Blues ride cymbal

[dadndaddy]

Any recomendations for a great ride cymbal for blues? Using a 20'' A Custom Projection and it is not working well for blues. It's driving me crazy. I kinda like the K's and the HHX's.
any thoughts?

[OrangeAgent27]

That's a great question! I would be interested in this as well. I would imagine it would something light and jazzy would sound good in a blues application but I have no experience with this subject.

[daredrummer]

I could give you all of My personal favorites rides, (there are tons good for blues), but I really need a proper description of what you're looking for.

How much sustain? Bright, mid, or dark tone? A lot of wash? Not a lot of wash? Any ping? Good articulation? Any dryness? Crashable? Bright Bell? Dark Bell?

Obviously you don't have to answer all of those, but a description of the actual sound you want would be helpful.

[dadndaddy]

Thanks!
Playing EC, Dominos, the Kings, T-Birds, Chicago style with some Mississippi Delta. Ya know I'm not real sure what sounds best so I'll have to experiment. But I was trying to get some ideas for a baseline on where to start. We're playing clubs that fron on "loud" volume so I'm not looking for a loud cymbal. I'm thinkin' mid-dark, one that gets up pretty quick and stays there if this makes any sense. One I can ride a shuffle on for a bit and keeps a well balanced tone. Mid -dark bell. Sometimes I mid stick next to the bell for kinda a washing/bell of sorts. I like the Ginger Baker sizzle. Steve Jordans ride. A mid jazz sounds like it would be nice as well. I'm just not sure about brand and type. Thanks for any help.

[larryace]

There is no such thing. You can use any cymbal for any music. You may perfer a bright ride, someone else may prefer a dark ride. They both do blues well so it's your choice. The more important question is can YOU play blues...

[jim_gregory]

May sound odd but I ride my Zildjian A medium thin 16 crash very often. I also like my A medium ride 18". I have a 3500 gram 20 ride thats very cool but it will ring for a week. I have to tape that old bear. Old school. But the 16 medium thin has a great bright shimmering clean sound. Winds right up and turns right off. I have no idea what current thinking is for blues rides but those are what I use for different situations.

[matthew]

I love my new bosphorus 22" MAsters series ride cymbal

so washy at 1919gramms. too washy for some things, but definitiely a specific blues sound in that cymbal...

i need another one a bit thicker though as this is so thin it is a little less versatile.

nonetheless... check out bosphorus and the masters series...

they are a brand that basicalyy just do vintage and jazz lines.

good luck

[TTNW]

My favorite ride for when I play a lot of blues numbers is my K Custom High Definition Ride.

Rather dry, darker with a smokier tone than any A ride (especially with a wood tip stick) and no annoying bright ringing. The wash is very controllable and it fits right in a blues mix very well.

Integrated raw bell, thick spiral lathing, and at a heavy 6 lbs. it's got some ping too.

Not a crash at all except for long deep and dark 2 to 3 beat gongier sounds.

To me, it's the ultimate blues ride.

[DSCRAPRE]

A Zildjian Armand Ride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgiYS9Fg3Pc

I imagine that one of these beauties would work well for about anything you could throw at it.

[daredrummer]

Originally Posted by dadndaddy

Thanks!
Playing EC, Dominos, the Kings, T-Birds, Chicago style with some Mississippi Delta. Ya know I'm not real sure what sounds best so I'll have to experiment. But I was trying to get some ideas for a baseline on where to start. We're playing clubs that fron on "loud" volume so I'm not looking for a loud cymbal. I'm thinkin' mid-dark, one that gets up pretty quick and stays there if this makes any sense. One I can ride a shuffle on for a bit and keeps a well balanced tone. Mid -dark bell. Sometimes I mid stick next to the bell for kinda a washing/bell of sorts. I like the Ginger Baker sizzle. Steve Jordans ride. A mid jazz sounds like it would be nice as well. I'm just not sure about brand and type. Thanks for any help.

Lets see.... Some that come off the top of my head are

Zildjian K Custom Dark Ride (20, 22)
Zildjian K Light Ride (22, 24)
Any Zildjian K Constantinople (expensove though)
Sabian HHX Manhatan Jazz Ride (20, 22)
Sabian HHX Legacy Ride (20, 21)
Sabian Vault 3 Point Ride (21)
Any ride from the meinl byzance jazz series
Any ride from the bosphorus master, master vintage, and hammer series.
Maybe one of the new paiste twenty masters rides.

A good site to check out is mycymbal.com. You will be able to hear high quality samlples and videos of all of these cymbals listed, with the exception of the paiste twenty masters rides, which are coming soon.

[tamadrm]

Late 50's/early 60's A Zildjian 20-22" medium ride.Thats what drummers used on most of that stuff.Why substitute for the original.?

Steve B

[random]

I like my 21" Sabian HH Raw Bell Dry Ride. Just the right amount of ring, perfect tone, good definition, awesome bell, crash and shoulder sounds.

[Ainulindale]

look at the meinl byzance lineup if there is a specific sound youre after, the 20" traditional thin is gorgeous, the dark rides are just that but retain warmth and i really think they managed to get actual butter into the jazz rides, so smooooooth...

because it deserves an honorable mention sabian hhx groove ride, as versatile as they come

and the 22" k light ride, plain jane, run of mill, sure, but a superb sound that transcends genres

good luck!

[Kenny Allyn]

Lots of good suggestions here ...

For blues I personally like a very controlled sound, two of my best friend drummmers around here (both 1st call guys)
Play Zildjians one a 22" A series that is about 40 years old, the other a 22" K, (both sound amazing) I see some 21" Sweet Rides
used also, I have one of those too, and it is a keeper.

All of the above work very well, but my personal favorite is an old Paiste 22" 404 (I know go figure) dark and smoky with a
raindrop kinda ping on top, amazing bell, it souldn't sound as good as it does, considering it's $45.00 asking price.
Someday I'm gonna try a big 24" Giant Beat, as I use 15" Giant Beat hats with the old 404 ride, and it's a perfect mix!

[max77]

Try some meinl cymbals:

Byzance Dark Or Byzance Trad

They are so versatile

[tml_fan_5@hotmail.com]

I would recomend a K Zildjian ride, or an A sweet ride, which I have, and is very washy!!

[Boom Boom Dah]

The Projection ride is a very heavy cymbal, much to ping, isn't dry at all. With blues, you want to try and get a ride, that will give a defined dry "ping" but to be able to open up when needed, but without it becoming too washy. I would say your looking for a good meduim ride. In the store I work in. I put a lot of rides together and hear them side by side so I can give the best advice on very little feedback from a customer. These are what I recommend.

Sabian
Sabian HH 21" Vintage Ride Cymbal Natural

Sabian 21 Inch Vault Crossover Ride

Sabian Vault 21" Artisan Ride Medium

Zildjian
Zildjian 22-Inch K Constantinople Medium

Zildjian 22-Inch K Ride Cymbal

Zildjian K Custom Dry 21" Special Dry Ride

Meinl
Meinl Byzance Vintage 20" Sand Ride

MEINL Cymbals Byzance 22" Medium

Try all of these that I recommend. You will find the one you love through one of these

[whoreian]

zildjian

sweet ride
armand ride
k custom dark ride
k zildjian light ride
k constantinople rides
(the larger the ride the better i feel!!! blues needs wash!!)

paiste signature traditional light ride

meinl byzance traditional/dark rides.maybe benny greb's ride...

yea....these are the brands i use alot so im not sure of sabian or bosphorus etc etc..

[Skulmoski]

I have been enticed by the sound of both Bettis and Spizzichino cymbals. Both make awesome cymbals with good resale value if you choose to sell.

GJS