6 Best Cymbal Stacks for FX and Accents

Best Cymbal Stacks for FX and Accents

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Cymbal stacks are an essential part of most modern drumming setups. Whether you’re playing hip-hop or heavy metal, a cymbal stack is an ideal cymbal to get short and punchy sounds that you can play within fills or grooves.

Drummers typically have one cymbal stack within their setup, but you can have more if you want a variety of sounds to have at your disposal. 

The optimal sounds for cymbal stacks come down to personal preference, but they generally need to have a short sound that is very distinct and slightly trashy. 

It takes a lot of trial and error to create your own FX stacks that fit together and sound good, so it’s a good idea to buy a premade stack from a trusted cymbal company. 

In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best cymbal stacks that fit different budgets. I’ve compared them according to size, materials, sound, and build quality. 

In a Rush Round-Up

Image Recommended ProductsProduct Features Price
Meinl Luke Holland Bullet Cymbal Stack
  • 12" Top and 16" bottom cymbal stack
  • B10 and B20 Bronze alloys
  • Fast and trashy attack
Meinl Classics Custom Cymbal Stack
  • 12" Cymbal stack
  • B10 Bronze alloy
  • Brilliant finish
Paiste PST X Swiss Flanger Stack Cymbal
  • 14" Cymbal stack
  • CuSn8 Bronze top, Brass/Aluminum bottom
  • White noise FX
Meinl HCS Cymbal Stack
  • 12" Cymbal stack
  • Brass alloy
  • Entry-level stack
Meinl Matt Garstka Cymbal Stack
  • 18" Cymbal stack
  • B20 Bronze alloy
  • Quick blow with a full body
Zildjian FX Stack Cymbal with Cymbolt Mount
  • 10" Cymbal stack
  • Proprietary alloy top, Steel bottom
  • Includes threaded stand adapter

How I Tested and Selected the Best Cymbal Stacks

When I tested cymbal stacks for this list, there were two things I focused on. Firstly, I wanted to make sure that they sounded good in every musical style, so I played a variety of punk, jazz, rock, and metal grooves to see how well they performed. 

The second aspect I focused on was how musical they were. Stacks don’t need to be as tonally rich as normal cymbals, as the sounds are much shorter and more distinct. 

However, I still wanted to get great responsiveness when playing them at different dynamic levels. So, I played several grooves with loud and soft strokes to see how much tone came out of each stack. 

I also made sure to demo stacks of all shapes and sizes, giving me a good idea of what the best ones were.

Cymbal Stacks Reviews

Meinl Luke Holland Bullet Stack

A powerful stack with a strong, short sound. It’s highly versatile, working well in any style of music.
Sound Quality
4.9
Musicality
4.6
Versatility
4.8
Durability
4.5
Value
4.0

    Meinl Luke Holland Bullet Stack Review

    The Meinl Luke Holland Bullet Cymbal Stack is a sharp and powerful cymbal combination.

    Designed in conjunction with online drumming sensation Luke Holland, the bullet cymbal stack has a ferocious bite and a fast attack perfect for exciting accents and tight grooves.

    When playing it, I loved how loud and explosive this stack was while still maintaining a short and distinct sound. 

    The Luke Holland Bullet Stack features a 12″ brilliant finish top cymbal, with a 16″ traditional finish bottom cymbal. These cymbals are perforated with holes for a trashy sound and a short decay with minimal overtones.

    Both quick and fierce sounding, this Meinl stack is without a doubt, one of the coolest cymbal stack combinations available. Musical styles such as rock, metal, funk, hip-hop, and plenty more would all benefit from this pocket rocket of a stack cymbal.

    The sound of this bullet stack is inspiring and exciting to listen to. It’s funky, explosive, trashy, and percussive by nature. This splash/crash cymbal stack combination is a winner for the best cymbal stack on the market, and it succeeds in delivering the fiery, iconic bullet fire sound heard in Luke Holland’s videos!

    Pros

    • Ferocious and powerful bite
    • Clean sounding with minimal overtones
    • Easily fits into most drum setups

    Cons

    • Could crack if played too hard

    Meinl Classics Custom Stack

    A bright stack with incredible value for the money. The high-pitch sounds lend well to modern styles of music.
    Sound Quality
    4.0
    Musicality
    4.2
    Versatility
    4.1
    Durability
    4.6
    Value
    4.6

      Meinl Classics Custom Stack Review

      This Meinl Classics Custom Cymbal Stack delivers exciting, pro-level sounds at an affordable price point. Constructed of a B10 bronze alloy, the Classics Custom stack cymbal produces short, sharp, and punctuated sounds perfect for fills and rhythmic accents.

      This Meinl stack cymbal’s bright and aggressive sound makes it suitable for rock, pop, metal, fusion, hip-hop, and plenty more modern music styles where the drummer can add some ‘zing’ to a track.

      This was surprisingly one of the favorite stacks that I tried. Even though it was more affordable than the high-end B20 options, it sounded amazing. 

      Meinl’s Classics Custom range of cymbals represents fantastic value for money. Professional drummers use them on tour worldwide for their brightness, musicality, and versatility.

      The Classics Custom stack cymbal is a combination of 12″ perforated, brilliant-finish cymbals that cut through any music style and sound awesome both live and in the studio. This is one of the best stack cymbal options for the money, hands down.

      Pros

      • Pro level cymbal stack at an affordable price
      • Highly versatile for modern music
      • Powerful and sharp sounds

      Cons

      • Small sizes have less body and depth

      Paiste PST X Swiss Flanger Stack

      An explosive stack that can be used to play hi-hat patterns on, as well as strong accented notes. It delivers earthy tones that add a unique flavor to drum parts.
      Sound Quality
      4.1
      Musicality
      4.4
      Versatility
      3.7
      Durability
      4.0
      Value
      4.3

        Paiste PST X Swiss Flanger Stack Review

        Up next, we have the Paiste 14″ PST X Swiss Flanger Cymbal Stack that’s been carefully designed with various alloy formulations for the ultimate trashy sounds! 

        I love how this cymbal stack has a unique balance of earthiness, trashiness, and sustainability. I’ve seen so many Paiste artists use it because of those qualities. 

        Together, the PST X Swiss Flanger stack cymbals deliver bright and explosive sounds like a white-noise FX for powerful, cutting accents. The sound is also particularly musical for a stack cymbal, and it has a substantial amount of body that makes it suitable for grooving on.

        As is the case with all stack cymbals, the sound can be tailored to your liking depending on how tight the two cymbals are mounted. A looser fit will result in a longer sustain with more overtones, and a tight cymbal stack will produce concise and punctuated sounds.

        Overall, the Paiste PST X Swiss Flanger is an excellent cymbal stack to choose from if you’re looking for an exciting addition to your cymbal arsenal!

        Pros

        • Explosive, earthy, and dry
        • Unique looks and sounds
        • Rich and musical

        Cons

        • Arguably inferior cymbal alloy construction

        Meinl HCS Stack

        A budget-priced stack cymbal aimed at beginner drummers. It delivers a strong bite, allowing new drummers to experiment with cymbal stack playing.
        Sound Quality
        3.8
        Musicality
        4.0
        Versatility
        3.9
        Durability
        4.2
        Value
        4.5

          Meinl HCS Stack Review

          The affordable Meinl HCS Cymbal Stack is an excellent choice for the budding drummer looking to expand his or her set up to accommodate some FX cymbals. The HCS line of cymbals is a budget cymbal line designed to offer musical sounds to beginner drummers.

          The Meinl 12″ HCS trash stack cymbal has a bright and cutting sound that makes it ideal for experimenting with new fills and rhythmic accents. 

          It offers a high-pitched tone with a short sustain, and this cymbal cuts through music with ease. 

          I found that it has a remarkably strong bite for such a cheap cymbal, and it was incredibly fun to play within my drum kit setup. 

          With its affordable price tag, the Meinl HCS cymbal stack is the perfect way to experiment with modern and sharp accents within your music. It’s suitable for most modern musical styles, and it will definitely add some fierce fire to your drumming chops.

          Pros

          • Amazingly affordable
          • Durable and solid build quality
          • Ideal entry-level cymbal stack

          Cons

          • Cheap brass alloy lacks richness

          Meinl Matt Garstka Stack

          A large stack with highly musical tones. It’s full of wash and power, making it a strong cymbal option to play in heavy song parts.
          Sound Quality
          4.8
          Musicality
          4.5
          Versatility
          4.0
          Durability
          4.5
          Value
          4.2

            Meinl Matt Garstka Stack Review

            The Meinl Matt Garstka Cymbal Stack is a formidable stack cymbal combination featuring two 18″ cymbals for musical and full-bodied sounds. Its dual cymbal surfaces complement each other to deliver a sharp attack with a short decay for striking accents and timekeeping.

            Without a doubt, this Meinl stack is one of the best cymbal stacks on the market that produces incredible sounds. Developed in conjunction with Matt Garstka of Animals As Leaders, this cymbal stack delivers a rapid explosive sound that effortlessly rips through any musical style.

            This was one of the loudest and most explosive stacks that I’ve ever tried out. It’s the kind of cymbal I want to use when playing a big heavy metal breakdown. 

            This is the perfect stack cymbal for any drummer looking to explore new textures and experiment with new sonics for grooves and fills. This cymbal stack offers punchy, dry tones with a considerable body and depth thanks to the large 18″ diameter.

            When played with loose tension, this Meinl stack offers significantly more wash, and when tightened, it offers a much sharper sound. No matter what style of music you play, you can count on the Matt Garska cymbal stack to deliver on all fronts.

            Pros

            • Incredibly distinctive sound
            • Sonically and visually impressive
            • Rips through any style of music

            Cons

            • Very expensive
            • Large size is difficult for placement

            Zildjian FX Stack with Cymbolt Mount

            A small stack with a sharp, high-pitched tone. It cuts through the heaviest mixes, thanks to its punchy sound.
            Sound Quality
            4.0
            Musicality
            3.8
            Versatility
            3.9
            Durability
            4.5
            Value
            4.2

              Zildjian FX Stack with Cymbolt Mount Review

              Lastly, we have the Zildjian FX Stack Cymbal that carries an attractive price tag. Sized at a small 10″, this Zildjian stack cymbal is crafted from a proprietary alloy designed to maximize cut, while the bottom cymbal is constructed of cold-rolled steel.

              I saw Larnell Lewis using this stack, and I loved how he was able to play quick patterns that sounded sharp and cutting. 

              When I played it, I was able to get great sounds, and I felt like it was an epic alternative option to playing my hi-hats in grooves. 

              This is a bright and cutting small stack cymbal that is ideal for a wide range of modern music styles such as metal, fusion, rock, pop, and more. It produces a fast attack with a rapid decay that allows this punchy cymbal to cut through music with ease.

              Also included with each Zildjian FX stack is a Zildjian Cymbolt adapter, which helps to achieve an optimal cymbal placement and mount it to have as much or little tension as you so desire.

              The Zildjian FX cymbal stack is a great value option for anyone looking for a compact stack to add to their drum set. It’s a great-sounding, durable, and versatile way to experiment with new sounds on your drum set.

              Pros

              • Great value for money
              • Compact and versatile
              • Punchy sounds

              Cons

              • Small size lacks volume and depth

              Cymbal Stack Buying Guide

              Cymbal stacks are excellent FX cymbals that provide a short attacking sound that has slightly more resonance than a closed hi-hat. 

              Cymbal stacks are also much more aggressive in their sound than hi-hats, so they make a great alternative cymbal to play in grooves when you want a more energetic sound

              Larger cymbal stacks have more resonance, and they’re more similar in sound to china cymbals. However, they’re less aggressive than chinas, thanks to having less resonance.

              Many drummers find china cymbals to be a bit overwhelming, so using a stack is a great secondary option.

              What Features to Look for in Cymbal Stacks

              Cymbal Alloy

              The alloy used for cymbals determines their sound and build quality. Brass cymbals are the most inexpensive, and they have the cheapest sounds. B8, B10, and B12 cymbals have higher-quality sounds, but they’re still considered intermediate cymbals.

              The best cymbals are made from a B20 alloy. They’re also the most expensive. When it comes to stacked cymbals, B20 stacks will be the most responsive and musical sounding.

              Lower-quality alloy stacks tend to sound better than lower-quality cymbals when played alone, but you’ll find that many subtle notes go unheard. They lack the richness of the higher-quality, more expensive stacked cymbals.

              Cymbal Sizes

              The size of the cymbals in a stack is the biggest determining factor of what the overall sound will be.

              Smaller cymbals that are stacked will produce a higher-pitched sound that is very short. Larger cymbals that are stacked will produce more resonance, and the tone will be lower in pitch.

              The bigger a cymbal is, the more it costs. So, smaller stacks are the more affordable option, while large stacks tend to be quite pricey. Getting a small stack with high-quality cymbals is a great way of saving a bit of money but still getting a professional stack to use.

              Cymbal Weights

              Weight affects the volume of a stack. When the cymbals are heavy, the stack will be a lot louder. The stack will cut through mixes, thanks to its punchier tone. You also get a more pronounced sound when playing the surface of a heavy stack.

              Thinner stacks blend a bit more. The price of stacks with different weights depends on what alloy they’re made with. Many B20 cymbals are quite thin, but some are designed to be a bit heavier.

              Most cheaper stacks are quite heavy. So, most affordable stacks will be fairly loud. They just won’t be as musical.

              Cymbal Types

              Since stacks are meant to have trashy sounds, the best cymbal to use within a stack is called a trash crash or splash. These cymbals have holes in them to produce trashy tones, and you’ll see that every cymbal I’ve mentioned above includes at least one of these cymbals in the combination.

              The main types of cymbals that are paired with these are splashes, crashes, and chinas. China cymbals cause a stack to sound a lot more aggressive. Crashes produce plenty of resonance, and splash cymbals add a high pitch energetic sound to a stack.

              Stacks that include china cymbals are typically the most expensive, while stacks with crashes and splashes vary in price depending on their size.

              Getting the Most Out of Your Cymbal Stack

              By stacking two or more cymbals on top of each other, you can create unique sound effects and textures that add more depth and dimension to your playing. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your cymbal stack:

              • Experiment with different combinations of cymbals to find what sounds best for you. You can repurpose old or broken cymbals to create interesting new sound combinations.
              • Try different playing techniques to create different sounds and textures. For example, you can try playing different parts of the cymbal surface and striking with different velocities.
              • Try different tensions for tightening your cymbal stack. You can have a looser wingnut tension for a more open and washy sound or really tight for a closed hi-hat sort of ‘chick’ sound.
              • Use your stack to add dynamics and interest to your drumming repertoire. The great thing about cymbal stacks is that there are no rules. So go ahead and try different sounds and options until you find what sounds best for you.

              Cymbal Stack FAQs

              What Style of Music are Cymbal Stacks Good For?

              FX stacks are excellent tools for all kinds of modern music. Many produce sounds similar to handclaps, and that tone is versatile across all genres.

              The styles where you’ll see stacks being used the most are metal and hip-hop. Stacks in metal are used in the same way that china cymbals are. They’re great for playing breakdowns and using in verses and choruses where little sustain is needed.

              They’re used in hip-hop because they often emulate the sound of electronic drums.

              Can You Create Your Own Cymbal Stack?

              Yes, you can easily place any cymbals that you have together to make a great sounding cymbal stack. However, not all stacks will sound good, and not all cymbals fit together nicely.

              Making a cymbal stack that sounds good and makes you want to use it in your main setup takes trial and error.

              Creating a stack is a great way of repurposing broken cymbals that you would have otherwise thrown away. Even if they’re broken, they still produce the short and punchy sounds that stacks are known for. They just won’t provide as much resonance as cymbals that aren’t cracked.

              Buying a premade stack from a cymbal company is the best way to get a tried and tested cymbal.

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