K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride

Group: Rides
Type: Sweet Ride
Size: 21 Inch
Series: K Zildjian
Weight: 2277g, 2286g, 2317g (2022 Serial Number), 2343g (2023 Serial Number), 2359g, 2362g, 2364g, 2371g (2025 Serial Number), 2372g, 2374g (2025 Serial Number), 2393g (2023 Serial Number), 2402g (2025 Serial Number), 2409g, 2442g, 2465g, 2472g, 2510g, 2528g
Median Weight: 2373g (n=18)
Years of production: ? - Present
Sound file: K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride
K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride
K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride
K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride
K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride
K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride
K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride
K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride
K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride
K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride
K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride
K Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride
Zildjian's Description: <<< - >>>
Review: "The 21" ride is an absolute stunner and personifies the versatility of the K Sweet range. It has a bright, clear stick definition which is supported by the dark and warm overtones. It crashes beautifully and has just the right amount of wash.

The high-profile bell is crystal clear and light yet somehow fits just as well into heavier tunes as it does latin-style bell patterns."

Review written by Tom Bradley ("Zildjian K Sweet cymbals review", musicradar, June 27, 2018)

Review: "Let's jump right in with the rides, since that's where this whole thing got started. Zildjian anchored the K Sweet series with the 21" and 23" rides, mirroring the A sizes that sweet-talked so many drummers in the first place. Like the rest of the line, Sweet Rides are cut from B20 bronze, feature a polished top and bottom, and are shaped with a heavy application of small-bead, K-style hammering. they share shallow-ish profiles, as well as lathed and polished bells that look just a hair wider than their A counterparts. They're listed as medium thin, and while both are pretty slim near the edge, they feel firmer and heavier near the bell than other cymbals in this weight range.

These things sound exactly the way I thought they would - and that's great. both of the rides are vibrant, defined, and clear like their A predecessors, but they sit a little lower in register and feel more contained. The result is about as clear a marriage of K and A as I could have imagined.

Taps throughout the bow deliver a sort of mellowed ping with hint of sparkle in the wash. Both the 21" and 23" models are articulate enough to keep that ping afloat through fast, heavy-handed patterns without washing out. In fact, the spread rarely takes over the attack. Each one plays with a surprisingly controlled response that suggests the subtlest hint of dryness at the edge.

Both cymbals produce a bed of warm, somewhat deep wash. But I didn't hear much in the way of trashy or smoky undertones I normally associate with rides that lean into the dark side. That bed is a little bigger under the 23" unit, but otherwise they play very similarly. The bells are warmer and not quite as cutting as I was expecting, but each has a rich, compact note that blends beautifully into the bow sound.

The K Sweet Rides can hang in a super-loud setting with no problems, but they feel most comfortable in mid to low-volume situations. their beautifully rich character has a little bit more room to breathe when the volume comes down, making it easier to hear how well they complement other instruments. Zildjian calls these "workhouse rides". For drummers who aren't looking for extreme volume or cut from their cymbals, I'd say this is a perfect description."

Review written by AJ Donahue ("Review: Zildjian K Sweet Series Cymbals", Drum!, April, 2018)

Artist/song where it can be heard: Anthony Ghazel