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Paiste is one of the leading cymbal brands in the drumming world. They have an incredible reputation for producing top-quality cymbals that many pro drummers use. There’s something special about playing a top-end Paiste cymbal that so many drummers love and enjoy.
Like most cymbal companies, Paiste offers some of their cymbals in pre-made cymbal packs. These packs are a bit more affordable than buying cymbals individually, so getting one of them is an option for every drummer to consider. We’re going to look at 5 Paiste cymbal packs and see exactly what they have to offer.
What are the Best Paiste Cymbal Packs?
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Best studio cymbals
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Best rock cymbals
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Best budget cymbals
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Best jazz cymbals
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Best effects cymbals
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How I Tested and Selected the Best Paiste Cymbal Packs
With Paiste being one of the big four cymbal brands, I’ve played dozens of Paiste cymbals throughout the years.
Whenever I test a cymbal pack, I love to give value-driven opinions. I look at sound quality mostly. I’ll play each cymbal within a variety of grooves and fills to see how they sound and interact with each other.
I also tested each cymbal pack across different musical genres and playing styles to ensure adaptability to diverse musical contexts. This included evaluating factors such as sustain, wash, and responsiveness to various stickings and articulations.
To recommend a good series of options for this list, I made sure to test Paiste cymbal packs at different price points. My process for testing each pack stays the same, but I tend to view the more affordable options through the lens of a beginner drummer.
Paiste Cymbal Packs Reviews
Paiste Signature Classic Cymbal Set
Paiste Signature Classic Cymbal Set Review
The Paiste Signature Classic Set includes some of the best Paiste cymbals that you can get. The Signature Series cymbals have been around for decades, and their brilliant bright sound is highly sought-after.
I love how these cymbals aren’t harshly cutting even though they have bright tones. When hearing them through a full drum mix, I love how they blend but remain sharp enough to be effective.
The cymbals are made from B20 bronze and each cymbal in the set interacts incredibly well with the next. One of the best things about these cymbals is how well they perform in studio environments. They have an almost pre-EQ’d tone, making them easy to work with through microphones.
This set is the premium pick on the list as the Signature Series is one of Paiste’s top cymbal lines. The Paiste Signature Classic Cymbal Set comes at a hefty price because of that.
Pros
- Great cymbals for recording due to how well they perform through studio microphones
- Excellent musical contrast between each cymbal in the pack, offering a diverse array of sounds
- Full and musical tones at all dynamic playing levels
- Versatile option for drummers that love bright cymbals
Cons
- One of the most expensive cymbal packs out there
Paiste 2002 Cymbal Set
Paiste 2002 Cymbal Set Review
The Paiste 2002 Set is the perfect option for rock and metal drummers. These were the cymbals of choice for John Bonham, one of the greatest rock drummers of all time.
Similar to the Signature Series, they’ve been around for decades and can be heard on countless studio recordings as well as recorded live shows.
They’re made from CuSn8 bronze which gives them loud and bright tones. All the cymbals project incredibly well, making them sound massive when you hit them hard.
I didn’t expect these cymbals to be so loud before I played them, but the huge sounds inspired me to play some big grooves, which felt awesome!
You get 18” and 20” crashes with the set that have bright shimmering tones. The 22” ride cymbal is the loudest cymbal of the set, providing you with a large sound source. The ride bell has a fairly dark tone, providing a good dynamic contrast from the rest of the set. T
Lastly, the hi-hats have a very clear and defined sound. They’re attacking when you play them tightly together and they have an aggressive washing tone when open.
Pros
- Bright, explosive, and powerful sounds make these cymbals fit best in heavy styles like metal and rock
- Legendary reputation in the rock music industry, as these were John Bonham’s cymbals of choice
- Incredibly durable, so you can hit them hard without worrying about them breaking
- Paiste uses a special alloy to make these that is cheaper than B20, but they still sound amazing
Cons
- Too aggressive for softer styles of music
Paiste PST 7 Universal Cymbal Set
Paiste PST 7 Universal Cymbal Set Review
If you find the 2002 pack to be a bit too expensive, the Paiste PST 7 Universal Set is the next best thing.
The PST 7 cymbals are the entry-level to intermediate cymbals from Paiste.
I find these to be most similar to the S Series and XSR Series from Zildjian and Sabian.
These cymbals arguably sound better than the competing ranges from different brands, though. Somehow, Paiste has managed to produce beautiful bright cymbals at a relatively affordable price.
The big benefit of this pack compared to other affordable ones is that you get larger crash cymbals.
These cymbals are also made from CuSn8 bronze. They had full-bodied energetic tones that are very punchy when heard within a mix. Each cymbal in the pack had a beautiful shimmering tone to it.
Even though the cymbals are bright, they tend to work fairly well for a wide range of musical styles. You’ll find drummers using these in rock, pop, and even hip-hop gigs.
Pros
- Very affordable compared to all the other cymbal pack options on this list
- Some of the most versatile inexpensive cymbals available
- One of the few cheaper cymbal packs that come with a 20” crash cymbal
- Good option for beginner or intermediate drummers that need to upgrade from brass cymbals
Cons
- Not as dynamically diverse as the higher-end cymbals on this list
Paiste Masters Thin Cymbal Set
Paiste Masters Thin Cymbal Set Review
The Paiste Masters Thin Set is the one that I used for a few studio recordings many years ago. At the time, it was one of the best sets that I played, as every cymbal in the pack was musical and incredibly responsive.
I’d say that these cymbals are mostly made for jazz drummers, but the high-end nature just made them sound so good in every single setting.
The cymbals have a darker and raspier tone to them, with the decay being quite short. I find that this makes them blend beautifully into a drum mix.
This is one of the pricier cymbal packs from Paiste, but it’s definitely one of the best. I highly recommend it to drummers who are looking for cymbals that compete with Zildjian’s K Customs or Sabian’s HHX line.
Pros
- Ideal cymbals for jazz and worship settings, as the darker tones suit those styles very well
- Each cymbal in the set is highly complex and very responsive to varying levels of dynamic playing
- The added effects crash is a great touch for contributing a bit of flavor to the set’s overall sound
Cons
- Another very expensive set from Paiste
Paiste PST X DJs Cymbal Set
Paiste PST X DJs Cymbal Set Review
The PST X DJs Set is a wildly unique Paiste cymbal pack. It’s a good option to consider getting if you’re looking for adding some different types of sounds to add to your drum kit.
Included in the set are 4 effects cymbals. They’re labeled as rides, crashes, and hi-hats. However, they’re all 12”, allowing you to mix and match them in different ways.
The cymbals are all made from B8 bronze. Although that’s a lower-quality material than what the previous cymbals are made of, the cymbals in this pack are still highly valuable in a setup.
The cymbals all have high-pitched tones that I think are great for styles like hip-hop. The pack would also work quite well on a kid’s drum set.
Pros
- Great for styles like rap, pop, and hip-hop where short cymbal sounds are needed
- All the cymbals are 12”, so you can mix and match them in different ways
- A great cymbal pack option for small kids’ drum sets
Cons
- These cymbals aren’t suitable to be used as main cymbals in most normal musical settings
Paiste Cymbals Buying Guide
Why Are Paiste Cymbals Expensive?
While the typical number of cymbals in a cymbal pack is 4, Paiste packs generally come with 5. That’s one of the biggest reasons for Paiste cymbal packs being more expensive.
However, another reason is that the high-end cymbals from Paiste are hand-crafted in a Swiss factory. The production process costs more, leading the top-quality cymbals to have higher prices than most competing top-quality cymbals from the other major cymbal brands.
Which Famous Drummers Use Paiste Cymbals?
One of the best ways of deciding which cymbals to get is to listen to accomplished drummers using them. While Paiste isn’t as popular as brands like Meinl and Zildjian at the moment, you can still find some famous drummers using them. Some notable names would be Jared Falk, Vinnie Colaiuta, Eric Moore, and Steve Jordan.
Paiste was a major favorite of drummers in the classic rock era. Drummers from all the popular rock bands are still Paiste artists if they’re around today.
Which Paiste Cymbals Should You Get?
You should establish what your budget is and check to see which cymbals will work best with the style of music you’re playing. The Signature Series is one of the best packs to go with if you have the cash for it and need something that is versatile.
You could go with the Paiste 2002 pack if you need something a bit cheaper. It’s also arguably the best option for rock and metal drummers.
If you’re on a tight budget, the Paiste PST7 pack is the best option for you. The Paiste Masters pack and Paiste PST X DJ pack are good options for modern drummers who play jazz, fusion, or any form of hip-hop.
Final Thoughts
While you may have the initial impression that Paiste cymbals are expensive, you’ll find plenty of options that are suitable for all budgets. Paiste cymbals are a classic favorite of rock drummers. It’s been that way for years.
However, the brand has cymbals for every occasion, and it’s worth looking into all of them. Take your pick of one of the cymbal packs above and listen to some demos to see if you like the sound of each cymbal.
If you end up loving everything about the pack, make the purchase! You won’t regret it as most drummers end up loving their Paiste cymbals.
