Sabian Paragon Ride 22"

I've been on a search for the perfect ride, and I think I found it. Problem is- I can't afford it, more on that later. Sabian's Paragon cymbals are made in Canada, just the man behind these cymbals; Neart Peart of Rush. But you don't even have to be a Rush fan to appreciate this line of cymbals.

First of all, I love the size of this cymbal. Its a beast; 22" in diameter and thick, its like 8 pounds so don't drop it on your foot. One you move up to a 22" ride its hard to go back to a 20". Its thickness means you get a really good 'ping' out of it that cuts through like no other ride cymbal I've ever heard.

It also has an incredible shimmery wash that is subtle but definitely there, and can be tapped into even more by how and where in the field you play the cymbal. There is a complexity in the overtones, very musical. I read somewhere that Sabian used a distinctly different lathing technique on the top than the bottom, that might be a contributor to the sweet and complex tones.

This cymbal might be a bit much for those who are used to mellow 20" rides. Its loud, its bright (though not harsh at all), its cutting, and it shimmers while giving excellent stick definition. It's kind of a cymbal that does everything you want without having to make any trade-offs, but be warned it is an overwhelming cymbal.

Now price; this is seriously one expensive cymbal. I haven't seen it under 350.00. Thats a lot of money, but frankly this cymbal does things that nothing in the Hand Hammered line up can do, and outperforms many of my beloved favorites from Paiste. I would like to see this cymbal go head to head with some of the K Kustom line from Zildjian but until then..... this cymbal is worth the money because it surpasses anything I've played to date. Now where's that credit card I have hidden from the wife....

It's been a year I use it, and it is an instrument that is happening everywhere, despite his rocker a bit, it kills in jazz and Latin!
WILLIAMS I think Tony would have approved!
This ride PARAGON 22 "comes from the HHX series, so it goes with the sound of this series ... I use a hi-hat 14" HHX course and it is tip top!
I use AA thin crash 14 "and 16" splash and 2, a 10 "AA and a 12" HH ... nothing to say everything is uniform, it's terrible!
In purely jazz context, I use the same ride with Zildjan 22 K Constantinople 20 "thin ride and my 14-charley HHX and everything is perfect ...
Excellent ride the Paragon, thank you SABIAN, and thank you Neil Peart!

Arnaudrum