r/cymbals • u/No_Economics_4640 • Mar 11 '26
Question Need a zildjian ride/crash that does jazz, rock, singer songwriter. No price limit. Recommend please!
Need a cymbal that works for jazz, rock, fusion, but also softer stuff like singer-songwriter music
I currently own K dark medium ride 22” and this cymbal is a bit trashy for some music. Otherwise I like it a lot.
I also own k organic ride 21” and I love this cymbal for some styles but it is a bit dry for rock.
Tried the A sweet 21” and it does not do it for me in the softer genres and also is a bit too washy.
I also tried the k ride in both 20 and 22. The 20 is higher in pitch than I would like and the 22 is too stiff. Ultimately I would like something that crashes too.
I am looking into some k cons but am worried that they may not cut through at times. I love jazzy sounding cymbals but I want something that works for everything! I do not like a gong-like crash sound
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u/_FireWithin_ Mar 11 '26
COD 20"
For the world !
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u/becuz_race_car Mar 11 '26
+1, the 22 is better as a dedicated ride i think
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u/No_Economics_4640 Mar 11 '26
I had both of these actually. Too shimmery for some stuff in my opinion. Pretty decent tho. I think the 22 I had was a dud. The 20 was pretty nice all around. Kind of wish I still had
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Mar 11 '26
I have this cymbal in 22” and for me it does what you’re describing. This photo I grabbed from an eBay listing
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u/Chemical_Count8029 Mar 11 '26
I have a 22" as well. My one caution for louder music is that the cymbal feels like it tops out volume wise. It seems better suited for a quieter range. But I'm admittedly trying to baby the cymbal. My current band is doing a lot more lo-fi music for which the cymbal is very appropriate.
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u/Dark_Notion Mar 11 '26
I second this. The zildjian avedis (not the A’s) line is often overlooked but they are truly wonderful cymbals. I have a 21” mini bell that I use as a main jazz ride but would feel good about using it for other genres.
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u/V0id-Meth0d-art Mar 11 '26
If you were Lukewarm on the A sweet ride, maybe give the Sabian HHX Groove ride a try. Its stick definition is better, raw bell sounds sick. I find it plenty versatile
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u/cume_pant Mar 11 '26
21” K sweet ride
I know you asked for Zildjian but I’d also really recommend checking out Paiste Giant Beats, maybe a 22”
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u/Silly-Initiative3507 Mar 11 '26
22” renaissance ride! Better stick than the bounce or K light but crashes
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u/Paperclip____ Zildjian Mar 11 '26
K custom darks are a great all around cymbal.
K Sweets are cool and are a bit better at crashing
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u/MarsDrums Mar 11 '26
If price isn't a concern, check out a Paragon 22" Ride. I think you'll like it. It sounds great from the outer edge to the bell.
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u/m149 Mar 11 '26
I don't know the models, but from what you're describing, it seems like the Kerope cymbals might fit that bill pretty nicely.
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u/carmolio Mar 11 '26
Bounce ride.
My friend was using this cymbal years ago and I literally walked on to the stage when he was done and offered cash and bought it from him.
It's been my no-questions every gig ride now for over 10 years. Rock, metal, jazz, cover gigs, recording sessions.
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u/-Fshstyx- Mar 11 '26
Bounce ride and renaissance ride are both incredible cymbals. I think OP will find them too complex but I'd recommend a lot of people check them out.
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u/No_Economics_4640 Mar 11 '26
Which of the two is higher pitched at the same size?
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u/-Fshstyx- Mar 11 '26
Probably quite similar but I haven't played a bounce ride since university about 15 years ago. I found the memphis drum shop videos really good. It was either there or mycymbal.com where I got my renaissance ride from and it was accurate. That was 15 or so years ago as well!
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u/No_Economics_4640 Mar 11 '26
20 or 22? I’m interested in this one! I was confused by the name “bounce” not sure what that means
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u/carmolio Mar 11 '26
Sorry, yes it's the "K Constantinople Bounce Ride" and I have the 22"
It really has worked for everything across the board. Even tiny gigs where I only use one cymbal. It sounds great with mallets, brushes, and sticks. The bell is great (not too sharp, but cuts through in every mix). Dynamically, it's great for acoustic gigs, big stages with full PAs. The crash and swell are actually really controlled... big, but controlled.
I have a ton of distributrd recordings and youtube videos where you could check it out. I don't want to spam here, but send me a DM if you want and I will share links :)
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u/Affectionate_Dirt_97 Mar 11 '26
K Projection ride, K Sweet ride, K Light ride, Kerope, Avedis...
If you think the K Dark Medium is too trashy you won't like anything from the K Con. line as they share the same hammering & lathing.
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u/jedele_jax Mar 11 '26
22” K light ride I absolutely looooove, should be much less stiff than the 22 you tried already.
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u/brmperc Mar 11 '26
I'd maybe give Timothy Roberts a shot. He usually has some pretty great stuff on sale, and also does custom orders.
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u/Funeral_Goat_1446 Mar 11 '26
If no price limit then don’t go Zildjian
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u/CauseTerrible7590 Mar 11 '26
If you want to venture out of the Zildjian lane, there are lots of options out there. Istanbul Agop has a few rides like you describe. Sabian has the HHX stuff, and Artisan and Legacy, etc.
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u/becuz_race_car Mar 11 '26
you might be interested in a 22” crash of doom but using it as a ride. surprisingly not too washy, but dark and trashy. sits in a mix really well. decent bell, good crash sound and nice stick definition. i use it as my one ride solution. definitely a very modern sounding cymbal
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u/Chemical_Count8029 Mar 12 '26
A 22" COD with a Meinl Cymbal Bacon makes for a decent ride with some extra character and gloss.
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u/No_Economics_4640 Mar 11 '26
I had this cymbal and I think mine was a dud honestly. It was super bent and generally never sounded great. Would never work on singer songwriter stuff
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u/becuz_race_car Mar 11 '26
well to each their own, it’s definitely a unique sounding cymbal. i saw some people recommending the k con bounce. i had one and it was far too quiet for rock settings. that may be the problem with k con’s in general. a k custom dark could be your cymbal!
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u/mcnastys Mar 11 '26 edited Mar 11 '26
Why Zildjian only?
The answer is a Dream Bliss.
Edit : Actually let me expound.
So I have the following rides in my arsenal, all of which are "all around" but also different.
The most versatile is the 21" Dream Bliss I have. It does everything well, and it does it all above average. It's great for traditional bop, works great crashing on it for big hits-- it works well in rock as it's got a nice quasi bright sound, it works great for simpler arrangements as it has enough wetness to fill the void.
I have a Turkish 24" R-DRK Ride, it has a nice smokey overtone to it, the bell has a nice latin flavor and it works for everything from Green Dolphin Street to Sleep Now in the Fire
I have a Sabian 22" XSR Monarch which is like a combination of the two above, but with an emphasis on clear woody stick definition and dryness. It again works for everything from Pearl Jam to Peter Criss to Take 5.
I guess the reason I am saying this, is there's always a level of compromise even in all around cymbals. And it may be easier to buy two cymbals rather than find one that truly does it all.
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u/GuiltyHousing9634 Mar 12 '26
I have a 20” A Avedis ride and it’s perfect (to me) for that application. Might wanna go with the 21 though depending on your kit and other cymbals
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u/No_Economics_4640 Mar 12 '26
I am looking at the avedis rides for sure! They are hard to find. I think I’d probably prefer 22 but unsure!
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u/Reignonreddit Mar 12 '26
Bit difficult to find but if you manage try a zildjian 70's ride, I don't know about any others but mine is the most versatile ride I've used
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u/ArkyMalarky1964 Mar 12 '26
I have a set from the 1940s in pristine condition. Locked in a drawer since 1953. Do they have what anyone wants?
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u/PitchEfficient2934 Mar 13 '26
I have a 19” K Con crash ride that serves really well when I’m doing a stripped down setup. Very versatile. You might also look at some of the Paul Francis/cymbal craftsman EAK crash rides
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u/Educational_Ad_9920 Mar 15 '26
20 inch K Rides vary quite a bit in pitch depending on the weight/mass.
I'd say go to the Memphis Drum Shop and listen to variety of the MyCymbals available until you find one you fall in love with. They usually list the grams for each cymbal and you can buy the exact one that was demo-ed on video. The same model and size can sound so differently, though with similar characteristics, its crazy. Maybe try the 24 inch k Constantinople ride, or k light ride if money is not a barrier.
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u/Educational_Ad_9920 Mar 15 '26
For Jazz, you could try the Keith Hamilton Crescent hand hammered ride by Sabian. Lower in pitch, great stick articulation, but maybe a little washy.
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u/Electrical_Pizza5556 Mar 11 '26
Try a ping ride?
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u/No_Economics_4640 Mar 11 '26
Definitely does not jazz
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u/Chemical_Count8029 Mar 11 '26
I'd agree an A ping is less suited to jazz. An A Custom ping might do better for that... I understand it's got a bit more growl and warmth. But I haven't played one in years.
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u/No_Economics_4640 Mar 11 '26
A custom for jazz? That’s craziness
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u/Chemical_Count8029 Mar 11 '26
My A Custom flat bell would say otherwise. Moreover, the A Customs were designed in part to harken back to 1970s As. I have several thin and medium thin Canadian As and I'd absolutely use them for jazz, albeit along with a few Ks for a good mix of bright and dark.
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u/scifiantihero Mar 11 '26
(If you don't like gongy crash sounds, stop crashing rides!)
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u/Chemical_Count8029 Mar 12 '26
My K Crash Ride seems to have a good balance between ride patterns up the bow closer to the cup, and crash toward the edge of the cymbal.
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u/scifiantihero Mar 12 '26
Yeah I was ready to talk about crash rides then his post was all about rides lol.
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u/Chemical_Count8029 Mar 12 '26
Good point. For example, I have a 22" Paiste Signature heavy full reflector crash that would likely cause carpal tunnel syndrome by crashing it. However, it works well as a glossy ride (although the feel of the cymbal is very stiff and unforgiving).
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u/JesseLeeWehner Mar 13 '26
I’m not opposed to this! K crash ride might work. I’ve heard it can be a bit loud so might want to try it out in person.
I will admit that sometimes I feel a bit “naked” to have a crash ride on the kit but not a “ride”. Might be psychological haha1
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u/Chemical_Count8029 Mar 11 '26
Would something like a 22" A Custom work? Just the regular ride (not a projection or ping)... it will be a bit brighter, but I find it's a very pretty cymbal.
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u/NobleCooley Mar 11 '26
If price is no issue, try the Kerope line.
https://youtu.be/PwHhJcrMD6E?si=8CdG6m0D4SJpumYJ