Best 12" Splash Cymbals for Progressive 2026
Perfect 12" splash cymbals for progressive - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 12" Pure Alloy Custom Splash
by
Meinl
Unique Setups
Special Effects
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic character and presence
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
Meinl 12" Pure Alloy Custom SplashSplash CymbalSize: 12"Pure Alloy Custom SeriesWarmslightly washed-out tone...
⭐
4.6/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 557716
$186
#2
⭐
4.9/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Mehmet 12" Splash Samatya Series
Progressive
Creative Applications
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Great for special effects and accents
✓ PROS
- • Unique sonic character and presence
- • Professional specialty applications
✗ CONS
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
Istanbul Mehmet 12" Splash Samatya Series12" SplashSamatya seriesBrillant finishModernfast responding...
⭐
4.9/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 312217
$182
#3
⭐
4.4/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Zultan 12" Mellow Splash
by
Zultan
Special Effects
Experimental
Creative Applications
Key Feature:
• Great for special effects and accents
✓ PROS
- • Professional specialty applications
- • Unique sonic character and presence
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
Zultan 12" Mellow SplashSplash CymbalSize: 12"Mellow SeriesMaterial: B20 bronze alloyReduces the cymbal...
⭐
4.4/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 561613
$164
#4
⭐
4.9/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Zultan 12" Splash 25
by
Zultan
Unique Setups
Progressive
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic character and presence
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Blurs line between splash and crash
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
Zultan 12" Splash 25Splash Cymbal25th anniversary seriesSize: 12"Material: B20 BronzeHigh-quality cymbal...
⭐
4.9/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 611983
$109
#5
⭐
4.5/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 12" Byzance Extra Dry Splash
by
Meinl
Special Effects
Progressive
Unique Setups
Key Feature:
• Professional specialty applications
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Unique sonic character and presence
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
Meinl 12" Byzance Extra Dry SplashSplashByzance seriesSize: 12"Natural finishMaterial: B20...
⭐
4.5/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 334224
$218
#6
⭐
4.7/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Agop 12" Xist Splash Brilliant
Creative Applications
Experimental
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Distinctive visual and audio impact
✓ PROS
- • Unique sonic character and presence
- • Professional specialty applications
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
Istanbul Agop 12" Xist Splash BrilliantSplash CymbalSize: 12"Xist SeriesBrilliant finishMaterial: B20 bronze...
⭐
4.7/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 382846
$138
#7
⭐
4.6/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
10/10
Paiste 12" PSTX DJs 45 Ride
by
Paiste
Progressive
Special Effects
Creative Applications
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic character and presence
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
- • Blurs line between splash and crash
Paiste 12" PSTX DJs 45 RideRide CymbalPSTX SeriesSize: 12"Inspired by Daru JonesMinimalist ride for...
⭐
4.6/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 407610
$86
#8
⭐
4.8/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Paiste 12" 900 Color Sound Splash PRP
by
Paiste
Unique Setups
Fusion
Experimental
Key Feature:
• Professional specialty applications
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Unique sonic character and presence
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • Blurs line between splash and crash
Paiste 12" 900 Color Sound Splash PRPSplash CymbalSize: 12"900 Color Sound seriesMade from B8 (2002)...
⭐
4.8/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 440045
$94
#9
⭐
4.9/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
10/10
Millenium 12" Still Series Splash Red
by
Millenium
Progressive
Experimental
Creative Applications
Key Feature:
• Great for special effects and accents
✓ PROS
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
- • Unique sonic character and presence
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
Millenium 12" Still Series Splash RedSplash CymbalSize: 12"Up to 80% quieter compared to a standard...
⭐
4.9/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 552898
$32
#10
⭐
4.9/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 12" Classics C. Dual Trash Sp.
by
Meinl
Special Effects
Experimental
Creative Applications
Key Feature:
• Maximum splash volume and projection
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
✗ CONS
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
- • Limited practical applications
Meinl 12" Classics C. Dual Trash Sp.Trash Splash CymbalSize: 12Material: B-12 BronzeFinish: Dark / BrilliantWarm...
⭐
4.9/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 528033
$120
#11
⭐
4.8/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Zultan 12" Q Splash
by
Zultan
Experimental
Fusion
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Maximum splash volume and projection
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • Blurs line between splash and crash
Zultan 12" Q SplashSplash CymbalSize: 12"Q-SeriesMade of B-20 bronzeDark & deep with incredible dynamic...
⭐
4.8/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 415090
$105
#12
⭐
4.5/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
8/10
Paiste 12" 900 Color Sound Splash RED
by
Paiste
Creative Applications
Unique Setups
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic character and presence
✓ PROS
- • Professional specialty applications
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
✗ CONS
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
Paiste 12" 900 Color Sound Splash REDSplash CymbalSize: 12"900 Color Sound SeriesMade of B8 (2002)...
⭐
4.5/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 531528
$94
#13
⭐
4.9/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Agop 12" Xist ION Splash Brilliant
Unique Setups
Special Effects
Experimental
Key Feature:
• Maximum splash volume and projection
✓ PROS
- • Professional specialty applications
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
Istanbul Agop 12" Xist ION Splash BrilliantSplash CymbalSize: 12"Xist ION seriesBrilliant finishMaterial: B20...
⭐
4.9/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 382939
$146
#14
⭐
4.9/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
9/10
Millenium 12" B20 Splash
by
Millenium
Experimental
Fusion
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Maximum splash volume and projection
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Unique sonic character and presence
✗ CONS
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
- • Limited practical applications
Millenium 12" B20 Splash, Splash, Size: 12", Material: B20 bronze, Fast responding splash with full energy
⭐
4.9/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 337914
$30
#15
⭐
4.8/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
8/10
Paiste 12" 900 Series Splash
by
Paiste
Creative Applications
Experimental
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Professional specialty applications
✓ PROS
- • Unique sonic character and presence
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
✗ CONS
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
Paiste 12" 900 Series SplashSplash CymbalSize: 12""900" SeriesMade of B8 (2002) bronzeShort sustain...
⭐
4.8/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 407490
$90
How to Choose the Best 12" Splash Cymbals
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced 12" splash cymbals typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
