Saying that Vinnie Calaiuta has always been a fan of Paiste is an understatement. When he made the switch to Paiste he said that the 602s were A classic cymbal that I remember from many years ago. They were very sought after, and used by a lot of contemporaries that I had heard and loved and that their reintroduction showed a commitment to something important to sound. Paistes commitment to sound has continued with the release of their new Formula 602 Modern Essentials line. This series was co-designed by Paiste and Vinnie Calaiuta himself. Vinnie is no stranger to teaming up with endorsers to create new and exciting gear. In fact, he spearheaded the design of the Zildjian A Customs in the early 90s. Looking at his track record, its easy to see why Vinnie has been one of the industrys top dogs for so long. Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Megadeath, Chick Corea, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Ray Charles, The Beach Boys, & Tori Amos have all called on Mr. Calaiuta when they needed some to hold down the beat the way only Vinnie can. With such a vast range of material and heavy work load, Calaiuta needed something that was not only extremely versatile but incredibly consistent. The 602s were exactly that, the Modern Essentials are simply a new twist on the classic formula. With heavier hammer marks, not unlike the Signature Traditionals; these cymbals are rich, warm, lush, and complex. The heavier hammer marks really helps focus in the sound of these cymbals. They have an overall darker fundamental while still being incredibly crisp with a sharp and at times bright attack. These chinas are crisp, sharp, and penetrating with that classic harsh sound weve all come to know and love. After sitting down with these for a while we have to say, these things are no joke. The Formula 602 Modern Essentials are sure to please even the most discerning of players and compliment whatever style of music youre playing. So grab yours today and see the beauty of fusing both