WUHANWUCRR18 Crash Ride 18-Inch

As my screen name implies, I am primarily a guitar player but play drums as a secondary instrument. I have a pretty nice Pearl kit and use Sabian, Zildjian, and Paiste cymbals. Frankly, cymbals are so outrageously expensive I typically buy them used. Manufacturers keeping charging whatever the market will bear and use raw materials cost increases as the reason for their having to often raise prices. Of course, their budgets for free cymbals given to name "artists" who get complimentaryis cymbals to use, break, or tire of, and then send them back to be melted down probably a significant number. I worked in the wire and cable business for years and the cost of copper caused prices to fluctuate. I've not yet seen cymbal manufacturers drop prices, officially anyway, when the cost of raw materials decreases. Sorry to get off subject, but it might be on subject and that subject is value. This cymbal is a great value. No, you can't slam it with a hammer like a Zildjian Z but this cymbal is a really fine performer. The bell is not oversized for an 18, and don't let the "crash/ride" designation fool you. This is a crash cymbal. You can ride on it like any cymbal, but tonally it is definitely in crash territory. I don't know all the buzz words for cymbal performance like I know them for guitars, but I know good sound when I hear it. This cymbal has a great crash tonality, and while it does not have quick decay it does not ring forever so as to become obnoxious. Bell sound is really fine, but again not to be confused with a large bell cymbal that is tonally dry with a pronounced ping. This cymbal will give you dynamics and cut. I do have a Wuhan 16 inch crash - thin - with which I use this and they match-up very well. I am one who will mix Zildjian and Sabian cymbals as they are in the same tonal territory, and Wuhans seem to have a sonic signature that is unique (not unlike Paiste having a sonic signature different from Zildjian or Sabian). There's no law that prohibits a drummer from using a mix of cymbals from different manufacturers and some working drummers have to do this out of necessity - you buy what you can afford and pick from what's available. Like the high end guitar crowd who buy the $5000.00 and up collector guitars and hang them on the wall or keep them in the closet, such folk have the money to buy high-end cymbals like their favorite drummer uses and they knock others who buy Wuhans. Ignore those people. Some YouTube demos include the claim that Wuhan B20 formulation is the same as the Turkish B20 of the "other" cymbal manufacturers. I don't really agree with that as they have their distinctive processes of manufacturing. But being B20, cast and lathed puts these in the quality category. Don't hesitate to buy Wuhans, especially this 18 inch crash. Any manufacturer can create "dog" and I've had a few of them. I would categorize this cymbal as being in the medium thickness/weight category and some might think it to be a weightier cymbal with the "ride" designation. Not so. Now, the negative. The importer/distributor for the Wuhan line, Universal Percussion, needs to do something about the fine scratching that seems to be common with this line. Mine came with fine scratching along the edge and on the main playing surface of the cymbal. I'm not happy about this and whether the cymbal is $50 or $500 they should do something about this. They do come shipped in sealed plastic bags so the scratching is not happening between Amazon and the buyer.

The media could not be loaded.  First off - I am a REAL person, I PAID for these cymbals, not a free set to review, I live in the DC area and I do not work for Amazon or WUHAN.Now, I took a break from drums for the past few years and I sold off my brass but kept my shells. I previously had Zildjian A's and K's. I am not sure if I will stick with playing, so I did not want to spend much with my latest "itch" to play again. I found these on Amazon for less than $180 for a crash set of 16"/18". I was hoping they would be better than ZBT's, but what I was not expecting was that they would be equivalent to A Customs. That's right, these could compare to Zildjian A customs for crash cymbals.Let me start of my saying they are all brass, heavy but not insanely thick like some cheap cymbals are, they have enough give to shimmer like the A-set I had before, but not so thin that you worry you will break them. It seems like this is WUHAN's answer to A Customs, and man they came so close, close enough that I will keep these even if I stick with playing for years to come. Obviously Chinese knock-off's, but they got these right, and they are very good cymbals. I considered rubbing off the name too see if I could fool people, but heck, I am glad I saved the money and I will let the sound speak for itself.The 18" is darker than the 16" primary crash, not overly harsh. The 18" mixes PERFECT with their 16" crash offer here on Amazon. Cuts through a mix easy when needed, and it can also be soft and gentle if you play it that way. The 18" has a ncie bell sound similar to a ride, and could even be used as a ride if you wanted. It has the perfect rock crash of 1980's/1990's rock songs most drummers of that era used. The 2 crash cymbals give the perfect one-two sound of a matched crash set. I would buy again, and I would highly recommend to someone looking to save some $$$ when upgrading from beginner cymbals.Great work WUHAN, whoever you are :) A++, you can always return if you do not agree with my review, that was my plan if they sucked. These are NOT going back, they will remain on my kit. Best part is if I wear them out, I won't worry when it is time to replace them.

I had a lot of cymbals in my lifetime,this one sounds crisp and explosive,I am tired of all the overpriced cymbals out there,this one was worth every penny.

I purchased this cymbal to add to my setup, but after a few weeks it now is my main crash cymbal. It has a slightly lower pitch that other 18's I've had, but it cuts through well and with glassy dark sustain. I'm using it in a low volume setting with piano and acoustic guitar and on a soundstage in a big venue and it handles the range of dynamics I need perfectly.As other have noted it's more of a medium crash than a crash ride; but I love the wash I get from this cymbal when I ride on it. It reminds me of the cymbals you hear in 60's recordings that fill out the sound of the band. The bell isn't huge but it is quite bright and cutting. Overall I'm blown away with the quality and look of this cymbal—either Wuhan has massively upped their quality and consistency—or I'm lucky—but the cymbals I've recently purchased have all been excellent.

The media could not be loaded.  This fulfills my need for a ride and a larger crash and compliments my 16" crash perfectly. Great sticking definition and bell sound and usable in most musical styles. I've attached a three mic recording of me jamming on my Wuhans. You hear the 18" crash ride, 16" China, 16" crash and 13" hats.