I could listen to Paul talk about cymbals for days at a time. With the utmost respect I think Paul is Zildjian’s best spokesperson even though he’s not there anymore. He’s such a lore master of Zildjian history

I used to sub for Paul Francis with our mutual buddy Dave Kain. Killer drummer.

In one way, Zildjian made the BIGGEST mistake getting rid of Paul Francis, and yet, on the other hand, Zildjian gave the drumming community the best gift by giving Paul the opportunity to make his own cymbals for the rest of us! PAUL FRANCIS is a LEGEND!

@krusher74

8 ай бұрын

did they "get rid of him" or did he leave they are two different things.

@darkresc

2 ай бұрын

@@krusher74 After reading two forums very briefly, they "got rid of him".

Paul Francis talking about cymbals is like listening to one of the greatest philosophers the world has ever known. The man is just a legend and a fantastic talent!

@brent3760

Жыл бұрын

@@godparticle4883 Not in my book man. I am a cymbal addict though. I truly adore cymbals. Yes some might think that's over the top, but i think they are so beautiful. So no dialing back for me. Doubling down! 😊

Paul is the epitome of enthusiasm.

I bought a K Con 18" crash, 20" high bell thin ride, high, and a 22" medium thin ride, low as a set in 2006. I use the high bell primarily as a crash! That said, if I had to choose only one cymbal, it would be the high bell. It is the most versatile cymbal I've ever encountered. Paul, thank you for making such a wonderful instrument that has helped me make my music for so many years! Tim, thank you for the wonderful interview!

@timbofromkeno

Жыл бұрын

I've really got to try one of those high bell thin rides. My main cymbal for so many years was a 22" KCon Medium Thin Low. So so so versatile.

This is a real keeper. Thank you

I just picked up a K Con high bell dry because of this conversation. Can’t wait to play it. Thanks!

Thank you for making this interview I enjoyed it a lot and the Bill Stewart insight toward the end was fascinating!!

Great interview and information, thank you!

Thank you for this!! Such a gift

This is really fantastic! I'm gonna rewatch it again later tonight!

Phenomenal interview! Thanks for sharing.

Great interview, thanks! I think I'd see Jimmy Cobb use a Hi Bell Thin High as his main ride up until the end

@ghostandbell2006

Жыл бұрын

always wanted one

This is GOLD. Thank you so much both of you.

Great interview with Paul. Hopefully there will be more!

Lovedd everysec of it i could watch for ever 🤟🏼🤟🏼🥁🇨🇦

That was incredible! I could have listened to that discussion all day!

What a great interview with Paul. He is SO knowledgeable on cymbals. Thanks for posting this Tim.

Great content man, Paul is really a master! I’m so looking forward for his journey with his new adventure, love from Taiwan 🇹🇼

So great and informative! Paul Francis is an incredible source of knowledge and sonic creations. A real treat to hear you guys geek out! I really love the term you used in talking about one of the cymbals you mentioned early in the pod that when that cymbal first came out that “the cymbal sound was ahead of your ears” well done brilliant description! 👊🏻🥁🙌🏻

Great interview! He is such a wealth of information and so down to Earth.

What a wonderful Zoom I’ve just bought a a custom dry k ride, but new very little info but i loved the sound. So enlightening, thank you guys. Josie from UK

I try not to regret letting go of different cymbals over the years, but I had a 22" high bell dry prototype....... Should have kept that one.

Great interview! Based upon recent Reverb listings, he's introduced multiple 'lines' at Royal Cymbals (Stellar, Awesome, Royal, etc.). I'd love to hear him discuss the differences, if you get a chance to speak with him again!

Cymbal genius. He made a copy of a cymbal for me of an old Deep Ride I have that originally belonged to Gadd and Bayers. Spot on perfect.

Paul’s a great and extremely knowledgeable guy, really interesting conversation. I just got a 22” Hi Bell Thin Low on your recommendation Tim - love it, thanks for the tip!

So cool. Thank you!

The cymbal I regret the most selling is my "A" Custom (20"). You can make a concert out of that cymbal! I sold it to a lady who wanted to start playing drums at 65, and she had really cheap, ugly sounding cymbals to start with, so I kind of thought it would motivate her to have good ones! Sold the all "A" set, hi-hats, crash splash and ride! She's a happy drummer today! And I miss my ride! Very interesting interview!

Great great interview!

this is rad ..luv these interviews

the bill Stewart model is a favorite

@daviewavie112

8 ай бұрын

Why

Wow!! So awesome!!

Super interesting, thanks! In regards to the nefertiti ride not being one that you might not pick if you had it in front of you, I've noticed a lot of cymbals like that over the years that just kinda sound "meh" in person, but when you hear them thru microphones in the studio, they can sound incredible. Have had that experience dozens of times over the years.

This is such an intriguing interview with Paul Francis and gives us all a deeper understanding of how the modern era of cymbal making evolved to what it is today. I have great respect for cymbal Artisans when I look at and play my own cymbals. I actually had a prototype 22” High Bell Thin Low Ride when it was first released. I also remember and bought some of the Al Mercuri estate cymbals. I still have a pair of the hi-hats that Paul spoke about with the late 1970’s Istanbul K Zildjian top and modern K Zildjian bottom. These cymbals were brand spanking new, but decades old!! I was the first person to play those cymbals and yes, the Istanbul top looked like I could brush the lathing fragments off with my hand!! That matching is one of the finest pair of hats I have ever owned. Congratulations to Paul on his Royal Cymbals Company. Those bad boys are definitely on my bucket list!! 🥁🥁

Love the story about the Bounce Ride! To be honest, it's the first cymbal I ever bought having heard on a video online. I was looking for exactly that sound. I ended up putting a three rivet cluster in mine and I simply love it. It's not what you would call a soft Jazz cymbal but when it's played softly with a certain type of stick like the Erskine Ride stick it becomes a gorgeous sound when playing in trios or with a vocalist. The weight allows it to be right at home in a big band setting too with a beefier stick or a nylon. a great, versatile instrument.

I began playing drums in 1963. In 1967 I bought a Ludwig Hollywood kit with 14" hats, 16" crash and 20" ride, all A Zildjians. Over the years I've collected A's and K's. Thank you Paul Francis for the contribution to my collection and for the sounds I've come to love in cymbals! Did you get to ask Paul what cymbals he plays on his kit?

@djyeah-nah9781

2 ай бұрын

I know in interview he's mentioned As and Armands, but has probably made himself some of his own now he's running the new companies.

Great podcast!

Oh i luv those insights with Paul ❤ amazing 🙌

Excellent! I've been playing Zildjians since 1968, and still am. The Zildjian history is fascinating.

Such a wealth of knowledge! What genuine guy.

fantastic interview

Outstanding!

Wow, great stories and information. Thank you for that. There is one cymbal, nobody talked before, never made anything similar and we need info. Steve Gadd's 18" EAK Heavy K ride prototype with large bell.

Interesting stuff. His cymbals seem really nice.

I actually own a 22” High Bell Med-Thin Low. And I love it! Also a 22” K Custom standard ride without lathing. It’s a beast and beautiful

Learning more history (starting at 42:00) about the early "A" series vs the "K" series and Fred Gretsch's influence in the lathing is wonderful information. Paul is a treasure chest of information. It's a shame that the current Zildjian management doesn't understand this. Paul's gain and Zildjian's loss.

I love listening to Paul talk cymbals all day I really hope starting his own cymbal brand was the only reason he left Zildjian, forgive my ignorance but what is the never TD ride?

@MJTNick

Жыл бұрын

It’s the cymbal that Tony Williams played on the recording “Nefertiti” by Miles Davis

What ever happened to Grand Master cymbals? This is a great interview.

@AustinBeede

3 ай бұрын

I have a couple grand masters that I really love. Underrated cymbals if you ask me.

This was great. Would’ve liked to hear a history of the Pre-Aged dry light rides. (Selfishly as I have a 22”.)

@ckicklighteresq

26 күн бұрын

I have a 20!

...nothing goes over Paiste Cymbals !!! Best regards.

Its interesting that what was unpopular at one point and dropped from the range in time through being rare can take or an air of being better than is really is.

It all depends on the music played by each individual drummer who can afford the drum and cymbals that experience dictates. I played rock & blues all my life and the cymbals had to be heard. As a European, Paistes were always more accessible to me, but when I got my hands on the Zildjian A series, I personally tried and bought all the cymbals. Afterwards, I added A Custom, and I brought K and K Custom to the studio. Quite understandable.

The stamp argument story at 1:09:22 - 1:10:33. 😂 I remember seeing that thread of posts. I didn’t remember the specific argument but I remember the general absurdity of it all. It was assuming to see. (Unless there was more than one instance of that kind of argument happening?) But I do remember seeing it happen at least once. Some people just refuse to be wrong.

@anthonycousins1162

11 ай бұрын

I saw that too! I can remember thinking to myself “OMG! We have ourselves a real idiot here!!”

Can I just say that Zildjian made an epically STOOOOPID move in letting Paul go?

Paul is a walking,talking Zildjian encyclopedia. He will do great with his new company I’m sure.

Im so glad all my cymbals in my possesion are made up out of prototypes Paul made Legend with THE best ear in the Industry.

Zildjian is my go to cymbals !!!

In September of 2019 I had the pleasure to meet and greet Mr. Paul Francis at the Memphis Drum Shop and his partners as they sold and demonstrated there cymbals. It was amazing to conversate with this man of the knowledge that he has on these cymbals. Also got my cymbals autographed and pictures taken of him and me and him playing my cymbals. One of the best days of my entire life!

(unlike Avedis) K Istanbul stamps era's correlate precisely to manufacturing eras (shapes, cups, lathing) (Unlike Avedis) (40-59) Old Stamps (I, II III , IV) (59-66) Intermediates, (67-78) New Stamps -all are easily (visually) recognizable including the sound character) No overlap.

So the 22in K Medium Ride is basically a K Con.. Nice

@bryanherward4679

2 ай бұрын

The Medium Dark has K con hammering....the one developed for Cindy Blackman

I adore my sabian hh sound control hi-bell rides...super hard to find ...

@timbofromkeno

Жыл бұрын

Super underrated cymbal!

@ghostandbell2006

Жыл бұрын

@@timbofromkeno my collection of vintage sound control rides and flange rides is something special...couldn't agree more

Tim, please turn up your mike in the next video! I could hear Paul perfectly but you sounded like you were far, far away in another galaxy. Other than that, this is a wonderful video!

Any thoughts on the hi bell thin high 22”? There’s one for sale locally, but too far to just check out.

@TimMetz

8 ай бұрын

I love my 22” thin high. One of my favorite cymbals.

Obed Calvaire played one for sure

What’s the story with Zidjian&Cie cymbals? Anyone knows ?

👌👌👌

So the question is, why is Paul no longer with Zildjian?

greg bissonette did not come up with that quote lol.

Let Paul speak

Why is he not with Zildjian anymore?

I have a A set, a Kmser I have an A set, a K set, a Hybrid set Andjust bought a Old zilzian 22 with no numbers just bought it…

@lisamitchell1355

7 ай бұрын

I take it back, it measures 23 inches

you get what you pay for K. Zildjian Istanbul 20" Old Stamp Type IIa wheelchair larry

Shame what they have done to zildjian destroyed best cymbals on earth what a guys… You can close it now sounds cheap beginner cymbals no point to make. Horrible Basterds destroyed zildjian best and oldest cymbals company RIP zildjian 🙏😇

It's kinda creepy that you look directly to the camera.

@daviewavie112

8 ай бұрын

😂

Great stuff but man can we skip the name dropping jazz cat thing. So pretentious.