Cymbal Alloys

Cymbals are metallic percussion instruments whose tonal qualities, durability, and performance characteristics are determined primarily by the alloys from which they are made. Despite the wide diversity of sounds available, the vast majority of cymbals are produced from copper-based alloys, refined through centuries of metallurgical experimentation and musical practice. Traditionally, cymbal alloys are grouped into four principal categories: bell bronze, malleable (ductility) bronze, brass, and nickel silver. Each alloy exhibits distinct physical properties that influence manufacturing methods, musical response, and practical use in different musical contexts.

Bell Bronze (Bell Metal)

Bell bronze, also known as bell metal, is the traditional and most prestigious alloy used for high-quality cymbals, many gongs, and bell instruments. The classic formulation is approximately 20% tin and 80% copper, commonly referred to as B20 bronze, though historical and modern practices allow for variation. Larger bells and gongs often contain slightly different tin ratios, and some makers introduce trace elements such as silver, gold, or phosphorus to subtly modify tonal response and casting behaviour.
Metallurgically, bell bronze is a two-phase alloy, meaning that not all the tin dissolves uniformly into the copper matrix. Some tin-rich phases remain between the copper grains, resulting in a material that is hard, resonant, and comparatively brittle. This structure is largely responsible for the alloy’s complex tonal spectrum but also makes it challenging to work. Mechanised production techniques are limited, and traditional hand processes such as casting, hammering, and lathing are essential.
Bell bronze cymbals are valued for their wide dynamic range, sensitivity, and rich overtone structure. They respond well to both delicate articulation and powerful playing, making them the standard choice for major orchestras and many professional drum kit players. The combination of tonal complexity and projection has ensured the continued dominance of bell bronze in high-end cymbal production.

Signature and High-Tin Sheet Bronze Alloys

In 1989, the Swiss manufacturer Paiste introduced a significant innovation with the release of professional cymbals made from a high-tin sheet bronze alloy containing approximately 15% tin. Unlike traditional bell bronze cymbals, which are cast, this alloy is produced as sheet metal and shaped through rolling and annealing rather than extensive tempering. Paiste refers to this formulation as Signature Bronze or Sound Formula.
The use of sheet bronze allows for greater consistency between cymbal blanks, making it well suited to Paiste’s precise and industrialised production methods. Although hot rolling is required at certain stages, the alloy behaves differently from B20 bronze and offers a distinct tonal profile characterised by clarity, balance, and controlled brightness.
Initially, Paiste discontinued bell bronze cymbals in favour of this new alloy but later reintroduced high-end bell bronze lines alongside Signature Bronze models. Other manufacturers subsequently adopted similar approaches, producing cymbals from B12 and B10 sheet bronze alloys. Examples include Zildjian’s Project 391 series and later B12-based lines, as well as Meinl cymbals, which are particularly associated with experimentation in both high-tin and mid-tin alloys. There is also evidence that Hammerax employed a related alloy with the addition of iron and nickel to enhance durability and projection.

Malleable Bronze (B8 Alloy)

Malleable bronze is a single-phase copper–tin alloy typically containing around 8% tin, commonly designated as B8 bronze. Unlike bell bronze, this alloy can be cold rolled into sheets, making it readily available as commercial metal stock in a wide range of thicknesses. Its malleability allows for more efficient and economical manufacturing processes.
From the mid-twentieth century onwards, cymbal makers explored B8 bronze as a means of producing high-quality cymbals at lower cost. Paiste famously developed this alloy into its 2002 series, which became highly influential in popular music. Early assessments, including those cited in Paiste patents, suggested that B8 bronze could not rival the tonal richness of B20 bell bronze. However, subsequent developments challenged this view.
Top-tier malleable bronze cymbals proved exceptionally suitable for loud, amplified music, offering strong projection, clarity, and durability. Many drummers argue that the best B8 cymbals approach, and in some cases rival, bell bronze cymbals in musical quality. As a result, malleable bronze has become firmly established in both professional and semi-professional contexts, particularly within rock and contemporary genres.

Brass

Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, is widely used in metalworking but plays a limited role in cymbal manufacture. The brass typically used for cymbals contains around 38% zinc, making it inexpensive, easily worked, and readily available as sheet metal. These properties account for its frequent use in entry-level and beginner cymbals.
Despite its practicality, brass is acoustically inferior to tin bronzes. Brass cymbals tend to produce a warm but dull tone, lacking the shimmer, complexity, and sensitivity of bronze alloys. Structurally, brass is relatively rigid and prone to cracking, particularly around the bell hole and outer edge. As a result, brass cymbals are generally not designed for long-term use.
Many drum kit manufacturers supply brass cymbals for shop displays or introductory kits, and these are often of very poor tonal quality. Some may consist of untreated metal discs that are largely unplayable, despite bearing reputable brand names. Nevertheless, brass remains widely used for traditional gongs, china cymbals, and zills, where its tonal limitations are less problematic.

Nickel Silver (Nickel Bronze)

Nickel silver, despite its name, contains no silver. In cymbal making, it refers to a copper–nickel alloy, typically with around 12% nickel. Some metallurgists argue that the term should be reserved for alloys containing zinc, preferring the designation nickel bronze, but the usage of “nickel silver” in cymbal manufacturing is well established.
Nickel silver is malleable, available as commercial sheet metal, and produces a bright, cutting tone. However, it lacks the shimmer and responsiveness characteristic of tin bronzes. While most commonly associated with beginner cymbals, a small number of high-quality cymbals and gongs have been produced from this alloy, often favouring modern and exotic sound palettes.
Historically, nickel alloy cymbals were far more prevalent in the early to mid-twentieth century, meaning that many older recordings likely feature cymbals with significant nickel content. The percussionist Evelyn Glennie is particularly noted for her use of nickel silver cymbals, highlighting their distinctive tonal possibilities.

Other Metals and Experimental Alloys

Beyond the four principal categories, cymbals have occasionally been produced from silicon bronze, aluminium bronze, stainless steel, and titanium, though none of these materials has achieved widespread acceptance. Meinl’s FX9 alloy, introduced in 2003 for the Generation X series, consists of copper, manganese, zinc, and aluminium and was explicitly described by the manufacturer as not being a true bronze.
There is also a minority metallurgical view that the term “bronze” should be restricted to two-phase copper–tin alloys, a definition that would exclude many modern cymbal materials. In contrast to cymbals, some gongs are made from multiple metals fused together, and certain traditional gongs incorporate iron-based alloys, particularly in raised bosses.