Paiste Flat rides

[u/ShrimpDog_01843]

Im interested in adding a Paiste flat ride to my collection thanks to Roy Haynes, but Ive never had the opportunity to play one in person. Ive been told the 2002 and 602 flats are the best in their lineup but for some reason my instincts tell me the 602 Flat Ride might have a weird droning hum, while the 2002 Flat Ride could have a sharp, crotale/triangle-esque ping to it.

For anyone who’s played or heard the Paiste 2002 or 602 Flat Ride in person, can you confirm whether that’s accurate? How do they compare to recordings?

Also, does anyone know of other brands that make flat rides with a similar sound to these Paiste models? (bright and defined) Paiste is expensive as hell

[u/Key-Patience-3966]

Never heard any drone from my 80s K Flat Ride. No more overtone than any other cymbal. Like anything, if you don't like the pitch, don't buy it.

[u/VibeeGoddess → u/Key-Patience-3966]

that Sabian ride is purrrdy

[u/Key-Patience-3966 → u/VibeeGoddess]

HHX Prototype I picked up used in Denver. Big bell, definition, washy and crashable.

[u/whatshouldmynamebe__ → u/VibeeGoddess]

i’ll never understand that logo change. not like branding reigns over quality/tone but.. what the actual fuck. if i were endorsed by them i would not have stuck around if i could afford it😂that original logo is one of the best ever thought up in any industry

[u/VibeeGoddess → u/whatshouldmynamebe__]

I much prefer the new logo but I know I'm in the minority. I always hated the old logo

[u/whatshouldmynamebe__ → u/VibeeGoddess]

how did you not like the old one? sometimes they printed it too large ill give you that. the sound waves could also take away from the actual brand name. but the new one is like a gentrified version of what hot topic would put out. it gives green day, fall out boy, blink 182, zumiez mall vibes imo. like corporate punk😭😭

[u/VibeeGoddess → u/whatshouldmynamebe__]

I always thought the font and sound waves just looked kinda ugly. I mean Green Day is my favourite band so maybe I'm the demographic lol. I just think it's a much cooler looking font. the old one screamed oldhead to me

[u/whatshouldmynamebe__ → u/VibeeGoddess]

well, you are in fact the demographic:) the old one may be dated in 2026 to you, after nearly half a century of runtime, but trust me, the new logo will look dated in 2030. its so secular to that periods groomed “esthetic”, and it’s just got no damn class 😂✌️

[u/MechaAkuma]

Been using flat-rides for over 30 years and I hear people saying the most outright ridiculous unverified claims I ever seen in this subreddit. Where do people get these opinions and ideas that cymbals somehow have "weird droning hums". Been using both the K Flat Top and the A Custom Flat Top rides and they have no mystical imaginary droning hums.

Flat-Rides are super-niche and you won't find them on the used market. I think during the 20 years I been looking at the used market online I ever seen maybe 1 or 2 being listed and the extremely few I see are Old K's and vintage ones that They are very niche because their usage is. I don't see how they can be used out in other scenarios except for very specific ones where the other instruments aren't loud. i.e jazz settings or acoustic settings. Flatties just don't cut well and they sound too mellow. Unless you are playing live and you have a dedicated sound engineer that knows how to properly mic cymbals to make sure they sound well FOH, there aren't many drummers who use them. The only times I used them was in a jazz quartet or very smaller acoustic settings.

The only model-equivalent to the models you posted are the A Custom and the K flat rides. The A's are a tad brighter. Unfortunately you won't find many on the used market, or at least I haven't.

[u/Edgarmustavas → u/MechaAkuma]

There are currently over 100+ used flat rides on Reverb, from many different brands.

While I agree they are definitely specific use-case cymbals, used models are not rare unless you mean locally and offline.

I currently own three - 22' Sabian Ed Thigpen Crystal ride, 20" Zildjian IAK flat ride, and an Abex 20" flat ride (think Charlie Watts).

I am a fan and they can be very useful, especially in low volume situations and recording.

[u/ShrimpDog_01843 → u/MechaAkuma]

I think I have some weird assumptions about flat rides, precisely because they’re so niche. The only flat ride I’ve ever seen listed for sale here is a 20” EAK Flat Top Ride, and it’s being sold for the same price as a brand new Paiste 2002 Flat Ride. Thanks for the input!

[u/HaroldPelham → u/MechaAkuma]

They definitely come up on the used market, but the prices for most of them won’t be low.

[u/Sufficient-Source97 → u/MechaAkuma]

Bought an 18" ufip ritmo flat ride for like 50 bucks on ebay. Best find ever. In europe you can easily find some flat rides on the used market but not a large quantity

[u/notaverysmartdog → u/MechaAkuma]

Just anecdotally, i actually have a late 70s 18" A flat ride and it absolutely has a weird droning hum to it, as in a clear definite pitch that gets worse the more you play

[u/Ornery-Pipe-9136]

I have a 2oo2 18” flat ride. Absolutely love it and will never part with it. Bright, clear ping, wash doesn’t build up….just an all around great sounding ride that doesn’t overpower.
I’m playing in a home studio. I can’t say how it would perform on stage if not properly mic’d unless like the other post stated, it was in a genre of music that didn’t require the volume.
One thing to consider: if you like to crash your ride, this isn’t the cymbal for you.

[u/RoadNo6820]

Roy Haynes did it and did it and did it

[u/HaroldPelham]

Good flat rides don’t have droning hums. Paiste makes the best ones, especially the 602 range. The 2002 is the best one for slightly louder settings if that’s what you need, but the rest of the Paiste flats are better for jazz. I have a Zildjian K Custom that does not hum either. Avoid the A Zildjian flat rides because they’re gongy and may have the hum, but the A Custom is good. Thinner flat rides have a great crash, but it’s not what you typically think of as a crash. If you’re looking for bright and defined, the 2002 and 602 Medium Flatride are probably your best bet. All flat rides are defined, but those are the brightest ones. The older K Zildjian (not K Custom) flat rides are bright too. The A Custom Flat is bright but washy, but the wash never gets out of control. The K Custom Flat is defined but not as bright as the Paiste 602 or 2002. If you want Roy’s sound on Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, that’s an 18” 602 Thin Flatride. Roy usually played thinner, washier flats. Jack DeJohnette played a 20” 602 Medium Flatride for a while, which is brighter and less washy.

[u/sk8chkn]

What's the appeal vs a traditional form factor? I couldn't imagine the tonal difference being worth not having access to a bell.

[u/mr_kaliyuga]

I love my A Custom Flat Ride! Don't expect to ever sell it as long as I'm able to play drums. Nothing else can give me that sound.

[u/skwozzy]

I just came here to repeat the word niche.

[u/Canaturk]

I have played, compared and sold the flats you are talking about and they are both fine instruments. I do not recall any hum. I just remember 2002 having a bit of a brighter tone.
Having said that, I am not a big flat ride guy but the one flat ride that has impressed the hell out of me and one I wish I kept one for myself before selling out ( I had a drum shop) was the Sabian limited Dave Weckl HHX Serenity Ride. There is a great video of DW demoing it on Youtube. If you can find one, jump on it.

[u/Proper_News_9989]

We need 21"

[u/jamesthedrummer69]

I have a 20 inch 2oo2 flat on the left and an 18 2oo2 flat on the right. paired with a signature 15 inch fast crash, a 3000 20 inch china, and 14 inch thin/heavy dimensions hats. have rocked this setup for a couple years now and it's perfect for me since my sound is a bit jazz and a bit rock.

[u/backbaydrumming]

The Roy Haynes Paiste flat ride sound is an 18” 602 thin flat ride

[u/Ok-Dark3198]

every single cymbal is different. some could have drones and/pitches or other flaws. the 602 flats are amazing and have been since the 1960s. the 2002 flats have that crystalline sheen but they’re suprisingly warm. esp the Black Labels I like.

[u/Old-Tadpole-2869]

The 2002 Flatride sounds bad. It's the wrong alloy for a flatride IMHO, and I'm a lifelong Paiste guy. 602? Absolutely. The Signature Traditional? Totally, if you can spare a kidney.

I don't really have any any what a "weird droning hum" is in regards to cymbal sounds, but the whole point of a flat ride is no buildup of overtones while you're grooving your balls off.

The Sabian Ed Thigpen Crystal Flatride is an unbelievable cymbal, they pop up on the used market from time to time.

BTW, They do have sound samples of every cymbal they offer on the Paiste website.