Soultone Cymbals endorsement program real or scam?

Soultone Cymbals has been around since 2003, lately we've been bombarded with their endorsement program where you become a Soultone endorser and they in return give you perks.

But these perks are they truly that good and what is behind this program? Is it a marketing strategy a scam? What does it do for you exactly?

It's more of a question of what does it do for them at the cost of you spending your money on a product thats you often can't even try out because of the lack of dealer network. Yet they push this program.

I'm in Canada where there is only one dealer for the entire country and it's not even close to me.

Watch my video and see the attached email screen shots of the communication between Soultone and myself in regards to this program.

[todd_hoffman_drums]

Todd Hoffman here, soultone artist as well! I love the explosion series line! Laura and everyone at soultone has been awesome to me! I was a sabian player for years! I’m soultone for life now!!!

[LivingDeadDrummer]

Some years back I wandered over to their booth at NAMM. As I began testing a cymbal a rep from the company came over and flat out offered me the endorsement. This guy didn’t know my name, who I was, who I played for. Nothing. For all he knew I could have been a bass player. But than was his first move. “We’ll make you an artist for the company.”

[turacjakub]

I agree with you. I wasn't sure too. But I called with Iki (owner of this brand) told him things you said here. He understood it but what is super fine is that, they can make any weight, size or "finish" you would like to with no difference in price. As a jazz player, weight is for me very important because each cymbal sound different because it is handmade. When you want to order custom cymbal, it cost around 800 - 1500€ for each cymbal. Here you can ask it for 100 - 300€. And they give me opportunity to sent it back if I wouldn't like it. They sent me my customised flat ride and I couldn't be happier with the sound. Of course it was kind of risky but for that price you have your customised cymbal and you can sent it back.

[Christianhetzelmusic]

I feel like when you get an endorsement they should give you a pack of various cymbals kinda like a sample pack and let you try them out before making a purchase on the kind you like the most and then you’ll be able to use those in videos and shows in the meantime which gives everyone publicity. How am I going to be endorsed by a company who expects me straight away to switch all my cymbals out and spend we’ll over 1500 bucks on cymbals that i don’t have personal experience with.

[timoopdebeeck]

Nice perspective, I was still doubting about joining. Also reading in the comments below how fast some of the cymbals broke, was valuable information. So it'll be a no for me.

[AlVelasquezDrums]

I am endorsed with Sabian and I must say, I’m a little confused by your video. For clarity, did you not originally say you approached SoulTone regarding an endorsement? If this is correct, it implies you were already familiar with their product line and previously used them. Who asks for an endorsement from a company they’ve never played??? It is not the responsibility of SoulTone or any company to provide talent access with their product line, rather, artists connect with their artist reps and go in person to their reps distribution warehouse. (LA for SoulTone). It is an artist’s decision to choose a product they believe in, have access to try product and provides them the backline distribution they need while on tour. Regarding prices, reduced price lists are very common for lesser known artists. . Neil, Bozzio, Weckl all have signature lines of cymbals. Their names are selling product. It sounds like you enjoy Sabian. Consider an endorsement request with them. Sabian has much better distribution, but everything else will be the same as SoulTone. In conclusion , there is nothing in SoulTones agreement that resembles a scam. Thank you. 🙏🏽

[dionsheds]

Glad I saw this video, they reached out to me too after applying for their endorsement program. I have to say though, although I 100% understand where you're coming from, their approach so far has been pretty good if I must say, went as far as to actually call and speak to me about my order (test order) which I loved the gesture.

I'm still on the fence of accepting the endorsement which I mentioned because I've never tried their cymbals before, especially here in Canada. Hoping that changes soon so I can decide if they're a great fit.

[thedrumsmith]

Hey man thanks for the video. As a kid who lives hours away from any music shops, what cymbals do you recommend brand wise which are reliable?

[AxelXJimenez]

I once had an endorsement with Soultone from around 2014 to 2016 and remember having similar thoughts with their endorsement program. I ended up getting 4 cymbals in total for a pretty nice discount and 3 of them are still running strong (hats, crash, ride) especially with playing very aggressive music and tons of gigs. Just started playing again more and was thinking about checking out the endorsement deal again but I wasn’t too sure. I think I’m just going to keep what I got and mix and match lol solid video though. Not sure if it’s necessarily a scam but it’s not for everyone.

[Memito_drums]

You just opened my eyes, it is 100% true all you say, this is the video I needed to see, they contacted me as well for their “endorsement” program, their only dealer in Georgia US is 4hrs away from me and their website is even down lol, Thanks for making this video and whish you the best ! #KeepDrumming

[BadgerBoy]

About 7 years ago i was in a band that had a big enough following to get "offered" an endorsement. We actually got sent a free cymbal from yhen to try out (from their Extreme series). The cymbal was nice but it broke fairly quickly (I've always been a Paiste guy and never had anything break that fast).

Additionally, i live in the UK and their artist prices were quite bad for here. The prices were lower than RRP, however, with import taxes and VAT added the artist prices ended up being exactly the same as the retail prices, so it was utterly pointless in going for the endorsement.

[gtdrums]

I went down the same rabbit hole with Soultone just as you have done. I didn’t know a lot about them, but I did see some artist I recognized, so I thought I’d give them a shot. Same situation, and even though I’m in the states, there’s nowhere near me that I can go and listen to these cymbals. I did manage to buy a set of hats, a splash and a ride at a yard sale, and while the ride is nice but not for me, the hats and splash are awesome! They still reach out periodically and ask if I’m still interested, but I don’t think I can after seeing this video.

[JoeJohnSoundsandVisuals]

I did the program. overall I didnt have any hiccups, but I did end up spending basically the same amount I would spend in general. so didnt really feel like there was a "discount", but I still do love my 21' megabell ride. This was pre covid, got my cymbals, pandemic, band split, so I only got to use them in the studio. I just never got back in touch with them, and I dont really get any emails from them anymore.

[johnsanchez]

Are all turkish cymbals, No matter what series, supposed to have an imprinted stamp of authenticity on them?

[mrnegronis]

I saw a video with a guy who had an endorsement with Soultone. He said some of the things you said here. One thing he said was that when he broke a cymbal prematurely, he contacted Soultone to get a replacement and they told him his warranty was expired so they would not replace it. The guy asked to be let out of the contract. So yeah, it looks like Soultone is using endorsements as a MLM Pyramid scam. 80/20 Drummer did a video on scam endorsements. It's worth checking out

[healthwealthrollcall]

I was offered the endorsement deal and I agree the prices are not that great and the promotion isnt gonna do much for me except the fact I need new cymbals and the 4 cymbal pack seems like a fair price and if I can get the credit plan I will pull the trigger on it. However, I would be very disappointed if I wasnt happy with the cymbals and, I would not even consider replacing all my cymbals to endorse Soultone if I already had cymbals I was pleased with because the prices are better than retail but if Im gonna commit to a contract I would expect a little better price Im pretty much a poor person at the moment so I can see taking the chance that the cymbals are not exactly the best cymbal I could ever want. Its a marketing thing to sell cymbals basically but I imagine I will take the offer, Thanks for the review I would agree with everything you said.

[dfisk]

Soultone does not sell through dealers. They only sell direct to customers. You will not find their products in any drum shop. In an effort to grow the brand they pretty much let anyone be an “endorser”. This means you buy their cymbals at some sort of discount. It’s because of the fact they make any drummer that asks an endorser that no retailer will bring on their products. Why would a retailer want to compete with a manufacturer that will undercut the dealers?

I don’t think it’s a scam, but it’s nowhere near like having an endorsement deal with Zildjian, Sabian, or Paiste because it doesn’t mean anything special if pretty much anyone can get the deal.

[andrewphillips]

Bought a used kit that had a set of Soultones. The series was a Zildjian K knock off. They weren't horrible but they didn't work for what I was playing. I prefer Zildjian A or Z Customs and I have no shame buying used gear.

[drummerhoward]

Iv been soultone Cymbals artist sins 2012 i got play them at uk drumshow in 2011. I live in England and alway had good relationships with them.
When on tour in uk if i crack a Cymbal id get released one next day.

I also got free namm pass every year from them and got to film videos at soultone Cymbals hq when in Los Angeles.

Also iv worked in a drum shop and tryed lots brands and had some big brands crack on me 2 days after getting them.

Also im sic artist to got try there gear out at local drum shop iv been with them sins 2012 to.

And when United airlines lost my checked luggage that had lots soultone gear in it they replaced it.

[scottbakes]

Currently in the middle of trying to figure out if i should go for it. U.K