Paiste Masters Cymbals - The Pinnacle of Swiss Cymbal Craftsmanship
The Paiste Masters series represents the highest level of cymbal making that Paiste produces. Handcrafted in Switzerland from premium CuSn8 bronze, every Masters cymbal is individually shaped, hammered, and finished to exacting standards - resulting in instruments with a complex, nuanced, and deeply musical tone that rewards sensitive playing at every dynamic level. These are professional cymbals built for the most demanding drummers in the world.
The Masters range divides into two distinct tonal voices: the standard Masters series for a warm, open, and musical character, and the Masters Dark sub-range for a darker, drier, and more controlled sound with shorter sustain and minimal wash.
Shop the Paiste Masters Range
Masters Hi-Hats - 15" Thin Hi-Hats and Masters Dark Hi-Hats in 14" and 15" - warm, responsive, and exceptionally musical across the full dynamic range
Masters Dry Ride Cymbals - 20", 21", and 22" Dry Rides with a focused, controlled stick sound and minimal wash - ideal for jazz and studio work
Masters Dark Crash Cymbals - A full size run from 16" to 20", delivering a dark, warm attack with rich, complex decay suited to jazz, studio, and sensitive live performance
Masters Extra Thin Crash - The 18" Extra Thin Crash for an exceptionally fast, responsive, and delicate crash sound
Masters Dark Splash - The 8" Dark Splash for a quick, dark, and musical accent with minimal sustain
Why Choose Paiste Masters Cymbals?
Handcrafted in Switzerland - Individually shaped, hammered, and finished to the highest standards in the Paiste range
Premium CuSn8 Bronze - The same alloy used across Paiste's professional ranges, delivering complex, musical tone
Two Distinct Voices - Standard Masters for warmth and openness, Masters Dark for a controlled, dry, and sophisticated sound
Exceptional Dynamic Sensitivity - Responds beautifully from whisper-quiet to full volume - ideal for jazz, studio, and nuanced live performance
Professional Grade - The flagship of the Paiste lineup, trusted by world-class drummers across jazz, rock, and studio recording
Physically and acoustically, the Paiste 20" Extra Thin Crash is characterized by particular subtlety. Inspired by iconic studio master Jim Keltner Paiste’s Sound Development created a warm, soft crash that unobtrusively and discreetly embeds itself in soft musical situations.
Sound Character: Dark, soft, warm, fast. Wide range, complex mix. Very soft feel, very responsive. Delicately whooshing effect cymbal with a round, balanced decay for short accents in low to moderate music settings.
Weight: medium Volume: medium low to loud Stick Sound: woody, dry Intensity: controlled Sustain: medium Bell Character: fairly integrated, rich
Sound Character: Dry, rich, silky, strong. Medium range, fairly complex mix. Very controllable and fairly dry feel. Silvery ping over rather short sustained and dusty wash. Ideally suited for articulated and precise playing in most musical styles such as R&B, Funk, Pop and Country.
Weight: medium Volume: medium low to loud Stick Sound: woody, dry Intensity: controlled Sustain: medium Bell Character: fairly integrated, rich
Sound Character: Dry, rich, silky, strong. Medium range, fairly complex mix. Very controllable and fairly dry feel. Silvery ping over rather short sustained and dusty wash. Ideally suited for articulated and precise playing in most musical styles such as R&B, Funk, Pop and Country.
Weight: medium Volume: medium low to loud Stick Sound: woody, dry Intensity: controlled Sustain: medium Bell Character: fairly integrated, rich
Sound Character: Dry, rich, silky, strong. Medium range, fairly complex mix. Very controllable and fairly dry feel. Silvery ping over rather short sustained and dusty wash. Ideally suited for articulated and precise playing in most musical styles such as R&B, Funk, Pop and Country.
Weight: medium Volume: medium low to loud Stick Sound: woody, dry Intensity: controlled Sustain: medium Bell Character: fairly integrated, rich
Sound Character: Dry, rich, silky, strong. Medium range, fairly complex mix. Very controllable and fairly dry feel. Silvery ping over rather short sustained and dusty wash. Ideally suited for articulated and precise playing in most musical styles such as R&B, Funk, Pop and Country.
The Paiste Masters Dark Crash has a medium wide range and complex mix. It’s a buttery and lively cymbal with a quick response well suited for delicate ride patterns or mallet swells.
This cymbal has a warm, dark and smoky tone. It produces a rich, almost mystical crash ideal for broad accents in semi-loud settings.
The Paiste Masters Dark Crash has a medium wide range and complex mix. It’s a buttery and lively cymbal with a quick response well suited for delicate ride patterns or mallet swells.
This cymbal has a warm, dark and smoky tone. It produces a rich, almost mystical crash ideal for broad accents in semi-loud settings.
The Paiste Masters Dark Crash has a medium wide range and complex mix. It’s a buttery and lively cymbal with a quick response well suited for delicate ride patterns or mallet swells.
This cymbal has a warm, dark and smoky tone. It produces a rich, almost mystical crash ideal for broad accents in semi-loud settings.
The Paiste Masters Dark Crash has a medium wide range and complex mix. It’s a buttery and lively cymbal with a quick response well suited for delicate ride patterns or mallet swells.
This cymbal has a warm, dark and smoky tone. It produces a rich, almost mystical crash ideal for broad accents in semi-loud settings.
The Paiste Masters Dark Crash has a medium wide range and complex mix. It’s a buttery and lively cymbal with a quick response well suited for delicate ride patterns or mallet swells.
This cymbal has a warm, dark and smoky tone. It produces a rich, almost mystical crash ideal for broad accents in semi-loud settings.
The Paiste Masters Dark Crash has a medium wide range and complex mix. It’s a buttery and lively cymbal with a quick response well suited for delicate ride patterns or mallet swells.
This cymbal has a warm, dark and smoky tone. It produces a rich, almost mystical crash ideal for broad accents in semi-loud settings.
The Dark Crisp Ride has a nice and crispy stick sound supported by a strong, open and dark shimmering wash with perfect control. Well suited for all styles of music that require great dynamics and full-bodied ride sound.
Size: 22" Weight: medium Volume: low to fairly loud Stick Sound:fairly pronounced, crisp Intensity: lively Sustain: fairly long Bell Character:integrated, fairly strong
Buy Paiste Masters Cymbals from a Specialist UK Drum Store
Into Music Store stocks the full Paiste Masters range online and in our physical store in Horncastle, Lincolnshire. The Masters series is Paiste's flagship professional range and is best experienced in person - if you're searching for a specialist drum store near me with genuine knowledge of professional cymbals, visit us in store and our team will be happy to help you explore the Masters and Masters Dark ranges and find the right cymbal for your sound.
The Paiste Masters series sits at the top of the Paiste lineup alongside the Formula 602. If you're looking for a more accessible entry point into professional Paiste cymbals, the 2002 Series and 900 Series offer a significant step up from the PST range at a lower price point than the Masters. We offer next day delivery options across the UK on all Paiste Masters cymbals. Browse the full range above or get in touch for personalised advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Paiste Masters series is Paiste's flagship professional cymbal range, handcrafted in Switzerland from premium CuSn8 bronze. The range includes hi-hats, crash cymbals, ride cymbals, and splashes across two distinct tonal voices - the standard Masters for a warm, open character, and the Masters Dark sub-range for a darker, drier, and more controlled sound.
The standard Paiste Masters series has a warm, open, and musical character with good sustain and a complex tone. The Masters Dark sub-range delivers a darker, drier, and more controlled sound with shorter sustain and minimal wash - making it particularly well suited to jazz, studio recording, and any context where a clean, focused sound is needed.
Paiste Masters cymbals are handcrafted from CuSn8 bronze - a premium alloy of copper and tin used across Paiste's professional ranges. Each cymbal is individually shaped, hammered, and finished in Switzerland to exacting standards, resulting in instruments with a complex, nuanced tone that develops with playing.
Both the Paiste Masters and Formula 602 are professional handcrafted ranges made from CuSn8 bronze in Switzerland. The Formula 602 is known for its bright, transparent, and highly responsive character - a classic professional sound used in jazz and studio contexts. The Masters series offers a broader range of tonal voices, including the darker, drier Masters Dark sub-range, giving drummers more options for different playing styles.
Yes - the Paiste Masters series is particularly well suited to jazz drumming. The Masters Dark hi-hats, dry rides, and dark crashes deliver a controlled, focused, and musical sound with excellent dynamic sensitivity - ideal for jazz, studio recording, and any context where nuance and touch sensitivity are valued.
Yes - next day delivery options are available across the UK on all Paiste Masters cymbals. You can also visit our drum store in Horncastle, Lincolnshire to try them in person before you buy.