The rise of Soultone has been phenomenal and fun to watch. I remember trying the cymbals around three years ago. Three things struck me. The look; a cross between a hand-hammered and lathed cymbal that represented the best of both worlds – shiny but with tradition. The feel; I remember hitting an 18” crash and thinking it feels like a cross between a K Custom and a Byzance – a pretty good feeling. And finally the price; super competitive and great value for money. Coupled with a reputation for being robust and hard to break, these cymbals had to succeed.
The Soultone range is always expanding and evolving. The addition of the Custom Brilliant series has been the company’s finest achievement. Like the Custom Series, the Custom Brilliant Series has a beautiful finish. This creates a brighter and more versatile precision hand-hammered cymbal. These pies are built for versatility, projection and to last.
I had the opportunity to revisit and play an array of Soultone Cymbals a few weeks back. I have to say the Custom Brilliant range where the standout. These cymbals have such projection. You hit them and you feel like you are making a real statement. Your stick glides through the cymbals and meets little resistance. The result is a powerful yet musical punctuation that rings out without a hint of nasty overtone. The hi-hats are articulate and bright. Sticking patterns sounded clear and precise. The closed hi-hat sound is clean, yet full. Hats are available in 10”–16” . For those of you who love to ride a crash, the series has four crash rides ranging from 18”–22”. Crashes are available in 13” – 22” and rides are available in 19”–24”. The series also has an impressive range of splashes 6”–12” and china cymbals 10”–24” to round out any setup.
These cymbals are gorgeous. They feel great to play. The range is huge, but not confusing, and the price makes them a no brainer. Soultone are perfect if you’re looking for an affordable set of cymbals that separates you from the crowd.
For more details on the range of Soultone products, head to elfa.com.au.
