All user reviews for the Zildjian K Custom Ride 18"

I am a very harsh critic of cymbals, and this one passes all the tests.  Among the greatest rides I have ever heard, I envy those who get to play this full time.  I was fortunate enough to have a friend who owns one, and I hop on the kit whenever I get a chance.  Whenever I start to sway in favor of Sabian or Paiste Cymbals, Zildjian goes ahead and produces a cymbal like this to drag me back.  It is versatile, attractive, and it sings with beauty.  Unlike many K's, this cymbal isn't overly dry and has a richly coated exterior.

The most striking feature of this cymbal is its ping.  It cuts through music very well without sacrificing its delicate nature.  It is slightly wetter than many k's, but it retains a dark tone.  The bell is very loud and large, sounding as good as a bell ever has.  When played quickly, each stroke is atriculated because of a fast attack and decay.  One thing to note:  when playing with nylon tipped sticks, it rings a lot more and doesn't sound nearly as good.  I usually only use wooden sticks anyways, so this isn't an issue.  I can picture this cymbal in almost any genre of music, except for the heaviest stuff.  Because this cymbal is unlathed, it has a much more unique character.  I would test out every model before buying it, as each cymbal may sound different. 

The Zildjian K Custom Ride is about as expensive as any other professional cymbal.  Unlike many other, it is well worth the price.  I talk about this ride more than almost every other as it is such a great piece of art.  If you are looking for a versatile cymbal that is great in all situations and is bound to impress everyone, this is where to stop looking.  This gets a perfect rating.

I've been using the Zildjian K Custom Ride Cymbal 18" for about two years for recording, and while I'm not a drummer, I find I get some great results when I record drums with this cymbal. It has a unique sound to it, which is bright and has a certain ting sound to it that is only heard on good ride cymbals. The cymbal is a normal size for a ride cymbal, and is great for a variety of genres. It is especially a great sounding cymbal for jazz, but I have also used it to record rock, pop, and folk music, all with great results. While I have never used it for live gigs, as I'm not a drummer, the drummer I record with who has this cymbal really loves this cymbal and uses it frequently for live shows. The price of the Zildjian K Custom Ride 18" is a little more expensive than mid price range, as it isn't as expensive as the best ride cymbals out there, but isn't that cheap as far as cymbals. For this reason, it makes for a great choice both for amateur and professional drummers because of the intermediate price range and great sound. Zildjian is known for making great cymbals, and along with Sabian they are the leader in this market. The Zildjian K Custom Ride 18" is a fine choice and will not let you down when it comes to expecting a lot from a popular company like Zildjian. I would encourage those interested in getting a ride cymbal to try any cymbal before you buy it so that you can determine whether it suits your taste and style, as all cymbals are different. Overall, the Zildjian K Custom Ride 18" is definitely worth a look if you are in the market for a ride cymbal.