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Zultan is an incredible cymbal brand that more drummers should be aware of. Handmade from cast B20 bronze in Turkey, Zultan cymbals possess rich sonic characteristics.
The company aims to provide traditionally and expertly made cymbals at affordable prices, giving drummers an easier path to having a beautiful-sounding cymbal setup.
If you don’t want to spend stacks of money but you want some high-quality cymbals, you should consider getting a set of Zultan cymbals.
In this guide, I’ll show you some of Zultan’s best cymbal options. I’ve compared them according to value, sound quality, and overall playability within different musical styles.
In a Rush Roundup
| Image | Recommended ProductsProduct | Features | Price |
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Best mellow sounding set
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Best dry sounding cymbals
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Most versatile Zultan cymbals
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Best set for beginners
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Best for heavy music
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How I Tested and Selected the Best Zultan Cymbal Sets
I was recently invited to the Thomann Music Store to test out a few products. With Zultan being one of the store’s in-house brands, I was able to try out their Zultan cymbal lines.
While Zultan is a much smaller name than brands like Zildjian or Meinl, I was surprised by how good these cymbals sounded in comparison.
When testing each cymbal pack, I mainly looked at the sound quality and dynamic responsiveness. I then looked at versatility, as I strongly believe in owning versatile cymbals to cover most musical styles.
I started with higher-end cymbal packs, but I also did vigorous testing with a few of the more affordable packs so that I could recommend good cymbals for beginners.
In-Depth Reviews
Zultan Caz Series Professional Set
Zultan Caz Series Professional Set Review
The cymbals in the Caz series from Zultan are extremely versatile and lighter than most of the brand’s other options.
These cymbals have beautiful mellow dark tones that blend musically into each other. However, they still produced sufficient volume when I laid into them.
The 14-inch hi-hats sound fantastic, having a shimmering sound when played open and a light sound when played closed.
The 16-inch and 18-inch crash cymbals have enough of an impact to sound effective within fills and grooves, but their warm tones make them ideal for drummers who don’t want massive attack and volume.
The 20-inch Caz ride is arguably the best cymbal of the set. Its dark bell tone and washy surface make it sound very musical.
I also loved how it opened up easily when I crashed on it. It’s quite soft compared to other ride cymbals, though, and that may become an issue if you’re needing volume for gigs and recording sessions.
The ride sounds excellent when you play jazz swing patterns on it.
After playing these cymbals for a decent amount of time, I felt that they would be great for playing pop, blues, or jazz, or other more mellow styles of music.
Pros
- These cymbals record extremely well
- The washy tones are excellent
- Brilliantly versatile for a wide range of styles
Cons
- The ride cymbal may be too soft for certain musical settings
Zultan Dune Cymbal Set
Zultan Dune Cymbal Set Review
Trashy and dry cymbals are incredibly popular in modern drumming, yet most trashy cymbals are found in the expensive high-end ranges of other brands.
This Dune cymbal set offers you dry cymbals in an amazingly affordable package.
I found all the tones of the cymbals to be incredibly dry and trashy, and they all have a quick decay. They are great sounding cymbals and very similar to the Zildjian K Special Dry line.
I was able to lay into them quite aggressively, and they never became overbearing. This makes them fantastic for playing in quiet environments.
The 14-inch hi-hats have a good washy tone when played open. When closed, they have a fair bit of articulation but a lot less than what you’d get with brighter hi-hats.
The 16-inch crash cymbal has the trashiest tone out of all the cymbals in the set. Its pitch is also a bit higher, which adds to the trash crash effect.
The 20-inch ride cymbal sounds amazing, and anyone who loves dry cymbals will most likely become a huge fan of it.
Overall, these cymbals are an excellent option for anyone looking for a dry-sounding set of cymbals for pop, funk, gospel, blues, hip-hop, and other styles of music.
Pros
- Very affordable compared to dry cymbals from other brands
- Great cymbals to mix with other cymbal lines to get varied tones
- Modern and desirable sounds
Cons
- These cymbals lack sustain and brightness
Zultan Q Series Professional Set
Zultan Q Series Professional Set Review
The Zultan Q Series cymbals are an amazing option for drummers who want cymbals that cover all the bases.
The sounds of these cymbals are very smooth and pleasing to the ear. I think they are bright and modern yet versatile for a range of contemporary musical styles.
The 14-inch hi-hats are quite bright, having a sharp attacking tone when played closed. That tone turns into a strong wash as you open them.
The 16-inch and 18-inch crash cymbals have very strong sounds. They give impactful tones that make it easy to make a statement when grooving. I love their bell tones, which are a bit darker and more earthy.
The 20-inch ride cymbal is quite heavy. It sounds distinct within grooves, and the bell is quite sharp as well. You can crash on it, but it sounds massively heavy when you do.
If you need cymbals that need to be heard very clearly, the Q Series set is an ideal option to consider. The tones they give also make them quite versatile, as they work very well within multiple musical styles.
Pros
- Versatile and professional sounding
- Strong stick definition on every cymbal
- Earthy bell tones create a unique blend
Cons
- The ride cymbal is very washy and has a bit of an aggressive tone
Zultan Impulz Cymbal Set
Zultan Impulz Cymbal Set Review
The Zultan Impulz cymbal set has unbeatable quality at its price point. It’s a beginner set of cymbals made with a B20 alloy and hand-hammering. You just don’t find that from most other brands, making this set incredibly valuable.
The cymbals have bright tones, and they lack a lot of musical responsiveness that you get from the higher-priced Zultan cymbals.
These are some of the best budget cymbals I’ve ever played and are made from cast B20 bronze. They are superior to any cymbals that come with a beginner drum kit.
The 14-inch hi-hats sound quite loud and aggressive, but they respond very well to different types of stick strokes.
The 16-inch crash is very bright, giving you an explosive tone when you play it. I love the sharp bell sound it has. It also contrasts very nicely with the 10-inch splash that comes with the set.
The 20-inch ride is arguably one of the best beginner ride cymbals you’ll hear. It’s also bright, but you can easily crash on it to get a sound that isn’t overbearing. It has plenty of stick definition, and the bell sounds excellent when you dig into it.
I highly suggest checking this set out if you’re a beginner drummer looking for some top-quality cymbals. There aren’t many entry-level cymbals that have been hand-hammered, making these an incredible option to consider.
Pros
- Very affordable price for high-quality beginner cymbals
- Superior tones to beginner cymbals from major cymbal brands
- The included 10-inch splash cymbal is a great touch
Cons
- Not an ideal set for experienced drummers who want higher-quality tones
Zultan F5 Series Standard Set
Zultan F5 Series Standard Set Review
The F5 Series cymbals are some of the heaviest cymbals on offer from Zultan.
These cymbals are very powerful, and you don’t need to hit them hard for them to open up dramatically. This makes them ideal for playing styles of music with very dense and heavy instrumentation.
These cymbals are supremely bright and loud and would serve very well on stage with a metal band – where you need cymbals to pierce through all the loud instruments.
The 14-inch hi-hats have shimmering tones, and they get more aggressive as you open them. They feel solid to play, and they almost encourage you to hit them hard.
The 16-inch crash cymbal is very explosive, and it has an incredibly bright bell tone as well. It cuts through a mix quite easily.
The 20-inch ride cymbal is the loudest ride that we’ve looked at on this list. It’s perfect for blast beats, and the bell cuts through the densest of mixes.
Overall, these cymbals would be perfect for a metal drummer. They also work relatively well in other heavier styles like rock and punk.
The intense volume and aggression you get from them means that they’re not versatile, and they sound too overbearing in softer musical styles. So, I wouldn’t get these if you play styles other than rock, punk, or metal.
Pros
- Fantastic option for rock and metal drummers
- Loud tones that easily cut through mixes live
- Very durable due to the heavier weights
Cons
- Too loud for many musical settings
Zultan Cymbal Sets Buying Guide
Zultan cymbals are a lot more affordable than most of the competing options from other brands. While the sound quality of some cymbals may not be as good, Zultan cymbals are definitely worth considering if you’re looking to save money and still have excellent cymbals.
Zultan have several lines of cymbals that they make. All of them cover a wide variety of tonal qualities and practical uses, so it’s helpful to look through all of them to see what may apply to you.
Certain cymbals work better for different musical styles, so you need to understand what those are to make the best buying decision.
When it comes to budgets, most of Zultan’s cymbal sets have very similar prices. This fact is amazing as it means you have a wide variety of options to choose from that will fit your set budget.
What Makes Zultan Cymbal Sets a Good Buying Option
- All Zultan cymbals are handmade, and most of them are made from B20 bronze, which is a high-quality metal alloy.
- Zultan cymbals are a lot more affordable than the options from major brands.
- There are multiple Zultan cymbal sets available that cover a wide range of tones and styles.
- Since Zultan cymbals are handmade, each cymbal set sounds slightly different from the same line. This gives you a personal tone experience.
Features to Look for in Zultan Cymbal Sets
Sizes
When buying a Zultan cymbal set, make sure to check what the sizes are of the cymbals that come with it. In most cases, the sets come with 14-inch hi-hats, 16-inch or 18-inch crashes, and a 20-inch ride. However, those sizes may differ depending on the set.
Regarding crash cymbals, 16-inch ones are brighter and more explosive. They also have a shorter sustain. They’re great for playing sharp accents after drum fills.
18-inch crash cymbals are more versatile. They have longer sustain, and they’re better to use in grooves where you use a crash cymbal to play consistent notes.
20-inch ride cymbals are standard across most of Zultan’s cymbal sets. A few of them have a 22-inch ride included. The larger a ride cymbal is, the more wash it will have, but it will lose a bit of stick definition.
Weights
Unfortunately, the weights of different Zultan cymbals aren’t advertised when you buy them. However, you can still check to see how thick or thin the different lines of Zultan cymbals are. Some of them are also known for being lighter than others, and that information comes up in the marketing for them.
The weight of a cymbal affects its volume and tone. The lighter a cymbal is, the darker and washier it tends to be. Heavier cymbals are brighter and a lot louder.
Heavy cymbals also have much clearer stick definition, whereas light cymbals tend to blend notes together.
An interesting thing about Zultan cymbals is that you’ll get varying weights across the same cymbal lines. This is because they’re handmade. So, the tonal qualities will differ slightly when buying the same cymbal set.
Number of Cymbals
Some Zultan cymbal packs have four cymbals, whereas others only have three. Check to see how many cymbals come in a pack so that you know what setup you’ll have. This will also help you determine how many cymbal stands you’ll need.
All the Zultan cymbal packs with three cymbals include a pair of hi-hats, a crash, and a ride cymbal. The Zultan cymbal sets with four cymbals have an extra crash or splash cymbal.
Finishes
The type of finish a cymbal has also affects its tonal qualities. The most common finishes you’ll find are brilliant, natural, and raw.
Cymbals with brilliant finishes have the brightest tones, and they can cut through loud mixes very easily.
Cymbals with a natural finish have a darker tone, and they tend to be a bit more versatile.
Cymbals with raw finishes have had no work done to their surfaces except for protective layering being added. These cymbals tend to have trashy tones with very little sustain.
Zultan offers cymbal sets that have all these finish options. They also offer cymbal sets that have mixed finishes. So, decide which tonal qualities you like in cymbals, and then find a Zultan set that offers those with the finishes available.
Zultan Cymbal Sets FAQs
Where are Zultan Cymbals Made?
Zultan cymbals are handmade in Istanbul, Turkey. An interesting thing about the brand is that it’s one of the in-house brands for Thomann. This means that you can only buy Zultan cymbals from Thomann, but it also means that they’re a lot more affordable than the cymbals from major brands that get distributed to thousands of retailers around the world.
All Zultan cymbals are made using Turkish cymbal-making techniques, ensuring that they have a highly personal touch and excellent quality.
How Many Cymbal Lines Does Zultan Have?
The Zultan brand has 14 lines of cymbals. Most of them are made from B20 bronze, with the CS Series being a unique line that is made from B25 bronze.
The Zultan product line is very extensive, as it has cymbals that cover a wide variety of tonal qualities. This includes light, heavy, dark, dry, bright, and trashy. You can find a line of Zultan cymbals that will easily suit a specific style.
You can get most of the Zultan cymbal lines as prepacked cymbal sets, but it’s not an option with all of them.
