Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals MJ401+18 Review: Mike Johnston Byzance Set

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals MJ401+18 is the Mike Johnston signature box set from the Byzance line, and it is one of the better documented premium packs around. The listing itemizes every cymbal, names the alloy as cast B20 bronze, states that the cymbals are hand hammered in Turkey, and lists nine genres it considers a fit. It sits in the upper mid-range tier.

The set is built around the 21 inch Byzance Extra Dry Transition Ride, described in the listing as Mike Johnston's signature cymbal, and surrounds it with 14 inch Extra Dry Medium hi-hats, an 18 inch Extra Dry Thin crash and a 20 inch Traditional Extra Thin Hammered crash. The 18 inch crash is presented as a free addition to the core three piece pack, which is where the plus 18 in the model code comes from.

This review stays inside the published listing. Contents, alloy, origin and hammering are stated, while finish, the ride's weight class and the exact character of each piece are not described in detail. Where a series name implies a character, that is noted as general knowledge rather than a published fact.

Sound and Tone

Extra Dry is the Byzance sub series known for a raw, dry, trashy character with very short sustain and a complex, almost broken quality to the overtones. The listing does not spell that out, but the series name is a strong indicator of what to expect from the hi-hats, the 18 inch crash and the ride. These cymbals are usually chosen for their texture rather than their shine.

The 20 inch Traditional Extra Thin Hammered crash is the contrast piece. Traditional series Byzance cymbals are lathed and more conventional in tone, and an extra thin 20 inch crash opens almost instantly with a wide, low, musical wash. In the context of the pack it provides the sustain and warmth the dry pieces deliberately withhold.

The Transition Ride, as the name suggests, is designed to move between a dry, defined ride sound and a crashable wash depending on how it is played. The listing calls it Mike Johnston's signature cymbal, and his teaching work in rock, pop and fusion explains the versatility the pack is reaching for. Exact pitch and sustain figures are not published.

Alloy, Weight and Build

The published specification states cast B20 bronze, hand hammered in Turkey. B20 is the traditional cymbal alloy, roughly four parts copper to one part tin, and casting rather than sheet forming gives the metal the complex grain that produces rich overtones. Hand hammering means each cymbal is shaped by a craftsperson rather than a machine pattern, which is why Byzance cymbals vary slightly from one to the next.

Weights are given as classes: medium hi-hats, a thin 18 inch crash and an extra thin 20 inch crash. The ride has no stated weight class in the listing. Finish is not published, although the Extra Dry name is widely understood to mean an unlathed, raw surface and the Traditional name a lathed one.

Country of origin is Turkey, which the listing states directly. Compared with the Zildjian K packs in the same tier, whose listings often omit alloy and origin, the Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals MJ401+18 gives a buyer far more to work with on paper.

Versatility Across Styles

Rock, pop, R&B, fusion, funk, songwriter, alternative, jazz and acoustic are the styles the listing names, which is a wide net. The dry hi-hats and crash give tight, articulate textures that suit funk, R&B and modern pop, while the extra thin traditional crash and the Transition Ride supply the musical wash that jazz, songwriter and acoustic settings want.

Fusion and alternative rock players benefit from the contrast built into the set: a dry, stack like attack on one side and a lush, open crash on the other, with a ride that can do either. Very loud metal is the main style missing from the list, and dry thin cymbals are not the right tool for it.

The pack is also well suited to recording, because dry cymbals sit cleanly in a mix without excess shimmer. That is likely part of why a drum educator chose this particular combination.

• Funk and R&B grooves that need tight, dry hi-hats
• Modern pop and alternative rock with textured crashes
• Jazz and acoustic settings on the extra thin 20 inch crash
• Fusion drummers who want a ride that crashes
• Studio sessions where dry cymbals sit cleanly in a mix

Durability and Care

Thin and extra thin cymbals are the most fragile in any pack, and this set has one of each. The 20 inch extra thin crash in particular should be played with glancing strokes and never with the shoulder of a heavy stick. Cast B20 is resilient, but thinness, not alloy, is what determines crack risk at the edge.

Dry, unlathed surfaces hide fingerprints and stick marks better than brilliant finishes, which is one practical advantage of the Extra Dry pieces in daily use. The listing does not publish warranty terms.

Standard care applies: sleeves on every post, felts top and bottom, loose wing nuts and a padded case. Avoid polish entirely on the dry pieces, because cleaning a raw surface changes the sound the series is known for.

What Is in the Pack

The listing itemizes four cymbals: 14 inch Byzance Extra Dry Medium hi-hats, an 18 inch Extra Dry Thin crash, a 20 inch Byzance Traditional Extra Thin Hammered crash and a 21 inch Byzance Extra Dry Transition Ride. The 18 inch crash is described as a free addition to the pack.

No bag, case or hardware is mentioned. At this tier buyers should expect to supply their own stands and a padded case, and the extra thin crash makes a proper case more than a nicety.

What makes this box unusual is that it is not a conventional set of matched same series pieces. The mix of Extra Dry and Traditional cymbals is a deliberate contrast curated around one drummer's preferences, which is a different proposition from a standard series pack.

Daily Use and Setup

Dry cymbals reward a lighter touch. The hi-hats and the 18 inch crash will give their best texture at moderate volume, and hitting them harder tends to flatten the character rather than add power. The Transition Ride benefits from a relaxed grip and a loose mount so it can open up when crashed.

The 20 inch extra thin crash should be mounted on a boom with a very loose wing nut and positioned where it will not be hit directly on the edge. Many drummers place a crash this thin on the far side of the kit for swells and big moments.

On stage, engineers generally find dry cymbals easy to work with because they do not fight the vocal range. In rehearsal rooms the lack of long sustain keeps the overall volume manageable. Dry cymbals also record well with fewer overhead microphones, since they produce less bleed into the rest of the kit.

Who Should Buy It

The Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals MJ401+18 is for drummers who want texture and contrast rather than a uniform shimmer. Players in funk, R&B, modern pop, fusion and studio work, and admirers of Mike Johnston's approach, are the natural audience.

It also suits buyers who want a premium pack with its facts on the table, since alloy, origin and contents are all stated. Drummers who want a bright, cutting set for loud rock or metal should look elsewhere.

Players who have never used dry cymbals should hear the Extra Dry character before committing, because it is distinctive and not to every taste. The pack is a strong choice for those who already know they like it.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Within Meinl, the Byzance Vintage Benny Greb Sand pack offers a different signature curation with a mellow, pre aged character, and standard Byzance Traditional packs give a more conventional lathed voice. Meinl HCS and Classics Custom sit far below in price and complexity.

From other brands, Zildjian K Custom Dark delivers a dry, over hammered sound with a similar texture, while K Sweet and the classic K pack are warmer and less trashy. Sabian HHX offers a comparable premium cast alternative.

Against these, the Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals MJ401+18 stands out for its published build detail and its deliberate mix of dry and traditional voices in one box. Few boxed sets are this specific about what they are.

Verdict

This is a well documented, carefully curated premium pack: cast B20, hand hammered in Turkey, four itemized cymbals mixing dry texture with a lush extra thin crash and a ride that transitions between the two. The listing is unusually complete for the category.

The cautions are the fragility of the thin pieces and the acquired taste of dry cymbals. For funk, pop, fusion and studio drummers who want that character, the Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals MJ401+18 is among the strongest boxed options in its tier.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Zildjian AC0801G A

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Read the Zildjian AC0801G A review →

Zildjian K0800 K

Jazz, studio and roots rock drummers who already want the traditional dark K voice and prefer to buy it matched in one box.

Read the Zildjian K0800 K review →

Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals BV-480+B16TRC Byzance

Singer songwriter, soul, indie, jazz and studio drummers who want a mellow, vintage cymbal sound from a fully documented premium pack.

Read the Meinl Percussion Meinl Cymbals BV-480+B16TRC Byzance review →

Questions Buyers Ask