Meinl Byzance Dual Crash-Ride Review: Two Cymbals in One

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Meinl Byzance 20 inch Dual Crash-Ride is built around a hybrid concept, expanding on the Byzance Extra Dry line to produce a single cymbal meant to function as both a crash and a ride. The original listing name for this product was a bare size and type fragment with no brand repeated at all, so this review restores the fuller descriptive name drawn from the listing title.

The published bullets describe a raw, hand hammered center paired with a lathed, polished edge, a visual and tonal contrast the listing says is instantly recognizable within the Byzance Dual line. The sound itself is described as trashy, earthy and low at first, ending with a flash of explosive brilliance.

A further bullet notes that the bottom side mirrors the top rather than carrying the additional lathing found elsewhere in the Byzance Dual line, which the listing says preserves clarity and definition when the cymbal is used specifically as a ride rather than a crash.

Sound and Tone

The listing describes the sound as trashy, earthy and low at first, before ending with a flash of explosive brilliance, a two stage description that suggests a cymbal with a complex, evolving character rather than one single consistent tone from attack to decay.

That evolving character is tied directly to the visual construction, with the listing stating that the sound is similar to the look, trashy, earthy and low at first before the brighter brilliance comes through. The raw, hand hammered center is credited with the earthier, trashier portion of the voice, while the lathed, polished edge contributes to the brighter flash.

When used as a ride, the listing states that the unlathed bottom side helps maintain clarity and definition, suggesting the cymbal can shift character somewhat depending on whether a drummer is riding on the bow or driving a full crash strike across the surface.

Alloy, Weight and Build

The alloy here is stated directly: B20 bronze, composed of 80 percent copper and 20 percent tin, the same alloy and ratio described across other Byzance models in this review batch. The listing credits that composition with producing a rich, complex sound across a wide dynamic range.

The build itself is distinctive among the models covered in this review, combining a raw, hand hammered center with a lathed, polished edge on top, while the bottom side carries no additional lathing unlike the rest of the Byzance Dual line. That asymmetry between top and bottom is a stated design choice rather than a manufacturing inconsistency.

No specific weight figure or named weight class is published, which leaves one meaningful build detail unconfirmed despite the otherwise detailed description of the alloy and finishing process. The listing also confirms hand hammering in Turkey as part of the broader Byzance manufacturing approach.

Versatility Across Styles

As a crash-ride hybrid, this cymbal is inherently built for versatility within a single instrument, letting a drummer cover two roles that would otherwise require two separate cymbals. That built in flexibility is a central selling point of the Dual concept rather than an incidental feature.

A trashy, earthy, evolving voice that can flash into brilliance tends to suit genres that value character and surprise in a cymbal's sound, such as progressive, fusion and alternative styles, while also working as a practical space saving option for drummers with limited cymbal stands at smaller gigs.

• Progressive and fusion settings wanting a crash-ride hybrid with character
• Smaller gig setups needing fewer cymbals without losing tonal range
• Studio session work where a trashy to brilliant evolving tone helps the mix
• Less suited to players who want two fully dedicated, single purpose cymbals

Durability and Care

No specific durability claim, warranty term or weight figure is published for this cymbal, so this review will not assign a numeric durability rating based on language that is not actually present in the bullets. That gap applies to the whole cymbal rather than just one zone, since neither the raw center nor the lathed edge comes with a separate stated spec.

The combination of a raw, unlathed center with a lathed, polished edge means the two zones of the cymbal may age and show wear differently over time, with the raw center potentially developing a different patina than the polished edge. That is a reasonable inference from the described construction rather than a stated fact, and it is part of what makes this hybrid design visually distinctive over time.

Standard crash and ride care both apply here given the hybrid role: avoid repeated edge on edge strikes, let the cymbal swing freely on the stand, and keep the surface reasonably clean, since none of that specific guidance is published for this particular model. Players who rotate heavily between the crash and ride roles should also expect slightly more varied wear patterns than a single purpose cymbal sees.

What Is in the Pack

This listing covers a single 20 inch crash-ride cymbal, with no stand, bag, sleeve or cleaning cloth mentioned anywhere in the published bullets. Buyers should plan on mounting this cymbal using their own existing cymbal stand and felt hardware rather than expecting any of that equipment to ship with it.

Beyond the cymbal itself and its detailed described finish and tonal character, there is no mention of a bundled accessory, printed documentation or a case in the bullets. That is a typical structure for a single specialty cymbal at this price tier, where the hybrid concept and confirmed alloy are the primary selling points rather than any included extras.

Daily Use and Setup

Setting up this cymbal follows standard practice, seating it on a felt washer with enough room on the stand's sleeve to let the cymbal swing freely, since both the crash and ride functions described in the listing depend on the cymbal being free to resonate rather than clamped tightly in place.

Given the described dual function, players who want to use this cymbal in both roles should experiment with striking the bow and edge for riding versus a fuller strike across the surface for crashing, noting how the trashy, evolving tone described in the listing shifts between the two approaches. Keeping a mental note of which zone produces which result helps a drummer call on either voice reliably during a performance.

Positioning the cymbal at a reach that comfortably supports both a riding motion and an occasional full crash strike, rather than optimizing the angle for only one role, tends to make the most of a hybrid cymbal like this one. A slightly flatter angle than a dedicated crash, but not as flat as a dedicated ride, is a reasonable starting point to adjust from.

Who Should Buy It

This cymbal suits drummers who want a confirmed B20 bronze instrument that covers both crash and ride duties, particularly players with limited space on their cymbal stand or a smaller overall setup who still want tonal range.

Players who like a visually distinctive build, combining a raw, hand hammered center with a lathed, polished edge, and who want a trashy, evolving tone rather than a single consistent character, are a strong match for what this listing describes.

Drummers who want two fully dedicated, single purpose cymbals rather than one hybrid, or who need an exact weight figure confirmed before buying, should look toward separate crash and ride models in the current lineup instead.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Drummers who want a dedicated crash rather than a hybrid should compare against a standard Byzance Vintage crash covered elsewhere in this review batch, which is built and finished specifically for crash duty rather than splitting its design between two roles.

Players who want a dedicated ride instead should look at a Byzance Vintage Sand Ride or a similar single purpose ride model, since this Dual Crash-Ride is specifically designed to compromise between both roles rather than excel narrowly at just one.

Comparing this hybrid cymbal against carrying two separate, single purpose cymbals, where space and budget allow, can help a drummer decide whether the described versatility is worth the tonal tradeoffs inherent in any dual purpose design.

Verdict

The Meinl Byzance 20 inch Dual Crash-Ride is a confirmed B20 bronze hybrid cymbal, combining a raw, hand hammered center with a lathed, polished edge to deliver a trashy, earthy tone that flashes into explosive brilliance, with the unlathed bottom preserving definition when ridden.

With alloy and build process both confirmed, this cymbal is a strong mid range pick for drummers who want one instrument covering both crash and ride roles. Buyers who want two separate, single purpose cymbals instead should look toward dedicated models in the current lineup.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Stagg MYR-CH18RW US

Rock, metal and fusion drummers who want a cast B20 china with a dry, quick trash at a lower mid-range price.

Read the Stagg MYR-CH18RW US review →

Stagg 18"

Rock, metal and contemporary drummers who want a bright, cutting 18 inch medium crash at a lower mid-range price and are not fussy about the exact alloy.

Read the Stagg 18" review →

Stagg SH-CT19R SH

Drummers who want a large, fast opening thin crash for lower volume rock, pop, worship or jazz adjacent work at a lower mid-range price.

Read the Stagg SH-CT19R SH review →

Questions Buyers Ask