Happy family addition:K Custom 22" Dark Ride

[Steamer]

Well after coming to the conclusion that the Zildjian K Constantinople 20" light I recently aquired is THE definitive piano trio cymbal at least in regards to my sample IMHO and looking for a beefier brother for it I went yet again on a cymbal hunt. Actually the 20" K Con Light is best small group jazz ride i've ever heard or owned around this neck of the woods. Still wanted something with a little more power well doing outdoor gigs or driving a loud 17 piece Big Band so after another week of cymbal testing I came home today with a new family member to add to my recent new Zildjian family a Zildjian K 22" Custom Dark Ride. A superb ride cymbal and a nice compliment to the 20" K Con light or a great stand alone 22" ride for certain settings and gigs.

Man does this have a deep rich warm sound with a nice spread and wash and a great stick sound with a wood tip stick. Great crash and bell sound too and lots of full power/volume to spare well still keeping a nice simmering underlying wash. The cymbal even though being somewhat dark in character has a nice bright energy and cut when needed. One of the general sound qualities on several of the K Custom line of cymbals i've noticed. It's going to deliver the goods for it's intended use in musical situations and fits fine with the rest of my new Zildjian family.

Just for reference here's a list of the contenders I tried out before settling on the 22" K Custom Dark Ride ride as my new addition.

22" K Custom Dry Complex Ride,Thin
22" K Custom High Definition Ride
22" Sabian Artisan Ride
22" Sabian Manhattan Ride
22" K Con Medium
22" K Con Med Thin,Low
22" K Con Medium Thin,High
22" K Custom Dark Ride {from another shop, not a great sample}

All had certain qualities to some degree or another I liked but the one I picked had everything I was looking and looking for all rolled into one 22" ride. The 22" K Custom Dark ride {#2} I found had the sound I was after and thanks again to Mike at Tom Lee in Vancouver for his help and assistance and second ear during the cymbal testing and comparisons.

[Steamer]

Oh another couple of things about it's sound. It has almost has a slight built in sizzle sound blended and mixed into the wash during a ride pattern. It also never loses the stick sound during a hard up tempo ride pattern and does not build up or get out of control just a nice dark simmering underlying cushion to the stick sound with a nice pleasant mix of overtones even when played hard and fast. Comes back quick to hearing the ride stick pattern after a loud crash also. Certainly not clangy sounding either like the 22" K Custom Dry Complex Ride,Thin I tried this week or some but not all of the early 90's discontinued 22" pre-aged dry light rides i've heard.

In many ways it sounds very similar to Tony Williams late 80's early 90's standard American made Zildjian K 22" ride.

A real keeper!. Great stuff again Zildjian.

[tamadrummer132]

I COVET YOUR DARK RIDE.

its now my favorite cymbal.. and i found one on craigslist for 185. stupid broke me..

[Steamer]

I COVET YOUR DARK RIDE.

its now my favorite cymbal.. and i found one on craigslist for 185. stupid broke me..


It will be worth the wait. To bad you couldn't snag that good deal

Local dealer matched the lowest price offered by another shop today and added a lower discount onto that price. Oh happy day!

[Steamer]

A few more comments on the 22" K Custom Dark Ride after further use. First off I really feel Zildjian hit the mark on this 22" Custom Dark model K ride. A real winner in the Zildjian product line. Combines several elements of alot of rides I like rolled into one 22" cymbal.

To me it appears to have very versatile sound that can be used in a wide variety of musical situations. If you use in it in softer situations it provides a very good warm wash and defined stick sound with a interesting almost rivet cymbal like quality sizzle sound built into the overall character of the cymbal. Just a slight sizzle sound that adds a nice simmering element to a quieter small group setting. When used in a louder situation it's sound really speaks well coming through with lots of clarity and power providing good musical support also with an excellent clear bell for latin feels and such. Very effective as a full crash too when needed in a louder group well still being able to jump back to a ride stick sound right away no problem.

One other thing I discovered is when paired with my 20" K Con light as my 2 main rides it really shows the unique character that the K Con 20" light possesses and for backing different instruments during solos provides quite an interesting sound/feel contrast to a live music performance.

[maddrummr]

AHHHH lucky lucky, i wish i had the money for new cymbals.

pics?

[Steamer]

AHHHH lucky lucky, i wish i had the money for new cymbals.

pics?


It was something I planned for quite some time now and took my time with my new purchases and kept my eyes out for the best deals well putting the whole new Zildjian family together. A good local cymbal selection and competitive dealer competition made the task easier on my pocket book.

No pic of the 22" yet but i'll see what i can do.

[Steamer]

Okay here's a pic of my new Zildjian K Custom 22" Dark Ride as requested:

[Steamer]

Finally gave this new K 22" dark ride a real good workout at a debut concert of all original works including a new 5 part suite by the groups co-leader of a performance of a new 17 piece Big Band tonight in Vancouver. I'm am totally knocked out with it's sound and incredible dynamic range and response and killer ride stick sound. Anyone considering a very versatile ride that can cover a serious amount of musical ground very well should keep the Zildjian K Custom 22" Dark Ride on their short list IMO.

The guys in the band sure took notice of this Zildjian K Custom ride and were full of compliments on it's sound tonight. The rest of my new Zildjian set sure left the same positive impression on my fellow musicians. Yes folks Zildjiian is still making GREAT cymbals.

[Drummer Karl]

Wow, first the Special Dry hats and now this. Good choice, though I was never really able to try a K Custom Dark Ride...but the sounds on zildjian`s website match with your description of it...

PS: I recently played on 13" Special dry hats again...seriously: That was amazing.
Good taste.

Karl

[Steamer]

Yes Karl the 14" special dry hats and the 22" dark ride make for a dandy combo.

Here's a link to some good sound files Karl for the K Custom 22" Dark Ride and also various other Zildjian K's:


http://www.cymbalsonly.com/cymbals/zildjian/zildjian.htm

[rendezvous_drummer]

You were directed through Mike Ramos right? Yeah that guy is extemely helpful.

[Steamer]

Right you are. Mike Ramos at Tom Lee is tops on my list for customer service.

We were both knocked out with the sound of that 22" K custom dark ride during our test and comparisons to several other rides in the store. Mike has a good ear for cymbals too and is very helpful to work with and as a second ear during cymbal testing.

[somedrummer]

Sounds like a great cymbal, certainly is beautiful! From what you've described, it sounds a lot like my 22" K Ride. I havent heard a side by side comparison, but just from your description, they sound similar. By the way, I love mine too.

[Steamer]

Yes it has the nice built in sizzle sound quality you hear on several of the regular K 22" rides well having a nice low fundamental pitch and wash well still maintaining a great present stick sound. Like I say very similar to the standard modern K 22" ride Tony Williams used for many years. Love that underlying wash sound that his and other similar modern K rides give. It's like the sound of surf coming in on the fine sand well your riding. Glad to hear you have a keeper too.