A few years ago, I assembled a video comparing six different 20" K Zildjian rides ( • Comparing 6 different ... ). Since then, I sold one…and acquired several others. So here is an updated video with nine cymbals. All of the cymbals but one are K Zildjian rides. All but two are 20 inches.
Here’s what you'll see and hear:
-K Sweet Ride/K Ride/K Ride: 0:04
-K Constantinople Medium Thin Low/K Constantinople Medium Thin High/K Pre-Aged Light Ride: 1:57
-K Jazz Ride/K Heavy Ride/FX Raw Crash: 3:58
21" K Zildjian Sweet Ride
I just bought this the other day. I like it. It reminds me quite a bit of my 20” K Zildjian ride (which you’ll hear right after the Sweet Ride), except that the Sweet Ride is a bit milder and less defined. Maybe because it’s a 21" cymbal, it also takes slightly more muscle to put in motion. Not sure yet how frequently I'll reach for it.
20" K Zildjian Ride
I bought this one a few years ago, and it sounds different than my earlier K Ride-a little more high end. The Sweet Ride actually gives me some newfound appreciation for this one, because I like the definition this has.
20" K Zildjian Ride (older)
I think I bought this one around 2001 or 2002, but it was made in the 1990s. This has been my go-to all-around rock cymbal for many years. It has plenty of definition, a nice bell, and you can crash it a bit. It’s darker than the newer K Zildjian Ride.
20" K Zildjian Constantinople Medium Thin Low
I bought this used a few years ago, and at first, I wasn’t sure I liked it. It's definitely low pitched and softer in volume (and in feel) than my other cymbals. The crash is trashy and there’s not really a distinct bell sound. Then I started recording with it, and now I love it. The low overtones kind of fade away in rock recordings, and you’re left with a very dry, not-piercing, defined ride cymbal. This has become one of my favorite all-time rides, and I love to crash it as well.
20" K Zildjian Constantinople Medium Thin High
I bought this after the Medium Thin Low because I thought, "I'd love the Constantinople if only it were a little higher pitched." Well, this is definitely a little higher pitched. But interestingly, it doesn't quite have the same definition in recordings. And frankly it doesn't have the complex character of the Medium Thin Low. Don't get me wrong, this is an absolutely beautiful-sounding cymbal, but I reach for the Medium Thin Low more frequently than this one.
20" K Zildjian Pre-Aged Light Dry Ride
This one is a long-time favorite. I bought it in early-to-mid 1990s. It provides a light, washy sound for jazz, acoustic music, and other low-volume settings. There is some amount of stick definition, but it’s definitely washy. I love the clang-y bell and definitely love the crash. It developed a small crack last year, so I had to take a chunk out of it, but it still sounds great.
20" K Zildjian Jazz Ride
I bought this used a month or so ago. I wasn't sure what it was at first ( • What is this mystery K... ), since a previous owner had rubbed out the model name. But there is a serial number, so the kind folks at Zildjian told me that this is in fact a Jazz Ride from 1998. I like it. It's the most A Zildjian-like cymbal ride I have. There are not a lot of complex tones, but it sounds nice. There’s good definition, a nice bell, and a good crash sound. The large-ish bell makes it actually sound very crash-like, and I thought at first that it might be a Crash Ride. I'll probably keep it, but I’m not sure.
20" K Zildjian Heavy Ride
I bought this new in the late 1990s. Very ping-y. It definitely cuts through loud music very well-in fact, sometimes the bell is downright piercing. Not particularly crashable. And true to its name, it's heavy! When I’ve played this in videos before, people like it. But to be honest, I haven't played it live or used it on a recording in more than 20 years. So I might wind up selling it…And then of course, I'll promptly wish I hadn't.
Zildjian FX Raw Crash Large Bell
This is not necessarily a ride cymbal, but that's generally how I use it. Some people hate these raw crashes and many people think they're overpriced. But I love this one. I love the way it looks (raw and ugly!) and love the way it sounds (raw and trashy!). Very dry, defined ride sound and very gnarly, fast crash. I'm definitely keeping this one.
Equipment:
-Zildjian cymbals (obviously)
-DW maple drums
-Blue Hummingbird overhead mics and snare mic
-AKG D112 kick mic
-Apogee Element 88 A/D interface
-Logic Pro
-Fujifilm X100T camera
-Fujifilm X100V camera
-Final Cut Pro