Meinl Percussion

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For people and other organisations with the name Meinl, see Meinl.

Meinl Percussion is a leading manufacturer of cymbals and other percussion instruments, based in Gutenstetten, Germany. Their main brand is Meinl.

Founded in 1951 by Roland Meinl. As well as being one of the "big four" cymbal manufacturers (with Paiste, Zildjian and Sabian), they are noted for their fibreglass congas, and plywood gongs, which proved for many percussionists that such modern materials could be used in this musical application, and similar innovations.

Meinl and Paiste are the two main manufacturers of cymbals with a European sound, derived from Turkish as opposed to Chinese cymbal making tradition and seen by some as a subset of the Turkish sound family. The European sound has more consistency, focus and penetration, as opposed to the more blending and individual sounds of more traditional Turkish cymbals. The close relationship between the two makers' tone families is most obvious in their entry level cymbals over the years, where the two ranges have often been identical alloy for alloy and model for model, distinguished one from the other mainly by the logos, and all produced in Germany, where they are the two dominant cymbal manufacturers. Both makers strenuously deny ever sharing production facilities, however.

Meinl are unique among the four major mass-producers of cymbals, in that the alloy of their top of the line cymbals has normally been malleable bronze (B8, 8% tin) rather than bell bronze. Their professional bell bronze range, Byzance, is a relatively recent addition to their product lines. Other manufacturers have produced professional B8 lines, most notably the Paiste 2002 line, but always alongside more traditional alloys for their top lines. Meinl also make high-end cymbals from B12 bronze.

Current cymbal series:

Mb20: Professional cymbals made specifically for louder music, made out of the B20 bronze alloy (80% copper, 20% tin, with traces of silver).
Byzance: Professional cymbals which produce more traditional sounds, available in either Jazz, Traditional, Dark, Brilliant, or Extra Dry models. They are made out of the B20 alloy
Soundcaster (Custom and Fusion): Professional cymbals made from a B12 bronze alloy (88% copper, 12% tin, with traces of silver). The Customs are very brilliant cymbals, with a glassy and warm tone, and the Fusion models are similar but with dual lathing.
Mb10: The only cymbal line from any manufacturer to use a 90% copper, 10% tin alloy for cymbals. They are said to have a cutting, yet warm sound.
Mb8: Professional cymbals made from B8 bronze alloy (92% copper, 8% tin, with traces of silver). They are made with high-tech computerized hammering, and they have a bright cutting sound.
Generation X: Meinl's line of innovative modern cymbals developed with such artists as Johnny Rabb, Benny Greb, and Thomas Lang.
Classics: Intermediate-level cymbals made from the B8 bronze alloy.
MCS: Intermediate/Pre-Professional cymbals made from B8 bronze alloy, available in a pre-pack cymbal set or single cymbals consisting of 14" Medium Hi-hat's, 16" Medium Crashes, 18" Ride/Crashes, and 20" Rides.
HCS: Beginner/Entry-level cymbals made from a MS63 brass alloy. They are the least expensive cymbals by Meinl.