Trashy Character, Broad Spread, Built for Any Stage
Some crash cymbals sit politely in the mix. This one makes itself known. The Meinl Byzance Traditional 18" Extra Thin Hammered Crash is the kind of cymbal that rewards a lighter touch — or a heavier one — because its extra-thin weight means it opens up fast and responds to whatever you give it. Whether you're playing quietly in a jazz setting or cutting through a loud rock rehearsal, this thing adapts.
That dark, trashy character comes directly from the extensive hand hammering across the bow. It's not just a look — those hammer marks are doing real acoustic work, scattering the sound into a wide spread with a long sustain that fills the room without overwhelming it. Meinl makes this one in Turkey, and that heritage of hand craftsmanship means every B18ETHC is genuinely its own voice.
If you've been hunting for a crash that's versatile enough to cover rock, jazz, funk, R&B, pop, reggae, and fusion without compromise, the Byzance Traditional Extra Thin Hammered Crash makes a compelling case for itself.
B20 Bronze — The Foundation of the Byzance Sound
Meinl uses B20 bronze for the entire Byzance series, and it's the right alloy for this kind of cymbal. Composed of 80% copper and 20% tin, B20 produces the rich, complex tonal depth that makes the Byzance line so distinctive. You'll hear it in the warmth of the sustain and the smoothness of the overall response.
The Byzance Traditional series pairs that B20 bronze with narrow-blade lathing and a traditional finish — a fully lathed surface that enhances tone consistency and keeps the response controlled. The result is a mid-bright timbre with a smooth, warm character that sits well in virtually any musical context.
Extra Thin Weight — Fast, Expressive, Reactive
Extra-thin cymbals have a reputation for being fragile, but that's not the story here. The extra-thin weight on the B18ETHC is what makes it so musically expressive — it responds to light touches with authority, and it opens up with a wide, enveloping crash when you need more volume. Meinl's own description puts it simply: the extreme light weight and extensive hammer patterns result in a dark, trashy sound with a wide spread and a long sustain.
At 18", this cymbal hits a sweet spot in the crash world: large enough to carry real presence and sustain, compact enough to sit naturally alongside rides and hi-hats without dominating the kit. Players often find this size is the one that does everything they need a primary crash to do.
Product Features:
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Series: Meinl Byzance Traditional
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Size: 18"
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Cymbal Type: Crash
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Weight: Extra Thin
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Material: B20 Bronze (80% copper, 20% tin)
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Finish: Traditional (fully lathed)
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Lathing: Narrow-blade
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Construction: Hand-hammered and made in Turkey
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Timbre: Mid-bright with smooth, warm character
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Volume/Sustain: Medium volume, medium sustain
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Genre Versatility: Rock, pop, fusion, jazz, funk, R&B, reggae, and world music
Brand: Meinl
Model: Byzance Traditional Extra Thin Hammered Crash
SKU: B18ETHC
Condition: New
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