Zildjian S390 4-Piece Cymbal Set Review: Full Setup in One Box

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Zildjian S390 set is a four piece cymbal package built around the S Series Performer line, pairing 14 inch Mastersound hi-hats with a 16 inch med-thin crash, an 18 inch med-thin crash and a 24 inch medium ride. That combination covers the core roles most drummers need on a standard kit, from timekeeping on the hats to accents on the crashes to a larger voice on the ride.

Unlike many single cymbal listings reviewed in this series, the published bullets for this set are limited to a straightforward parts list rather than a tonal description. Buyers get the sizes and general weight category for each piece, but no language about brightness, darkness, projection or overtone complexity.

This review treats that gap directly rather than inventing a sound profile for the set. It relies on general knowledge of what Mastersound hi-hats, med-thin crashes and medium rides typically do as cymbal designs, while being explicit that this particular listing does not describe how this specific set actually sounds.

Sound and Tone

Because the listing itself offers no tonal description, this section leans on general design knowledge rather than claims specific to this set. A Mastersound hi-hat design typically uses venting or hammering on the bottom cymbal to let air escape faster when the hats close, which generally produces a tighter, more defined chick sound than a plain flat bottom pair.

Med-thin crashes, the weight class listed for both the 16 inch and 18 inch pieces here, usually respond faster and open up quicker than full weight crashes, trading some low end weight for a crash that speaks sooner after the stick strikes. A 24 inch medium ride is on the larger end for a ride cymbal, which generally supports a bigger, more commanding stick sound and more volume in the wash when pushed.

None of that is a substitute for the specific tonal description this listing does not provide. Buyers who want to know whether this exact set sounds bright or dark, simple or complex, are working from general category expectations rather than anything the seller has published about this particular four piece package.

Alloy, Weight and Build

Alloy is not published anywhere in the listing for this set. The S Series Performer line has historically been positioned by Zildjian as an accessible sheet bronze range, but this review does not state that as confirmed fact for the S390 set specifically, since the bullets do not name an alloy for these four pieces.

Weight class is partially published through the names of each piece: med-thin for both crashes and medium for the ride. Those are meaningful design categories even without gram figures, since med-thin generally sits lighter than full crash weight, and medium ride sits in a middle ground between light, fast rides and heavy, dark ones.

The hi-hats are named Mastersound but no weight category is given for them, and finish and country of origin are not stated for any of the four pieces. Buyers who need a documented alloy or finish before purchasing should treat this as an open question rather than assume a specific composition.

Versatility Across Styles

A four piece set covering hats, two crash sizes and a ride is inherently broad by function rather than by tonal specialization. Having both a 16 inch and 18 inch med-thin crash gives a player two accent sizes to choose from depending on the song, while the 24 inch ride anchors timekeeping across a wide range of tempos and dynamics.

This kind of set tends to suit general purpose playing across rock, pop, country and covers bands more than a niche studio or jazz application, since the pieces are chosen for role coverage rather than a specific boutique voice. A player building a first full kit or a dependable backup rig benefits from that breadth.

Specialist players, such as jazz drummers who want a particular dark ride or metal drummers who want the brightest possible crashes, may find a curated set like this less targeted than choosing each piece individually against a named reference sound, since this package does not market itself around a specific tonal niche.

• General rock, pop and covers band use across a full kit
• First time kit owners who need all four roles at once
• Backup or travel sets where exact tone matters less than coverage
• Teaching or studio settings needing dependable, general purpose pieces
• Less suited to players chasing one specific boutique tonal niche

Durability and Care

With no published weight figures, alloy or finish, durability expectations for this set rest mainly on general cymbal care practices and the Zildjian name rather than on specific published data for the S390 package. Buyers should not assume a particular hardness or resistance to cracking beyond what any mid tier cymbal line offers.

Across all four pieces, striking near the edge with the shoulder of the stick rather than driving straight down into the bow reduces the stress that leads to keyholing at the bell and edge cracks over time, and this applies equally to the hats, both crashes and the ride.

Standard hardware practices, such as using felts and sleeves on stands and not overtightening hi-hat clutches or cymbal wing nuts, protect this set the same way they protect any cymbal package. The listing does not mention a warranty term, so buyers who want coverage details should confirm them with the seller directly.

What Is in the Pack

The published bullets for this listing are essentially a parts list, and that list is specific: 14 inch Mastersound hi-hats, a 16 inch med-thin crash, an 18 inch med-thin crash and a 24 inch medium ride, four pieces in total sold as one package.

That is a genuinely useful piece of information on its own, since a buyer comparing bundles can check exactly which sizes and weight categories are included without guessing. It also means the set covers hats, two distinct crash sizes and a large ride rather than duplicating any one role.

Beyond the four cymbals themselves, the listing does not mention stands, a bag, a cymbal key or any other accessory. Buyers should plan on supplying their own hardware and storage, since nothing beyond the cymbals is confirmed as included in this package.

Daily Use and Setup

Setting up a four piece set like this follows the same order most drummers already use: hi-hats on the hi-hat stand with felts seated correctly, the smaller 16 inch crash positioned for quick access on one side, the larger 18 inch crash and 24 inch ride spaced to avoid the cymbals striking each other during a crash.

Because the ride is on the larger side at 24 inches, players moving from a smaller ride may want to adjust their playing position slightly closer or angle the cymbal a touch more than usual to keep stick contact consistent across the bow and bell.

With both crashes listed as med-thin, players can expect them to open up relatively quickly compared to full weight crashes, so backing off strike intensity slightly compared to a heavier crash can help avoid an overly loud, uncontrolled accent, particularly in smaller rooms or quieter mixes.

Who Should Buy It

This set is best suited to drummers who need a complete cymbal setup in one purchase, whether that is a first kit, a backup rig, or a teaching or rental instrument where general purpose coverage matters more than a specific tonal identity.

Buyers who value convenience and brand familiarity over a fully documented spec sheet will find the four piece, four role coverage here reasonable for the mid-range price tier, especially since piecing together four individual cymbals separately usually costs more in both money and research time.

Drummers who already own most of these roles, or who have strong tonal preferences and want a published alloy and sound character before buying, should treat this set as a lower priority next to more fully documented single cymbal listings.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Drummers who want a similarly complete starter package but with more published tonal detail might look at other entry to mid-range branded sets where the listing describes brightness, darkness or projection explicitly rather than only listing sizes and weight categories.

Players who want to build toward a specific sound rather than general coverage could instead buy a single ride such as a Sabian HHX style cymbal or a single crash from a documented alloy line, accepting the higher per piece cost in exchange for a known, described tone.

For buyers focused purely on budget coverage, a basic sheet bronze starter pack from an entry level brand is a cheaper alternative, though it would likely trade away the Zildjian name and the Mastersound hi-hat design that this S390 set offers.

Verdict

The Zildjian S390 4-Piece Medium S Series Performer Cymbal Set earns its value from completeness rather than documented tone, bundling 14 inch Mastersound hi-hats, a 16 inch and 18 inch med-thin crash and a 24 inch medium ride into one order that covers the core roles of a standard kit.

With no published alloy, finish or sound description, this is a set for buyers who trust the brand and the stated sizes and weight categories over one chosen for a specific tonal identity, which makes it a sound pick for first kits and backups but a weaker choice for players chasing a documented, specific sound.

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