Zildjian K Custom 21" Hybrid Ride

Group: Rides
Type: Hybrid Ride
Size: 21 Inch
Series: K Custom
Weight: 2856g, 2865g, 2925g, 2958g, 3007g, 3038g, 3060g, 3096g
Median Weight: 2983g (n=8)
Years of production: 2009 - Present
Sound file: K Custom 21" Hybrid Ride
K Custom 21" Hybrid Ride
K Custom 21" Hybrid Ride
K Custom 21" Hybrid Ride
K Custom 21" Hybrid Ride
K Custom 21" Hybrid Ride
K Custom 21" Hybrid Ride
K Custom 21" Hybrid Ride
K Custom 21" Hybrid Ride
K Custom 21" Hybrid Ride
K Custom 21" Hybrid Ride
Zildjian's Description: <<< - >>>
Review: "At over 3kg, the 21" ride is quite a lot of cymbal. It feels surprisingly thin to handle, though. The lathed area gives a clean, slightly woody-sounding ping over a complementary wash. Crossing over onto the polished area brings an instant change in character, with the stick sound morphing into something altogether tighter and more pronounced.

A metallic edge adds focus, helping the cymbal project further without a dramatic increase in volume. By the time the bell is reached, there's virtually no wash remaining - just a clear, strong peal. Crashing the ride is simple and it opens with a bright, shimmering note that takes some time to decay."

Review written by Adam Jones ("Zildjian K Custom Hybrid Cymbals review", musicradar.com, August 4, 2009)

Review: " The 21" ride lives up to its "hybrid" name, that's for sure. The unlathed inner half has a brilliant finish similar to what you'd find on a standard K Custom ride. The outer half is lathed like a traditional K. The sound of playing on the inner ring was all "ping" and not a lot of sing. Offering great attack, even at fast tempos, the unlathed portion had well-controlled overtones and a clean, quick decay. The lathed section had more of that wash you'd expect from a big ride, plus rich-sounding overtones with a fairly long decay. The two riding surfaces also differed slightly in pitch, with the inner ring sounding almost a full step higher than the outer ring.

The bell is more raised than a standard K bell. Like the inner unlathed ring, it had a tight "ding" sound. Not a lot of complexity here, just strength and volume. When you slam a ride, you usually get a lot of wash and an extremely long decay-but not with the Hybrid. Quick and higher in pitch than most big rides, the crash sound of this cymbal was closer to that of an 18" than a 21" ride. So there you have it: one cymbal with two distinctly different-sounding ride zones, plus an amazingly useful crash sound and a loud bell."

Review written by Fran Azzarto ("Zildjian K Custom Hybrid Additions", Modern Drummer, October 2009, p. 33)

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