Thread: Which zills?

Usually, I play my lovely Sulyman El Coyote zills - beautiful tone, and not too loud. Very pleasing and polite zills with the perfect hand feel. I love them infinitely. But, for certain situations, they are just too polite. For group performances it is beneficial for me as the most steady ziller to be the loudest to play over my fellow dancers when they get tripped up for a second, thus I am looking for a set of zills that match the carrying volume of my voice ;-) But, I would like a pleasing tone, too; I can not stand painfully piercing zills.

I am wondering whether I should lean towards the Zildjians (which are said to be LOUD), or the Saroyan Afghanis? Seems I can't go wrong either way, but which ones would be a better choice for somebody who likes a more low, less piercing sound? (I have of course tried the sound files on Saroyan's website.)

I also have a set of Saroyan Arabesque II in silver - I like the sound and how they balance in my hands, but sometimes, they are not as loud as I would like.

I think you can get sounds on the saroyan website. It also expalains how the design of the zills create sound. It might help to read that to ge what you are looking for.
I have a pair of Turkish zills from Turquiose Itnl. THey are very bell sounding and carry a long tome where my Tutankmuns from Saroyan have aring but are more clappy sounding. I also have a pair of Saroyan Pros but haven't used em much to be familiar. Try the saroyan website to hear some of them!
XOXO,
-NJ

To me, a group playing different toned zills is very dissonant. So I would say the choice depends on what everyone else has.

I really like the sound of zildjians, but I cringe at the thought of what they would sound like mixed with saroyan pros and a couple of sets of turquoise...eck!

Originally Posted by mmouse1534

I my Tutankmuns from Saroyan have aring but are more clappy sounding. I also have a pair of Saroyan Pros but haven't used em much to be familiar. Try the saroyan website to hear some of them!
XOXO,
-NJ

I concurr - Tutenkamens are LOUD but clappy (I find they work best at outdoor events). I think Pros are nearly but not quite as loud, with a lovely ringing bell-like tone. I like the silver Arabesques for indoor, more intimate venues, as they "tinkle" delicately.

Originally Posted by ssipes

To me, a group playing different toned zills is very dissonant. So I would say the choice depends on what everyone else has.

I really like the sound of zildjians, but I cringe at the thought of what they would sound like mixed with saroyan pros and a couple of sets of turquoise...eck!

Ah yeah, I have been upset by the ugly sound of mismatched zills often enough. Good point.

But, that's the sad reality: We have a terrible mish-mash (a few Saroyans, some what-evers, and one set Mid-East Mfg zills). It is impossible to get everybody to get the same zills for the time being; it's a miracle that my peeps play them at all given that zills aren't taught much here.

I love my Saroyan Pros. As Laura said, they're loud and have a really pretty tone. I also find that with the high domes I can mute them easily (comfortably) without them sounding too clacky, and I appreciate that versatility.

I recently bought a pair of Saroyan's new ghawazee cymbals -- they're bronze and loud, with a lovely sound. I gave them to my strong cymbal player to play at Rakkasah East, since the other three dancers in that number weren't super-confident. This really worked well.

I probably have a dozen pairs of Saroyan cymbals. I have played my Turkish ones to death, also like the Mediterranean ones a lot. Don't care for the Tutankamuns as much.

Also just purchased a set of the Jim Boz cymbals -- three brass, one German silver -- and can't wait to hear what they sound like.

I have brass afghanis for daily wear, and Saroyan Pro Heavy for outside performances. But they are HEAVY and loud.

(I love my el Coyote zills too! But I dropped one and dented it once, and now they don't sound right. I guess I should send them back and see if he can fix them. )

ok..question...where as harry and i are friendly, i do not like any of his zills.
i am a muscian...we play zildgians, you can get sooo many tones out of them, soft, or loud.
so, i am asking...what is the attraction?
if you are playing, who cares about pictures on them...i am sincerely wanting to know , why so many play these machine made zills!

I have 3 sets, the King Tuts, the Grecians, and the Zildjians. They're appropriate for different venues. The Zildjians have a tone like no other, and are loud as others have noted. They're my favorites, but I don't play them just anywhere because they're loud. Yes, it is quite possible to modulate the loudness, but I find it easier to just use quieter Zills.

Zildjians aren't for everyone - they're VERY heavy. But their tone is incredible!

Zamora, where do you get the zildjians? I had a set of these back in the 70s and loved them.

Originally Posted by Zana

I love my Saroyan Pros. As Laura said, they're loud and have a really pretty tone. I also find that with the high domes I can mute them easily (comfortably) without them sounding too clacky, and I appreciate that versatility.

I agree - Saroyan Pros!

Originally Posted by zamora

i am a muscian...we play zildgians, you can get sooo many tones out of them, soft, or loud.

Hmmm...Maybe I will try some Zildjians. I would like more musicality in my finger cymbals.

Well I really like my big loud Tutankhamun's (and a couple other dancers in my neighborhood have bought them after using mine) and I also have one of Saroyan's smaller sets, but I guess when I have some money I'll have to try some of these others.

I love my tutankhamun's. I've been using them forever. Also the pro arabesque from saroyan too. I used to use Zildjian's but they were too loud for me - although I do love the "play" you can get from them.
I think cymbal's are a personal choice. Morocco recommends turquoise zills, and I don't like them at all!

I use Saroyan pros and Arabesques when I need to be quieter.The Saroyan Ghawazee are great for outside-nice carrying sound.
I would really love a pair of Zildjian's. is there any website you can buy them from.Over here in the UK its a bit of a struggle getting good musical zills

Originally Posted by zamora

ok..question...where as harry and i are friendly, i do not like any of his zills.
i am a muscian...we play zildgians, you can get sooo many tones out of them, soft, or loud.
so, i am asking...what is the attraction?
if you are playing, who cares about pictures on them...i am sincerely wanting to know , why so many play these machine made zills!

They are of good quality and it's not easy to find the zildjians everywhere. (There's also some confusion about which zildjians are the right ones to purchase - I bought a set of zildjians, but they weren't the "good" ones, so I sold them).

Also, it's nice to support a longstanding member of the belly dance community.

I love the Saroyan Grecians - they are my current favorite and the only pair I play, but the Afghanis are nice too. I also have a pair of no-name zills I bought from Little Egypt that are quite loud - I sometimes use them for outdoor performances.

I thoroughly dislike the Saroyan pros, though, so really it's a case of "to each her own."

Originally Posted by zamora

ok..question...where as harry and i are friendly, i do not like any of his zills.
i am a muscian...we play zildgians, you can get sooo many tones out of them, soft, or loud.
so, i am asking...what is the attraction?
if you are playing, who cares about pictures on them...i am sincerely wanting to know , why so many play these machine made zills!

I have El Coyotes, I have Zildjians, I have Saroyans, I have some from Johar and I have no name Egyptian sand cast. I have to say, for small venues, I like the sand cast ones best. After that it's the EC's, then my Saroyans. I haven;t really played with my Zildjians enough to have an opinion - yet.

I think the reason so many people use Saroyans is that they are redily avail., they come in a variety of tones, and they are decently priced. Not everyone wants to drop $50+ dollars on a pair of zills. ou can get a decent pair from Harry for around $30. Until you get into the larger professional zills, they ar also not very intimidating. And by the time you start buying the professional level zills, you have developed brand loyalty!

{{{HUGS}}}}

Zamora, where do you get the zildjians? I had a set of these back in the 70s and loved them
....at a local music store owned by a hye...patricks music, fresno ca....but i think zorba has an on line sorce that is less expensive

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

(There's also some confusion about which zildjians are the right ones to purchase - I bought a set of zildjians, but they weren't the "good" ones, so I sold them).

Can anyone explain this? I just visited the zildjian company website. It's not a retail store, but they do provide information on their products. They only list one product as "dancer's zils: Zildjian.com - en-US So what is the deal with "good" and "bad" kinds? Are the "bad" kinds not dancer's zils? Or are there more than one kind of dancer's zils?

And, please, can someone provide a source for purchasing these online in the US?

I want to buy some, but I want them to sound like the ones I have heard other dancers play!

Sedonia

If you google for zildjian dancer, quite a few stores pop up, and prices come out to below $40 including shipping.

I think these are the right ones.

Zildjian.com - en-US

"Morocco recommends turquoise zills,"
hmmm, i think thats what bayla has our new people use.

So what is the deal with "good" and "bad" kinds? Are the "bad" kinds not dancer's zils? Or are there more than one kind of dancer's zils?
....i think, just think, ..it is the diff between single and double slotted.single slot is for hanging with a drum kit, they hit it with the drum stick.
paste makes a great zill....but it is only single slotted.we just could not convince the swiss company that the double would sell.

Zamora is right - the DANCER'S Zills are sold as a quad and are made with double slots, the MUSICIAN'S Zills are sold as a pair and are single hole.

I recommend BellydanceShoppe.com - BellyDanceShoppe.com to buy them - they're slightly more expensive than some vendors, but they ship VERY FAST and even include a pair of beads to ID the thumb Zill elastics.

yep, you get 2 "males" in one bag, and 2 "females" in the other.
tip:...if you use modulations, and do an edge click for quite moments, ...switch your thumb and fingers every month when you do elastic/pins..i double pin....this way, you do not get a flat edge on 2 of the zills.


the diff in the male/female is the tone

O.K. this is a ridiculously stupid question, but do you wear the two "males" on one hand (say, the dominant hand that you play the "doums" with) and the "females" together on the other hand, or do you pair them up and put each male with a female?

Do the dancer's quad set com with the males and females, or just the musician's models?

Sedonia

Originally Posted by zamora

ok..question...where as harry and i are friendly, i do not like any of his zills.
i am a muscian...we play zildgians, you can get sooo many tones out of them, soft, or loud.
so, i am asking...what is the attraction?
if you are playing, who cares about pictures on them...i am sincerely wanting to know , why so many play these machine made zills!

my dear - not everybody that plays zills *should* be playing zills. if they were all playing zildijans - lord help our ears! :)

I've always played tuts, and I like them just fine. I have a pair of saroyan pros, but while the tone is so pretty, I find them too high and ringing to use in most situations. the band I used to dance with forbid me to play them - they hated them! I had a pair of zildijans, but I ended up selling them. lovely, lovely tone, but they were too heavy for me and the rough texture sometimes would irritate my fingertips.

I actually just purchased five pairs of the Saroyan Nefertitis about 20 minutes before i read this thread! I have always been told they are the best beginner set (which is what i was looking for) and best price (always nice).

I think I'm the only professional belly dancer in the world that still uses my ORIGINAL Nefertiti student zills! It's only because I can't commit to buying a particular set! But my Nefs are good for restaurants, which is mostly where I zill. Not too loud, not too clappy, decent tone, just enough to warn people to get their wallets out because I'm coming around.
..g.:

I wonder if/when I do get pro zills if I'll say to myself "How on earth did I live for so long with those Nefertitis!!!" Kinda like someone who has driven a 1984 Toyota Corolla all their life and then buys a brand new Mercedes.