Zildjian Breakbeat Ride?

Cacaphony

Cacaphony

Member
Hey!

I've been visiting the forum for a long while now, but this is the first time I've posted. I was wondering if any of you lovely people have had the pleasure of playing a Zildjian Breakbeat Ride? I can't find any reviews or videos anywhere. I've listened to the soundclip on the Zildjian website, but I often find internet soundclips to be an unreliable representation of a cymbals actual sound, feel, etc.

I play in an acoustic hip hop group, and I was looking for something along the lines of a lower volume, darker sounding cymbal that I could ride and crash. I've read on musiciansfriend that people use this as a low volume, jazz ride as well as praise it's versatility. When playing with my group, I usually use brushes. Any information available from the fine people of this forum would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Tyler James.
 
I tried a few samples of this cymbal early last year and found it to be a extremely dry and dead sounding ride and when used as a crash ride too had very little life, projection or wash going on. Very flat sounding cymbal to my ear. I'm sure it has an interesting effect when combined in the right musical setting but certainly has a very narrow range of use in my view in musical applications.

Like the more rich and lively but still dry and dark character of the Istanbul Agop Turk Jazz Rides instead to my ears.
 
Some artists use it in an fusion-electronica setting, because of its very pingy sound. Some also use it as a bottom hi-hat in pair with something else on top.

Go on Youtube and look up recent vids from Bob Gatzen. He uses an 18" Breakbeat as his ride.
 
Thank you guys for the information. I'm sure nothing I will read on here will be as helpful as playing the real thing, but until I can actually find one, you guys are my last resort.

again, thanks.
 
theres a guy i know who has the k custom dry ride and it sounds wonderful. the breakbeat seems like it would be great if it had the striped lathing pattern to allow for a little brightness and splash. if you have the money id go with the k custom. i played on that guy's and it sounded really good and im not to big of fan of dryness. the only thing that turns me off about the breakbeat is its lack of crashability.
 
Indeed, you will have a had time coming by one. Short of just buying one off eBay and seeing if you like it or not. Trip is correct in saying it's used in "fusion-electronica". Zildjian actually designed it to replicate a drum machine ride sound. Reverse engineering, so to speak. They pass thru eBay fairly often, and normally run in the range of $225-275.
 
harryconway said:
Indeed, you will have a had time coming by one. Short of just buying one off eBay and seeing if you like it or not. Trip is correct in saying it's used in "fusion-electronica". Zildjian actually designed it to replicate a drum machine ride sound. Reverse engineering, so to speak. They pass thru eBay fairly often, and normally run in the range of $225-275.
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Hmmmm...... let me get this straight: an actual cymbal that replicates the sound a drum machine produces to replicate the sound of an actual cymbal?

Great marketing!
 
Steamer said:
I tried a few samples of this cymbal early last year and found it to be a extremely dry and dead sounding ride and when used as a crash ride too had very little life, projection or wash going on. Very flat sounding cymbal to my ear. I'm sure it has an interesting effect when combined in the right musical setting but certainly has a very narrow range of use in my view in musical applications.

Like the more rich and lively but still dry and dark character of the Istanbul Agop Turk Jazz Rides instead to my ears.
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I have to agree with Steamer on this one. A shop near me has one (in fact, they've had the same one for a long time now). The Breakbeat must have some applications in just the right setting, but it doesn't have a very broad range at all. To me, it didn't sound musical--just clangy and metallic. Maybe that's the point, but it seems like you could find a ride that could do that and at least a few other things, too. Personally, I didn't like the Breakbeat's sound.
 

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sovereign76 said:
Actually a lot of players use these as a left side ride in a jazz setting. I have an Agop Turk jazz 22" and the breakbeat ride is a completely different instrument...no reason to compare them.


http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/mattwilson2.html
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I couldn't imagine using the breakbeat as a left side ride in a jazz setting myself since a cymbal in that position must function as a versatile crash ride for me. Just too dead,metallic,harsh in tone and one dimensional in character for my taste with no ability for serving a crash/ride function {no crash'wash sound}.

The comparison to the Agop Turk Jazz Ride for me is in the similarities of comparing 2 unlathed pies and the huge sound differences in characteristics between them. One with a rich warm wash and pleasing overtones in character and opens up and crashes very well and the other being very stiff that doesn't open up no matter how hard you hit it and is very dead in wash in general producing only a singular flat sound.

Agreed they are completely different instruments certainly in favour of my 22" Agop Turk Jazz Ride by a country mile given the choice for a dark dry ride {but not dead} on the right or left side in my book.
 
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WOW! From your description she must not realize how terrible her cymbal sounds.


http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Terry_Lyne_Carrington.html


A little overboard with the Agop fanboy rhetoric me thinks, but hey I like their cymbals too. Plenty of duds to work through in the Agop arsenal as well, especially the Signature rides in all weights, some are hot garbage to my ears.

By the way, I use a Sabian 18" duo for that sound myself and it works for me paired with my Agop turk and duo hats...lots of dry washiness and crashability in that set-up.

I think we get back to choices and what sound the artist (hopefully it's art) is striving for...choices are good.
 
sovereign76 said:
WOW! From your description she must not realize how terrible her cymbal sounds.


http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Terry_Lyne_Carrington.html


A little overboard with the Agop fanboy rhetoric me thinks, but hey I like their cymbals too. Plenty of duds to work through in the Agop arsenal as well, especially the Signature rides in all weights, some are hot garbage to my ears.

By the way, I use a Sabian 18" duo for that sound myself and it works for me paired with my Agop turk and duo hats...lots of dry washiness and crashability in that set-up.

I think we get back to choices and what sound the artist (hopefully it's art) is striving for...choices are good.
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Sound is truly to the ear of the beholder including choices in that regard. And yes I love the sound of my Agops even my lovely Sig ride. Great ride cymbal in the recording studio.

No love quite honestly for the breakbeat based on the samples I tried in person regardless of your percieved Agop "fanboy" status of me. Never been called a fanboy before especially being a 50 year old 33 year jazz veteran pro player :} Certainly know what i'm after in cymbals and that choice in brand is clear.

One man/womens gem is another ones dud so agreed it works both ways regarding sound and personal cymbal choices. Breakbeat is not in my list of choices but if others like it and use it that's fine with me.
 
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