Blue Strat Posted December 19, 2002 Share Posted December 19, 2002 What's your favorite ride cymbal? I've got a Sabian, and I'm not too thrilled with it. It doesn't "ping" like I'd like it to. What do you guys and gals look for in a cymbal? BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted December 20, 2002 Share Posted December 20, 2002 Man... ride cymbals are tricky. They have so much complexity, and there are so many differences even between individual cymbals of the same model. I almost have to say forget brand names and models, and just go to a drum shop and try a whole bunch of individual ones. Pawn shops can even yield good ones sometimes, you just never know where you'll find that gem. In general, heavier cymbals with a larger bell produce more "ping" and less body, lighter cymbals/smaller bell have more evenness between the ping and the body. Most drummers have more than one ride so they can get different "flavors" for different material. In all rides you have to watch out for "clankiness" in the cymbal body. How it "pings" is kinda up to your personal taste. My own ride cymbal is a 22" Zildjian K. It's all right, but is a bit heavy/has too much ping/not enough body for a lot of the things I like. On some things it sounds good, other things not so good. I really like the sweetness and fullness of a really good old jazz ride. The drummer in my band has an old 20" Zildjian that sounds PERFECT to me... perfectly balanced, no clankiness at all, really full without being overbearing, and the ping doesn't take your head off. It wouldn't sound good on a metal record, mine would probably be better for that, but that's why it's good to have different rides. If anybody's interested in hearing a comparison, here is an MP3 of a song which features my ride cymbal, and this one features our drummer's ride (the one I'm so fond of). Same drummer, same cymbal brand/size, same room - very different sounds! Good luck on your quest for the holy grail of ride cymbals, I'm still on mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dayvel Posted December 26, 2002 Share Posted December 26, 2002 20" Paiste Formula 602 Medium Ride. Unfortunately they haven't made them for quite a while. They turn up on Ebay now and then for $300-$400.Mine lost a triangular chunk out of the bell a while back, but I love it so much that I fiberglassed over the missing piece. Can't get much of a bell sound out of it, but it's still the best ride cymbal I've ever played.Failing that, a well selected 60's A. Zildjian 20" Medium Ride is a pretty good substitute. Modern rides just suck: they're just too damn bright, especially for digital recording. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassdrummer Posted December 27, 2002 Share Posted December 27, 2002 The Sabian HHX 21" Groove Ride, and the Sabian HHX Dave Weckl Evolution 20" Ride. Great ping from the unlathed bell, and you can crash the edges. Sweet wash of overtones, very responsive cymbals. Powerful too! "All the world's indeed a stage, and we are merely players..." --Rush, "Limelight" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECBRules Posted December 27, 2002 Share Posted December 27, 2002 I have four ride cymbals for different applications. 1: Sabian Raw hand hammered dry ride. Think Miles Davis - Kind of Blue 2: Sabian Rock ride. great rock cymbal nice bell 3: Paiste signature full ride. traditional wet ride cymbal 4: Zildjian K flat ride. Great effect cymbal http://www.kennyruyter.com/old/cowmix.mp3 <- Cowbell fever REMIX oh damn!!! http://www.eastcoastbands.com aka: ECBRules . thisOLDdude . keny . Scooch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeke Smith. Posted December 27, 2002 Share Posted December 27, 2002 I have a Zildjian 20" K Custom Ride that I'm very happy with, having a nice ping and a little bit of wash without being too bright, gongy, or clanky-sounding. Records excellently, although it's too loud for most acoustic music. I went through several rides searching for happiness until I found this one. Also just picked up a Paiste Dimensions 20" Dry Ride, which is a nice, quieter cymbal, still along the lines of the above, but better in smaller, quieter musical settingd. Current live rig: Roland RD700SX, Hammond XK-3 with Leslie System 21, and Muse Receptor. Also a Nord Stage 76 other times instead. And a Roland FP-7 for jazz gigs. HOME: Kawai MP8 + a bunch of VI's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted December 28, 2002 Share Posted December 28, 2002 Paiste 2002 18" ride. it's the only Paiste in my set, and it is as close as I've heard to a perfect ride cymbal. I do not crash on it because I want it to last forever.... the drummer in my current band offered me serious $$ for it and I said NO WAY! I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip McDonald Posted December 28, 2002 Share Posted December 28, 2002 22" Bosphorus Turk EH Any 22" corroded old Paiste 26" Zildjian Impulse for the ultimate in annoying bell "tone". Lee's drummer does have a nice ride, nice overtone series, not too brash, not too long. I would think you should have both a "bell" and an "overtone" ride for practicality... and a dark overtone ride for added texture, or at least a large long sustain dark crash. Does anyone do that? Guitar Lessons in Augusta Georgia: www.chipmcdonald.com Eccentric blog: https://chipmcdonaldblog.blogspot.com/ / "big ass windbag" - Bruce Swedien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sign Posted December 30, 2002 Share Posted December 30, 2002 I have a Zildjian "ping ride", I believe 22" and it has the best ping I've ever heard so far.It has a smaller bell than most ride cymbals. So, if you want more ping: "ping ride" The alchemy of the masters moving molecules of air, we capture by moving particles of iron, so that the poetry of the ancients will echo into the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg A Posted December 30, 2002 Share Posted December 30, 2002 The Paiste 22" 2002 Power ride. This is a big, heavy cymbal with more than enough "ping" to go around. It may, in fact, be more ping than many people desire due to its loud volume and eternal sustain. I got this used at Long & McQuade music for a mere $175 Cdn. I've had many offers but will not part with it. Outstanding cymbal. Later -------------------------- Peace http://www.thetimecircus.com http://www.myspace.com/medullaoblongataband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.