Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals BV-480+B16TRC Byzance Review: Benny Greb Sand Set

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals BV-480+B16TRC Byzance is the Benny Greb signature Sand box set from the Byzance Vintage line, with a 16 inch Trash Crash added as a free extra. The listing is unusually forthcoming: it itemizes all four cymbals, names cast B20 bronze, states hand hammering in Turkey, and explains the sand blasting process that gives the series its name. It sits in the upper mid-range tier.

The Sand concept was developed with Benny Greb, a German drummer known for a precise, groove driven style, and the idea is to pre age the cymbals by blasting the surface with sand so they sound broken in from day one. The published description promises a mellow yet clear sound with vintage character, which is a different goal from the dry trashiness of the Extra Dry series or the shimmer of a brilliant finish.

This review works from the listing. Contents, alloy, origin and finish process are stated, while the weights of the hi-hats, trash crash and ride are not, and neither are exact tonal measurements. Any description of individual cymbal tone below is drawn from the series design rather than from a published measurement.

Sound and Tone

Mellow yet clear is the published summary, and it is a fair description of what sand blasting does to cast bronze. The roughened surface scatters the high frequencies that would otherwise read as shimmer, so the cymbal sounds warmer and softer at the top while the fundamental and stick definition stay intact. The result is often compared to a decades old cymbal that has lost its brightness gracefully. On paper, that is a sound that supports a singer rather than competing with one.

The 14 inch Sand hi-hats should give a soft, dry chick with a controlled, smoky open sound, and the 18 inch Sand Thin crash is the washy, musical piece of the set, opening quickly and decaying warmly. The 20 inch Sand Ride, with no published weight, is the vintage anchor: a woody stick sound over a low, mellow wash.

The 16 inch Byzance Vintage Trash Crash is the outlier. Trash crashes are typically vented or shaped for a fast, explosive, short sound, and in this pack it provides the aggressive accent the sanded pieces deliberately lack. The listing does not describe its exact construction.

Alloy, Weight and Build

The published specification states cast B20 bronze, hand hammered in Turkey. B20 is the traditional cymbal alloy, and the listing notes that it responds particularly well to the sand aging process, keeping its clarity while taking on a mellow character. Hand hammering means each piece carries slight individual variation.

Finish is the pack's defining feature and is clearly described: the surfaces are pre aged by sand blasting, a concept developed with Benny Greb. That produces a matte, textured look that hides fingerprints and gives the cymbals a vintage appearance from the first day.

Weight classes are only partly published. The 18 inch crash is thin, while the hi-hats, the trash crash and the ride have no stated weight class. For a set this well documented, that is the one noticeable gap.

Versatility Across Styles

Rock, pop, R&B, fusion, funk, songwriter, alternative, jazz and acoustic are the styles the listing names, and the mellow, clear voicing genuinely suits that range. Sand cymbals are especially popular in singer songwriter, indie, soul and modern jazz settings, where a bright cymbal would feel out of place.

Funk and R&B benefit from the dry hi-hat chick, and the trash crash gives alternative and pop drummers a sharp accent for fills. Loud rock is possible, though a sanded set has less cut than a brilliant one and may need help from the engineer. Worship drummers who want a softer, less glassy set than the usual bright packs also fit here.

Metal and very loud fusion are the main omissions, because mellow cymbals get buried under high gain guitars. Drummers in those styles are better served by brighter, heavier series.

• Singer songwriter and indie sessions that want warmth
• Soul, R&B and funk with a dry hi-hat chick
• Modern jazz and acoustic settings
• Alternative rock with a trash crash accent
• Studio work where a vintage cymbal tone is the goal

Durability and Care

The sand blasted surface is cosmetic as much as tonal, and it has a practical benefit: scuffs and fingerprints disappear into the texture. The underlying cast B20 is as durable as any Byzance cymbal. The thin 18 inch crash is the most delicate piece and should be played with glancing strokes.

Trash crashes, depending on construction, can be more fragile than standard crashes because of their venting or shaping, and the listing does not describe this one's build. Treat it as an accent piece rather than a main crash.

Care is simple: never polish a sand blasted cymbal, since that would remove the finish the series depends on. Sleeves, felts, loose wing nuts and a padded case are the standard routine. Sweat and dust still need wiping away, because a textured surface can discolor if left dirty. No warranty terms are published.

What Is in the Pack

The listing itemizes four cymbals: 14 inch Byzance Vintage Sand hi-hats, a 16 inch Byzance Vintage Trash Crash, an 18 inch Byzance Vintage Sand Thin crash and a 20 inch Byzance Vintage Sand Ride. The 16 inch trash crash is described as a free addition to the core three piece Sand pack.

No bag, case or hardware is mentioned, which is normal for the tier. A padded case is strongly advised given the thin crash and the trash crash. Stands are also the buyer's responsibility, and the four pieces need a hi-hat stand plus three cymbal stands or arms.

The box is curated as a complete kit setup with one deliberate contrast piece, which is a different proposition from a uniform series pack. It reflects one drummer's working setup rather than a catalog's default configuration.

Daily Use and Setup

Sand cymbals are forgiving under microphones, since the lack of high frequency shimmer means fewer harsh overtones for the engineer to tame. In a live room they sit under vocals naturally, which is why they are popular with singer songwriters. The published clarity means stick definition remains audible even with the top end softened.

The trash crash is best mounted on its own boom arm positioned for quick accents, with a loose wing nut so it can speak freely. The 18 inch thin crash wants a loose mount as well and benefits from being placed where it will be hit with the side of the stick rather than the tip.

The ride should be mounted fairly flat for stick definition. A sanded surface gives a slightly drier stick sound than a lathed one, which many players find easier to control at speed.

Who Should Buy It

The Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals BV-480+B16TRC Byzance suits drummers who want a vintage, mellow cymbal sound without waiting decades for it, and who value a pack whose facts are on the table. Singer songwriter, soul, indie, jazz and studio drummers are the center of the audience.

Admirers of Benny Greb's playing and anyone drawn to the matte, aged look will also find it appealing. Drummers who need cut for loud rock or metal should look at brighter series. Players who pair the set with a bright splash will have a cutting accent when needed without changing the core voice.

Buyers unfamiliar with sanded cymbals should hear the character before committing, because it is distinctive and more subdued than most people expect. Those who already know it tend to stay with it.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Within Meinl, the Mike Johnston Byzance pack offers a drier, more aggressive curation with Extra Dry pieces, and standard Byzance Traditional packs give a conventional lathed voice. Meinl HCS and Classics Custom sit well below in price and complexity.

From other brands, the classic Zildjian K pack and K Sweet deliver warm, musical sounds with a lathed finish, while K Custom Dark is drier. Sabian HHX and Paiste's darker lines are the other premium cast competitors, though none use a sand blasted finish.

Against these, the Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals BV-480+B16TRC Byzance stands out for its unique finish, its full published documentation and its vintage character from day one. It is also the only one of these that will look aged before it has ever been played.

Verdict

This is a distinctive, well documented premium pack: cast B20, hand hammered in Turkey, sand blasted for a mellow yet clear vintage voice, with four itemized cymbals including a trash crash for contrast. The listing says more about build than most in its tier.

The cautions are the unpublished weights on three pieces and the particular, subdued character of sanded cymbals. For drummers who want that sound, the Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals BV-480+B16TRC Byzance is one of the most interesting boxed sets available.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Zildjian AC0801G A

Gospel and worship drummers who already want the A Custom sound and prefer a curated box to assembling cymbals one at a time.

Read the Zildjian AC0801G A review →

Zildjian A20579-11 A

Rock, pop, worship, funk and fusion drummers who want the bright professional standard in its four most common sizes.

Read the Zildjian A20579-11 A review →

Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals MJ401+18

Funk, R&B, pop, fusion and studio drummers who want dry texture balanced by one lush crash in a fully documented premium pack.

Read the Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals MJ401+18 review →

Questions Buyers Ask