Cymbals have a popular reputation for being the most expensive part of any drum kit setup. In my early days of drumming, buying cymbals was always something I dreaded as I’d find a cymbal that I liked in a store and would always be floored by how expensive it was.
This is where budget cymbals come in. All cymbal companies have affordable lines of products that are aimed at buyers who aren’t ready to pay for the top-quality stuff. One of the best lines is the HCS series of cymbals from Meinl. We’re going to take a deep dive into these and see what makes them so good.
Meinl HCS - Overview
The problem with most budget cymbals is that they really don’t sound that great. Somehow, the Meinl HCS cymbals don’t follow this path as they sound surprisingly good for how affordable they are.
Even though they’re made from brass, they produce sounds that are sweet to hear without being too cutting and aggressive like other budget cymbals.
Every HCS cymbal can be purchased for less than $100, giving you incredible value for a small amount of money compared to pro cymbals. One of the best deals, though, is the 4-Piece HCS cymbal pack.
Overall, I don’t think you’ll find better cymbals for the price compared to the Meinl HCS Series. The range of cymbals also covers every kind of cymbal you can think which is fantastic.
PROS
CONS
Budget Cymbals
Before we get into the specifics of the HCS cymbals, I’m going to describe exactly what good budget cymbals are and why the HCS cymbals tick all the boxes. Typically, a high-quality cymbal will cost anywhere from $250 to $600.
Most of them sit somewhere around $400. That price point just isn’t attainable for many of us, especially if you need to buy a full set of cymbals.
So, companies design cymbals in ways that save on costs. Cheaper cymbals are usually made with brass instead of special alloys. They don’t sound as good but they’re a lot more affordable to make. The process is also streamlined.
4-Piece HCS Pack
I honestly don’t think there is a better cymbal deal than the 4-piece Meinl HCS Pack. This is the cymbal set that I suggest all my beginner drum students get as it’s insanely affordable and the cymbals sound really good for what they are.
I recently had the chance to play around with these cymbals extensively since one of my students bought the 4-pack HCS cymbals to complement his new Yamaha Rydeen drum kit (shell pack).
Before I talk about the cymbals, just know that I only think they’re a good option for beginners or anyone wanting to upgrade their current weak sounding cymbals. If you’re an intermediate or pro drummer, brass cymbals will never satisfy your needs as they don’t have the intricate cymbal qualities that you may be looking for.
Moving onto the pack, you get a pair of hi-hats, a crash, a ride, and a splash cymbal. It’s one of the very few cymbal packs on the market that come with a splash cymbal, making it pretty unique.
My Experience with the Meinl HCS
I found the cymbals to be fairly soft. They only open up when you hit significantly hard. So, I think they’re great for being used in low-volume environments.
The hi-hats are the standout feature of the pack. They have a smooth and buttery washing sound when played half open. I haven’t played on other budget hi-hats that have that so I really enjoy these.
The HCS hi hats are definitely my most favorite part of this 4-piece cymbal set from Meinl.
The crash has a quick sustain and can take a huge beating without sounding too aggressive. I think it would work incredibly well in a rock setting. I can picture myself using it in a garage rock band.
The ride is the weakest cymbal in the pack for me. It only has one sound no matter where you play around it. I like my ride cymbals to have nuanced sound all over to create different tones and moods. However, it is a budget cymbal, so I may be expecting too much.
The HCS ride - the weakest link in my opinion.
I feel that the splash cymbal is a great addition to the pack. While the ride and crash have similar sound qualities, the bright sound of the splash rounds off the overall sound of the cymbals very nicely.
Perhaps the greatest thing about the Meinl HCS cymbals is that there are several packs to choose from. If the 4-piece pack isn’t enough, you could get the Super Set that has an extra crash and a china cymbal. You could also get the 3-piece set that only has hi-hats, a crash, and a ride.
Meinl HCS - Full Series of Cymbals
I don’t think there are any other lines of budget cymbals on the market that are as extensive as the Meinl HCS line. Typically, a budget line of cymbals will only have the essential cymbals needed for every drum set. This would include hi-hats, crashes, and a ride cymbal.
Meinl has taken it to the next level by providing you with splashes, effects crashes, bells, and chinas. All of these specialty cymbals come at affordable prices. Although the best deals are the packs, you can buy the cymbals individually as well.
If you loved the hi-hats from the 4-piece pack, getting them on their own may be a viable option to go with.
One of my favorite cymbals from the HCS line is the 12” Trash Stack. It’s one of the only HCS cymbals that I feel professionals could happily use. Buying premade cymbal stacks is usually not worth the money as you could make your own without spending over $300.
However, this punchy stack comes in at less than $100, making it one of the most affordable stacks you can get. It sounds incredibly good. It’s perfect for hip-hop and jazzy settings.
The final individual cymbal that I feel is worth mentioning is the 16” Trash Crash. It’s a specialty cymbal that has holes in it. Typically, you’d need to spend a few hundred dollars to get a cymbal with holes, but yet again, the HCS line delivers an affordable option.
The Meinl Brand
A Gretsch Catalina Maple donning Meinl HCS Cymbals - yes, even this isn't a rare sight!
Meinl has been making huge waves in the drumming world thanks to their dominant social media presence. Many of Meinl’s top cymbals are popular due to their dry tones and unique visual aesthetics. However, these HCS cymbals are more along the lines of the classic cymbals we’re all used to.
You should know that Meinl provides both types of cymbals and performs very well in both areas. I personally love the Meinl brand and I follow many top drummers that are associated with the company.
Drummers like Jost Nickel, Benny Greb, Adam Tuminaro, and Mike Johnston are all major inspirations.
Meinl has such a strong name in the drumming industry that getting a set of their cymbals will make you feel like you’re a part of a wider family. It helps a lot that the HCS cymbals will make you feel that without breaking the bank to get fancy cymbals.
My Final Take
If you’re looking to upgrade the cymbals that likely came with your drum kit, I’d strongly suggest getting a set of HCS cymbals. They’re highly affordable and they’re arguably the best sounding budget cymbals on the market.
Don’t get these if you’re already an intermediate or pro drummer who is accustomed to what high-quality cymbals sound like. They’re not marketed towards that. However, you could undoubtedly make use of some of the specialty HCS cymbals such as the trash stacks.
These cymbals do have a few downsides such as lacking dynamic responsiveness and not cutting through mixes well. However, the pros outweigh the cons, making them a convincing option to go with.
The only real “downfall” I’ve found is that I have four 16″ HCSs (don’t ask) and they all sound different.
I got a 22 inch HCS ride to use for gigs in some bands, as I find many B20 cymbals trying to be too rich and hence demand a large tonal footprint. I actually prefer brass for some musical settings. The ride has good dynamic response, nice tone, and I own expensive cymbals too, and I still sometime prefer brass cymbals to “bell bronze” ones.
What are they made from. If only brass, surley other brass cymbals should sound as good, but the don’t.
Thanks for this review. I just purchased the 4 piece set. They are due to arrive tomorrow can’t wait to test them out. I know they will be great.