ride mic and overheads. The live room of the studio has been treated to provide a neutral sound close to the drums & cymbals with the room mic’s then giving a true representation of what the instruments sound like in the room. Using 16 identical Mic Pre amps also helps with electrical phase so there is no difference between tone and phase of the Mic Pre amps. The brief for the recoding was to give as true a representation as possible of what the instruments actually sound like.”

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