Help With A Rivet Ride

[joeybeats]

Received a new Istanbul Mel Lewis 21" w/ Rivets today. It is a beautiful, handmade Turkish cymbal, as you all know.

I was thinking that I would take the next step with the softer/slower side of the jazz grooves as a beginner and obtain a ride with rivets, something to fit with my 21" Custom Special Dry Ride, a truly amazing cymbal.I have an oportunity to start playing with a pianist and a torch singer, so I need something soft. I also have a 22 K Con High Bell Thin Low which I have been using as a left hand ride. I will move it over my tom. Anyway, ordered the 21" Istanbul Mel Lewis and received it today.

Here is the deal ... the Mel Lewis sounds pretty close to the 22 K Con, only with rivets. I am not knocked out by it, (the two sound too similar) but perhaps that will change after it grows on me, who knows. I love the sizzle, but was thinking of having my drum shop send me a Peter Erskine Left hand ride and compare the two side by side. I would then return the one that didn't sound right with my kit. I have no shop near my town to test these out and don't have the time right now to get to a major city to check the cymbals out.

Is there another rivet ride you guys would suggest? Any thoughts about the two I have sounding the same, but for the sizzle? Would a Erskine Left compliment my set up better? I understand that much of this is personal taste and all, just wondering what you experienced jazzers think. I guess what I'm asking is this, what do you guys look for when matching up a set of cymbals like this? Thanks. Joey

[gretsch223]

Since I cannot hear the Mel Lewis and K Con in person...I can only give suggestions of other rivet rides to try:

19" Zildjian Armand Ride
20" A Custom Sizzle Ride
20" or 22" K Custom Left Side Ride (like you mentioned)

Another alternative is to buy a regular ride and install the rivets yourself or look for a drum shop that will do it for you.

Good cymbals that sound good with rivets (In my opinion):

20"/22 Bosphorus Hammer Ride
20/22" K Custom Medium Ride

Just to name a few.

Tape two dimes to the edge (where a rivet would usually be) of the cymbal you want to see how it will sound with rivets...It will give you an idea of what it would sound like.

[joeybeats]

Thanks, G, good input and much appreciated. I called the drum shop and they are sending me a Bosphoros w/rivets and an Erskine Left Hand. I will pick one out of the three. Thanks again. Joey

[Skitch]

Sorry - I got in on this late but I can tell you one ride cymbal which I do regret letting go of is my Sabian Jo Jo Meyer Fierce Ride with threee rivets. The sound was extremely intriguing. I also like the HH vintage ride and it only comes in 21" size, but a great sounding ride nonetheless!


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[joeybeats]

Thanks, Mike. They have those locally I think ... I will check one out. Joey

[Skynman]

Have someone play you cymbals while you listen to them about twenty feet away if you can even playing music and see how they sound if they blend well with the music etc. As far as having your rides sounding too close to each other see if they have a rivet ride in which ever series you like. Let me explain a little about cymbals to you. A full ride and medium ride and a Jazz ride all in the same series should be toned differently by the company but when you start mixing different companys and cymbals you will run into the problem you are having now then it comes down to finding the sound in the cymbals one by one that you want and it takes a lot of time to do that.

[joeybeats]

Have someone play you cymbals while you listen to them about twenty feet away if you can even playing music and see how they sound if they blend well with the music etc. As far as having your rides sounding too close to each other see if they have a rivet ride in which ever series you like. Let me explain a little about cymbals to you. A full ride and medium ride and a Jazz ride all in the same series should be toned differently by the company but when you start mixing different companys and cymbals you will run into the problem you are having now then it comes down to finding the sound in the cymbals one by one that you want and it takes a lot of time to do that.

Thanks, Skynman, good info. I will do the soundcheck once the new cymbals arrive. I think you have a good point regarding the different pitch of cymbals from the same mfg. I will report after I have all three in front of me. By the way, the Istanbul is sounding better and better as the week passes. It sounds awesome with the Custom Special Dark Rde It still sounds like crap with the Kcon though. Thanks again. Joey

[Skynman]

Joey it is not just the manufacturer it is the series like Zildjian K series or A series etc if the cymbal is in the same series like all thin crash or medium crash in the A series they will automatically work in combinations! If you were to have Zildjian A series medium thin crash cymbals and wanted more cymbals then see what that series has to add to what you already have and they will work together for example you have a 14 inch and a 18 inch and you wanted something in between then buy a 15,16, or 17 inch in that same series and it will sound right!

[Celereon]

Tape two dimes to the edge (where a rivet would usually be) of the cymbal you want to see how it will sound with rivets...It will give you an idea of what it would sound like.

Or you can do what I did and get a metal or silver bracelet or chain and drape it over the cymbal-may not be accurate but it sure sounds good and it cuts out some annoying overtones.
Cel.

[Bart Elliott]

Another option ... in the latest episode of the Drummer Cafe Video Podcast, I explain a very simple way to make your own Sizzle Cymbal with no drilling or the need to purchase any devices. All you need is a nickel and a piece of tape ... and it sounds great!

[mofle]

You could just do what my drum-teacher tought me, and take one of the cabasa ''rings'' off and hang it on the cymbal, it works!

-Mofle

[joeybeats]

Thanks for replies. I guess I feel a little silly buying a sizzle now that I know I could have used a $1 fix. Well, the shop was good enough to help so I won't be returning and will go with a purchase. The rest of you guys, take note of what these experienced players are suggesting. Thanks again. Joey