Paiste
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Paiste is one of the world's largest manufacturers of cymbals. Paiste is an Estonian word and it means "shine". The company's website indicates, "the correct pronunciation for 'Paiste' is 'Pie-stee'. As Mario Calire of Ozomotli says, 'it rhymes with feisty'!"
Contents
History
The first Paiste cymbals were produced in 1906 by Estonian musician Toomas Paiste in his instrument repair shop in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to customer orders. Toomas had served in the Czarist Guard, and retired in 1901 to open a music publishing business and music shop.The cymbal making aspect of the business expanded with the passing years, despite the disruption of several moves necessitated by war, firstly to Tallinn in Estonia in 1917, where Toomas' son Michael Paiste decided to concentrate on cymbal production and export. In 1940 the family and the cymbal making operation moved to Poland, where they continued under extremely difficult conditions, and in 1945 to Germany, and then in 1957 a new headquarters and production facility was established in Switzerland. The business was continued by Michael's sons Robert and Toomas, with both the Swiss and German operations as the main manufacturing centres.
Cymbal lines
Current series
Paiste makes a wide variety of cymbals in several alloys. These include:
- 101 - Sheet cymbals made with Paiste's Brass Alloy. Paiste's lowest end cymbal line. They are manufactured entirely by computer. Introduced in 2005
- 201 - Sheet cymbals made with Paiste's Brass Alloy. Introductory level cymbals. They are manufactured entirely by computer. Introduced in 2005
- PST 3 - Brass Alloy cymbals; beginner level. Introduced in 2005
- PST 5 - Made with Paiste's famed 2002 Bronze Alloy (CuSn8); student/intermediate level cymbals. Introduced in 2005
- Alpha - Made with Paiste's 2002 Bronze; semi-professional cymbals. Introduced in 1991 and redesigned in 2006.
- Innovations - This is a professional level cymbal line made with the 2002 bronze. They are mechanically pre-shapped and hand hammered and lathed. Introducted in 2001, this line is now discontinued.
- 2002 - This legendary cymbal line from Paiste gets its name from the 2002 Bronze alloy it is crafted of. Hand made. Introduced in 1971. As of 2005, the 2002 line includes models from the defunct Dimensions series of cymbals.
- RUDE - Cymbals designed for loud and aggressive playing. They have no lathing and a raw finish. Crafted entirely by hand from 2002 Bronze. Introduced in 1980
- Giant Beat - Originally introduced in 1967, this series was reintroduced in 2005 as 18", 20", and 24" multi-purpose cymbals with 14" and 15" hi-hats. They share the same CuSn8 (B8) bronze as the 2002 series.
- Traditionals - Cymbals designed with lower sound levels in mind, and with lightweight designs. They are crafted from Paiste proprietary "Signature" Bronze and are entirely hand made. Introduced in 1996
- Signature - Cymbals created with Paiste's Signature Bronze, featuring an array of different sounds and looks suitable for any playing style. Introduced in 1989
- New Signature - Dark Energy - Introduced in 2005, these cymbals combine the sounds of the Signature and Traditional Series, further expanding the sound spectrum and versatility of the Signature Bronze Alloy.
Historic lines
Classic Paiste lines include:
- 302, 402, 502, 802 popular budget level cymbals from the 1990s - early 2000s, in 1997 were enhanced sonically and received the plus-labeling and the addition of the 802. Discontinued in 2005 from the way of the new Paiste Sound Technology-, or PST-lines.
- Giant Beat, originally introduced in 1967, the predecessor of the 2002 line and pioneering line of the CuSn8- or B8-alloy. Re-introduced in original form in 2005.
- 2002 series, the classic cymbal played by Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham (including the Sound Edge hihat, as pictured) and many others of his era. This series used many of the traditional techniques of cymbal production, but with a malleable bronze of 8% tin rather than the traditional 20% tin bell bronze, and is regarded by many as the first fully professional series made from this alloy. The B8-alloy is thus sometimes referred to as the "2002 bronze".
- Formula 602 series, first released in 1957 and still regarded by many as the finest cymbals yet made by a major manufacturer, of bell bronze. Many examples of the 20" medium ride still exist, at the other extreme the paperthin crashes are rare and almost priceless, other models vary between these extremes. The Flat Ride was an innovation from the 602 series made by Paiste.
- 101 series, different from current 101, beginner level cymbals made of nickel silver, produced from 1974 to -79.
- 404 series, beginner level CuSn8-cymbals, produced from 1974 to 1985.
- 505 series, advanced student CuSn8-cymbals, produced from 1974 to 1985.
- COLORSOUND 5 series, professional CuSn8-cymbals, produced from appox. 1983 to 1986. Five colors were offered for visual appeal. Later the 400,500,900 and 2000 series were offered with the COLORSOUND option.
- 100 and 200 series, beginner level cymbals made of Paiste's Brass Alloy, produced from 1986 until the beginning of the 1990s.
- 400 series, advanced student cymbals made of CuSn8 bronze, produced from 1986 until the beginning of the 1990s.
- 500 series, orchestral/marching cymbals made of CuSn8 bronze, produced from 1986 until the beginning of the 1990s.
- 900 series, orchestral/marching cymbals made of CuSn8 bronze, produced from 1986 until the beginning of the 1990s.
- 1000 series, semi-professional line made of CuSn8 bronze, produced from 1986 until the beginning of the 1990s. Predecessor of the Paiste Alpha line.
- 2000 and 3000, professional series made of CuSn8 bronze, produced from 1986 until the beginning of the 1990s.
- Sound Formula, one of the first series to use Paiste's patented Signature Alloy, which was at first known as Sound Alloy or Sound Formula. Eventually absorbed by the "Signature" line.
- VISIONS series, professional level; Both Signature Alloy and CuSn8 alloy cymbals, produced in the early mid 90s. Were treated with COLORSOUND process. Offered in Black only.
- BRASSTONES, an entry level Paiste Brass alloy series introduced in the early 90s, discontinued in the mid-90s.
- Stanople, a mid-line series introduced in the 1960s, discontinued in the 1970s.
- Ludwig Standard, a mid-line series from the 1950s-70s produced for distribution by Ludwig Drums.
- Stambul, their old top-of-the-line cymbals, produced from 1932 to 1965 from NS12 nickel-bronze and later made of CuSn8 bronze.
- SOUND CREATION, top of the line professional bell bronze cymbals that were made alongside the 602 series starting in 1975 till the end of 80s.
- Dixie, entry level NS12 cymbals made in the 60's
History of Sound Creation line
It started with the "Dark Ride" cymbal in the Formula 602 series in the early 70s. In 1975 Paiste introduced the Sound Creation as a cymbal line.The first series in 1975 shows a small Paiste logo an inch away from the ride bells. HiHats were Dark HiHat and Dark Sound Edge HiHat, 10 types (rides etc) in total :
- Short Crash (18")
- Dark Crash (18", 20")
- Dark Ride (18", 20", 22")
- Bright Medium (18", 20")
- Bright Ride (18", 20")
- Mellow Ride (20")
- Dark China (18", 20", 22")
- Bell Ride (20", 22")
- Dark HiHat (14")
- Dark Sound Edge HiHat (14")
In 1984, the line and models partially change. The top ink logo changes, and the following models were added :
- Dark Flatride
- Dark Medium Ride
- Dark Medium HH
- Dark Medium SE HH
- Dark Heavy HH
- Dark Heavy SE HH.
The "New Dimension" were introduced in 1985, with different hammering patterns and lathing. Contrary to the old heavy and random hammering pattern in the Dark models, the hammering becomes more evenly spaced, except in the China, where the hammering turned very heavy and random, while in the former Dark China models the hammering was very light and regularly spread all over the cymbal.
The ND treatment was applied to these types : Dark Crash, Dark Ride, Dark Medium, Dark China, Short Crash, and Bell Ride.
Notable artists
- John Bonham of Led Zeppelin
- Roger Taylor of Queen
- Alex Van Halen of Van Halen
- Eric Carr of KISS
- Prairie Prince of The Tubes
- Don Henley of The Eagles
- Nick Mason of Pink Floyd
- Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden
- Keith Moon of The Who
- Carl Palmer
- Cozy Powell
- Phil Rudd of AC/DC (1975-83, 1994-Present)
- Chris Slade of David Gilmour, The Firm, AC/DC (1990-93)
- Ian Paice of Deep Purple
- Dave Holland of Judas Priest (1979-89)
- Scott Travis of Judas Priest
- Mykill (Mike) Aresco original drummer of Lost Soul
- Paul Wertico formerly of The Pat Metheny Group
- Dave Lombardo of Slayer, Grip Inc. and Fantomas
- Paul Bostaph of Exodus (band), Slayer, Forbidden (band), Systematic, Truth About Seafood
- Stewart Copeland of The Police
- Bill Bruford of King Crimson, Yes, Earthworks
- Yuri Ruley of MxPx
- Joey Jordison of Slipknot and Ministry
- Brad Wilk of Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave
- Danny Carey of Tool
- David Silveria of Korn
- John Dolmayan of System of A Down
- Bill Ransom, Independent
- Larry Mullen Jr. of U2
- Jeff Plate of Trans-Siberian Orchestra
- Johnny Fay of The Tragically Hip
- Josh Freese - studio drummer, The Vandals, A Perfect Circle
- Charlie Benante of Anthrax
External links
- [Paiste home page]
- [Paiste in the Drumming Database]
- [Un-Official Paiste discussion and drumming forum]
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