Meinl Pure Alloy Cymbals | Drummer's guide (2026)

The Meinl Pure Alloy Cymbals are a professional line of cymbals that sit between the Byzance and Classic Custom ranges. These cymbals have a clean sound that isn’t to be missed.

We first wrote this guide in 2021, when the range was still fairly small. Since then Meinl has kept adding to it, including a whole Extra Hammered sub-series and a Benny Greb signature hi-hat. So what do you get in 2026?

Let’s go through what makes the Meinl Pure Alloy Cymbals unique and what models are available now.

What has changed since 2021?

If you read the original version of this guide, here is the short version.

• The original models are still here. The medium hi-hats, crashes, rides, the 10” splash, the 12” Trash China and the 18” China we covered in 2021 all still appear to be on sale, though stock of individual sizes varies from shop to shop.
• Thin crashes have joined. Pure Alloy Thin Crashes are now available, with 16” and 20” sizes among them.
• A new Extra Hammered sub-series. First arriving in 2024, these have much deeper hammering for a warmer, more complex sound. You get hi-hats (14”, 15” and 16”) and 20” and 22” crash-rides, and in 2025 Meinl added a 10” splash, an 18” trash crash and an 18” china.
• A Benny Greb signature. The 14” Quick Sand Hi-Hats pair a sandblasted Pure Alloy top with a B20 bottom for a vintage, dry sound.
• Pure Alloy Custom has grown up. The lighter, brighter sister line we mentioned at the end of this guide in 2021 is now a full range of its own, and it is still getting new models.
• Prices have crept up. Expect roughly £275 to £330 for a pair of 14” medium hi-hats in the UK, and around $360 for a 20” medium ride in the US.

What are they made from?

The Meinl Pure Alloy Cymbals are made from a B12 bronze that was previously featured on the now discontinued Soundcaster Series cymbals.

Although they are made from B12, an alloy seen as subpar to B20, Meinl has a way of getting incredible sounds with their manufacturing techniques.

These Pure Alloy cymbals are made with computerized hammering, a fine lathe on top with a smooth finish and a fine lathe on the bottom without any smoothing.

The bells of the cymbals are not hammered but have the same finish as the rest of the cymbal.

This gives the cymbals a very clean and traditional look which is a step away from the raw finishes often seen on Meinl cymbals.

What do the Meinl Pure Alloy Cymbals sound like?

In general, the Pure Alloy cymbals are bright and do pack a punch. They aren’t as cutting as the Classic Custom line giving them more diversity to the playing situations.

That being said, although intended for a wide variety of playing styles, these cymbals will sound best in amplified band scenarios. The brightness is likely too much for a jazz ensemble.

The cymbals also have a wide dynamic range with them responding well to light touches through to big bow hits.

If you are looking for cymbals with a lot of character these won’t be the option for you.

These cymbals are very clean delivering a precise sound.

What cymbals are available?

When we first wrote this guide, the Meinl Pure Alloy line had a relatively small selection available. It has grown since, but the core medium-weight models below are still the heart of the range, with all the key cymbals you would expect. We cover the newer additions further down.

Meinl Pure Alloy Medium Hi-hats

Available in either 14” or 15” these hi-hats are very crisp and respond nicely at all dynamic levels.

They also wash nicely when open making them perfect for rock playing.

If you are looking for some extra depth of sound the 15” hats are the ones to look at. These are a truly great pair of hi-hats.

• Sizes available: 14” or 15”
• Weight: medium

Meinl Pure Alloy Medium Crashes

There is a good selection of sizes available when it comes to crashes. If you are a fan of big crash cymbals these are worth considering.

The crash cymbals in this series do shine. They are bright and cutting but have a nice wash when used in a beat.

The larger crash cymbals (20+) also work nicely as a ride. The bells sound clear with a nice definition on the body of the cymbal.

• Sizes available: 16”, 18”, 19”, 20”, 22”
• Weight: medium

Meinl Pure Alloy Medium Rides

Like the crashes, there are some big rides here. They have a nice clear sound with a good stick response when played on the body.

The bells have are very pure without much character as you would expect but they are cutting.

These rides are also great for crashing. They are just light enough to avoid the gong sound you can get on some rides.

• Sizes available: 20”, 22”, 24”
• Weight: medium

Meinl Pure Alloy 10” Splash

In 2021 this was the only splash in the Pure Alloy range, which was a shame as it is a great sounding cymbal. It is still the only medium splash, but it now has company in the 10” Extra Hammered Splash (more on that below).

This splash produces a nice clean tone with a medium sustain.

There isn’t much to say about this cymbal, it is what you would expect from a bright splash and sounds great.

• Size available: 10”
• Weight: medium

Meinl Pure Alloy 12” Trash China

Still only available in one size, the 12” Trash China does pack a punch.

This gives you a quick trashy yet bright burst of sound. This cymbal also features a quick cutting pattern the cymbal to produce the sound.

This cymbal has a lot in common with the Sabian AA Holy Chinas and is a great lower-cost alternative to these.

We hoped back in 2021 that the range of sizes would be expanded. That has not happened for this model, but if you want a bigger trashy Pure Alloy, the 18” Extra Hammered Trash Crash now fills that gap.

• Size available: 12”
• Weight: medium

Meinl Pure Alloy 18” China

Once again there is only one size of this type of cymbal, although there is now an 18” Extra Hammered China too.

That being said, it sounds amazing. This china is very bright and cutting. It is perfect for accenting with the snare or riding in a beat.

• Size available: 18”
• Weight: medium

What has been added to the Pure Alloy range since 2021?

This is where most of the action has been.

Meinl Pure Alloy Extra Hammered

The first Extra Hammered cymbals arrived in 2024, and Meinl has been adding to them since. As the name suggests, they have much deeper hammer marks than the standard Pure Alloy models, which gives them a warmer sound with more complex overtones and a faster decay. They are still made in Germany with Meinl’s computerised hammering, so every one sounds consistent.

The line-up includes:

• Hi-hats: 14”, 15” and 16”
• Crash-rides: 20” and 22”
• 10” Splash (added in 2025): a quick attack and fast decay, with a clean but warm tone
• 18” Trash Crash (added in 2025): punchy and warm, with hole cut-outs that dry the sound out
• 18” China (added in 2025): a middle ground between a dirty, traditional china and something more controlled

If you liked the idea of Pure Alloy but found the medium models a little too clean, these are the ones to try. If you want to compare the trash crash with something hand-hammered, see our guide to the Meinl Byzance Trash Crash.

Meinl Pure Alloy Thin Crashes

Thin crashes have joined the standard range too, with 16” and 20” sizes available. These are the ones to look at if you want a faster, more explosive crash than the medium models.

Benny Greb Quick Sand Hi-Hats

The 14” Quick Sand Hi-Hats are a signature model for Benny Greb. The top cymbal is sandblasted Pure Alloy and the bottom is B20 bronze, with a sound notch in the bottom to stop air-lock. The result is a dry, vintage ’70s funk and jazz kind of sound, which is a world away from the bright, clean medium hats.

Final thoughts

If you are looking for a bright set of professional-grade cymbals these are still a great option in 2026.

They have a beautiful classic finish with a clean bright sound. Sure, they aren’t going to be to everyone’s taste but what cymbals are?

And not to mention, these are cheaper than most equivalent pro line bright cymbals due to Meinl’s machining technology.

In 2021, our only real complaint was the selection of cymbals available. Meinl has answered that since. Rather than simply adding more sizes of the medium models, it has built out the Extra Hammered sub-series, added thin crashes and given Benny Greb a signature hi-hat. The only downside now is that some of the effects cymbals, like the 12” Trash China, are still only made in one size.

Meinl has also kept growing the second line of Pure Alloy cymbals, the Meinl Pure Alloy Custom line. These are lighter weight, feature a unique finish and are well worth a look too.

Want to explore the rest of the brand? Head over to our Meinl Cymbals hub, or ask our Gear Guru which Pure Alloy set suits your playing.

What do you think of these cymbals? Let us know in the comments.