Nefertiti Finger Cymbals/Zills/Zils

Wow! These finger cymbals just sound incredible! I took a chance on these, but only because I had yet to read a review written by an actual percussionist. These had the most positive reviews of any other finger cymbal that I'd seen, so I bought some. And as someone who has been playing drums and percussion almost 20 years, I can tell you that not only do these cymbals sound incredibly sweet to my ears, (very bright, not too dry, even tone with a SMOOTH decay that lasts just right, IMO) they also are of an incredible value! The booklet says that each pair will sound unique, but the pairs that I have sound just like I imagined they would. I honestly can't tell you enough of how pleasantly surprised I am with these things. The only thing I'm not crazy about, is having to make your own finger straps/bands from one piece of elastic that is provided. That may not be such a problem for others. For myself, it was kind of a disappointment, since I wanted to start recording with them right away. Instead, I'll have to cut/trim/sew little bands for myself before I do, or find some other way to get the same result. But, for my purposes, that is really a minuscule issue. The real value, as I said before, lies with the quality of the cymbals themselves. Bottom line, I'd totally buy these again. ShimmyShimmy also shipped them promptly and they actually arrived sooner than I expected, so that was a plus! So, if you're a dancer who wants some finger cymbals these are pretty, don't seem to weigh much (1 pair feels like about 3.5 ounces) and should do the trick for you. But, if you're a percussionist and you're looking to add some earthy, World elements to your music, snatch these up! Seriously, I don't think you'll find better ones, for the price. Pfft, I'd even stack these up against a pair of "high-end" high-priced finger cymbals and when all is said and done, I'd still run to these puppies. I'm SO glad I took a chance on these. I think you will be, too.

These cymbals are nicely weighted, look and feel nice. The only reason I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars is because there is some assembly of the bands required. A bit of a pain since I'm not very domestic I had to actually go out and purchase a needle and thread to sew them on, LOL!!!

Got these for belly dancing. They are a darker gold in person and came with black elastic for me, but I don't mind that at all. They sound great, a nice pure chime and even a really pretty closed clack, plus the look neat on my shelf when I'm not using them. They're a common installation on my alter.

These zills give the perfect sound for a beginner. I bought some cheap ten dollar brass ones that sounded horrible. After hearing the sound that these give off I wanted them! Way better product for only ten dollars more. Best belly dancing brand too!

Quite beautiful and a nice weight, but you have to cut the elastic, thread it through and sew the raw ends together. I don't have a sewing machine and I'm not sure what hand stitch to use or how much slack to leave. The instructions don't give any guidance. Does anybody have any suggestions?

Easier to get the sound you want

My wife had been wanting a good set of Zills for a while now. Up to this point she'd been using a very cheap set she got in a tiny "Mini Bellydance Kit" way back in the day. Here's what I can tell you about them... (other than the fact that my wife loves them of course. :) )They're much more "gold" in color than the picture might make you think... so don't be surprised when they aren't that pretty silver-ish tone. Also... they have a very long "ring" to them... IE when struck together once, the zills will continue to resonate for a very long time unless silenced. My wife enjoys the sound and effect.

These zills are just wonderful, with a lovely tone and ring to them. They are Saroyan, which I definitely think should be mentioned! The only other pair I've had was a cheap pair, and the difference in sound quality between that pair and these is night and day. They also shipped quickly, even during the holidays. A fantastic purchase!