Best Pop/Rock Ride Cymbals | Cymbal Comparison | Thomann

Are you looking for a new Ride Cymbal to play pop/rock music?
Then let me show you some of the best ride cymbals you can currently get to play your favorite style of music. I compare 16 different rides from which you just choose your favorite cymbal. //Simon
Get your favorite Ride-Cymbal here: bit.ly/3x6nvOQ
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00
Introduction
0:11 Zultan 21" Dark Matter Ride
0:38 Sabian 22" HHX Complex Medium Ride
0:59 Istanbul Agop 24" Xist Brilliant Ride
1:23 Zildjian 22" K-Custom Dark Ride
2:03 Istanbul Agop 20" Xist Brilliant Ride
2:31 Meinl Byzance 22" Foundry Reserve Ride
2:52 Paiste 20" PST7 Ride
3:16 Zildjian 20" K-Series Ride
3:58 Zildjian 21" A-Series Sweet Ride
4:24 Paiste 22" 2002 Classic Ride
4:47 Meinl 21" Byzance Polyphonic Ride
5:10 Zultan 22" Rock Beat Medium Ride
6:09 Zildjian 20" A-Custom Ride
6:36 Paiste 22" Signature Dark Energy MKI Ride
6:58 Meinl 22" Classics Custom Dark Crash Ride
7:21 Ufip 20" Class Series Medium Ride
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#drumbash #thomann #bestpoprockrides #bestridecymbals

[@SagiDrums]

I own the 20" Zildjian K ride. Masterpiece of a cymbal. Great for any genre and situation. Great balance of stick definition vs wash, and the bell is quite strong and cutting for rock (The A sweet ride is fantastic too, very classic)

[@ThomannsDrumBash]

Thanks for sharing! //Simon

[@jeromedavis8575]

I like ride cymbals that stand the test of time, especially in sound that most of us are familiar with.

[@Bubbles_69921]

That Zultan dark ride was fenomenal

[@szymonszymanski3]

Paiste 2002 is the winner for me. Great comparison, let's see best metal ride cymbals

[@rkk578]

20" Xist Brilliant Ride, 20" K Ride, 22" Paiste 2002 Ride, UFIP 20" Class Medium Ride

[@Carlos.Lizzoli]

Great job!!! Thank you. You worked very hard and this is a great video, it help us to know where to go if we want to buy a new ride cymbal. A big hug from Olivos, Argentina

[@evensteven8129]

And that snare is sick! Great playing..

[@af7119]

I love this format. Tons of cymbals in one video, and they are compared with and without backing music for context. Anything more in this format will be great!

[@jonashellborg8320]

I own the Agop XIST 20 inch medium ride. Blends in nicely in both a motown etc and in a metal context. It’s all about how you hit it, of course, but we all know that (I think). Nice video Thomann and I dug the music!

[@danlc95]

I have two main ride cymbals. One for lighter and one for heavier. The cymbal that I would pick for this type of music is my Paiste Signature 20" Dry Ride. I've used ir for everything from standard Jazz to Metal situations, but my preference for the heavy music is the Paiste Signature 20" Dry Dark Ride.

[@starclassicstreamer7066]

My faves: Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride, Zultan 21" Dark Matter for this kind of music. However 22" Paiste Dark Energy is always a good choice imho.

[@jamesnikki5]

What a surprise the Zultan 21" was amazing! although I feel you missed the Mcdaddy of PopRock Rides, Paiste Signature (normal) Full Ride 20" or 22", those Sig Dark energy are cool but very niche would never think about them on a pop/versatile situation.

[@evensteven8129]

This video is quite possibly the best cymbal demo video I have seen yet.. Well done!

[@ThomannsDrumBash]

Thanks so much! Glad you like it. //Simon

[@dmitrybogatsky1734]

I liked the following cymbals: Sabian 22 Medium Ride HHX complex, Zildjian 22 Ride K-Custom Dark, Zildjian 20 Ride K-Series, Zildjian 21 Sweet Ride A-Series, Paiste 22 Signature Dark Energy MK1

[@marco_prolo]

I used to play the entire Zultan Dark Matter line and especially loved the 22" ride! Switched over to Meinl because of quality issues with Zultan and man was it hard to find a ride that matched the Zultan Dark Matter in sound AND price.

[@wolframfrick9993]

Ver good comparison. Thanks!

[@dilankarun9172]

I have 2 of his 3 favorites. (Zildjian Dark Custom and Paiste Mark I). I've been looking for an excuse to buy the Meinl Foundry Reserve, just can't justify the cost that to my ear's is an Ok sounding cymbal (I actually love Meinl's Polyphonic ride, which I have 😀). Fun video. Thanks

[@C.m.b936]

Misleading backing track: it's a Fusion, not a Pop-Rock. This is probably made for the commercial purpose of including those "fashionable" dark, over treated and expensive cymbals. In the Pop-Rock context usually "Full/mellow rides" like the Zild. A, Paiste 2002 and Ufips sound better than "Dry rides".

[@anklem]

I have the paiste dark energy 20” mark II and I love everything about it. Otherwise all the Zildjian K rides and the Meinl foundry reserve.

[@ThomannsDrumBash]

Nice choice. I'm a big fan of the K Rides. What crashes do you prefer and play? //Simon

[@felipedromundo8861]

Hey, it would be great to have you review rides for heavy metal music. Great video!

[@jeromedavis8575]

I'd like to hear you do the best ride cymbals for indie music.

[@paulnieftjr4461]

They all sound good...tough choice

[@slg.musique]

For me, Zildjian A Sweet ride ... and the Zultan Dark Matter witch have an excellent ratio price/quality

[@seppoinnanen5577]

To me, the Istanbul Agop special edition fusion ride 22" that I own, is perfect for pop. Plus, I'm trying to find an agop xist brilliant ride 24" that weights over 3500 grams

[@rwlund]

I think it would be helpful to hear more straight ride without bell and crashes for 10 seconds or so. Nice video thanks!

[@jeromedavis8575]

I agree. I'd take the 8th note ride pattern, please! Thank you!

[@vinnyrac]

Is this a commercial for Zultan? Because all them other cymbals wash out or get lost in the mix except for the Zultans (and the Zild A custom and the UFIP) To my ear anyway. This was a helpful video. Thanks

[@rundrum_micha]

Das Paiste 2002 Ride hat so einen Jeff P. Vibe 🙏🏻 Hier im Vergleich hört man deutlich, dass die Glocke vom 22 Foundry Reserve eher zu den leiseren, oder musikalischeren? gehört.

[@mwanichi]

Paiste 2002 22" Ride

[@albertofalzoi1541]

the last one, UFIP ❤

[@Chercht]

Man, thats a lot of cymbals... hard to decide. I liked the Paiste 2002 and the Meinl Classics Custom Dark at the end a lot. I relly like the hard bell sound of a good ride cymbal and for my taste, the cymbal itself should not sound too crashy - it should more dampen the sound. A lot of the thinner or smaller rides could also be used as crashes. I own a 23" Meinl Byzance Heavy Ride with a real deep bell sound and overall low pitch. It tends to ring when played on the edge for a longer time but overall is quite damped. It's also hard to judge the "real" sound of cymbals, especially ride cymbals, on recorded samples... there are just so many overtones and nuances that you have to hear with your own ears. Nevertheless the video sounds great, as always. Must have been a ton of work. Thank you Simon! :)

[@Poeme340]

I dig the Meinl, too-suprised me at the end. It’s got a beautiful wash.👍

[@BBT609]

You should check out the Zildjian 20” K Custom Dark Ride. Almost everything you need in a ride it has.

[@marc8vino]

You think that's better for all styles vs the 22" in this video?

[@BBT609]

@@marc8vino I love the 22s, but if you are looking for something smaller, but just as versatile, that 20” Zildjian K Custom Dark Ride is that one!

[@CyrilViXP]

Zildjian K Custom Dark Ride 22’’ is very interesting. Dark, gloomy, ambient and compressed. And the bell sounds very serious. It should be good for hard rock and metal I think. For more bright, and happier sound I would take Istanbul Agop Xist Brilliant Ride 20’’

[@Jtdubbzz]

Amazing cymbal. It has a beautiful medium-dark timbre, multifaceted and washy with some of the smoothest stick articulation… it’s very mellow and not good for hard rock and metal. Low ping and not cutting, especially at 22” the sound will blend into the mix too much and get buried. Unfortunately the best rides/cymbals for rock are not the most pleasant to hear in a side by side comparison or on their own.

[@arrowintheknee9956]

@@Jtdubbzz I own the Dark Ride 22" and your comment is spot on.

[@tempesthoughton4441]

#1 was the 22" foundry reserve with the paiste dark energy a close #2

[@frauleonard]

surpized by Zultan dark matter sounds amazing i own 2x out of the presented here Zildjian and Paiste, and i like better the Zultan, wow.

[@niffingig5143]

Why would you not use nylon tipped sticks, as well? It would demonstrate the full sound of each ride. The Paiste 22" 2002 ride sounds dead with wood tipped sticks. In fact, all of the rides sound dead. Nylon makes them actually "ping."

[@DemetriusConley]

20" PST 7 Ride sounds great in the mix, not bad at all. Thinking about switching to Paiste to be honest

[@BrandonMilner]

That's fascinating because, along with the Zildjian A series ones, that was my LEAST favorite. Ha!

[@edwardkaminsky8142]

I like the paiste 900 series Demitrius. The pst7's sound just a bit pingy. Picked up the 900 hats used for $93.00 at G.C. I'm looking for a 20, or 22" 900 series ride to enhance those sweet birch S.P.L.'s.

[@DemetriusConley]

@edwardkaminsky8142 facts. I wanted the Paiste 900 Series 22" Ride. But I think the pst7's will work just fine. It works great for performances.

[@Allinguts]

I think the 21 Zultan Dark sound the best

[@damjanbogdanovski4857]

Hi, i really want to see a china comparison video. China cymbals are my favorite cymbals, so i would like to see a video about them. Thak you so much.❤

[@ThomannsDrumBash]

Cool idea! What sizes would you like to see and hear? //Simon

[@steeltruedrum]

aux snares (10 to 12) for next video! Thanks to Simon and all Thomann team!

[@ThomannsDrumBash]

Great idea! Thanks Ivan

[@johnpaulmalpartidaquintana7806]

El zultan dark ride 21 y Ufip medíun ride class 20 suenan genial

[@jeromedavis8575]

You should've tried the paste normal full ride.

[@jeromedavis8575]

I like the first one.

[@arrowintheknee9956]

6:59 is not the UFIP, it's the Meinl. 7:22 is the UFIP Class Ride......

[@Alex-Grt]

Please all about crash rides and light rides to crash 😇😇😇🔥🔥🔥😎

[@sojake3712]

All of them have too much wash for me.But I appreciate the info

[@patrickwoods2583]

Zultan Dark Matter, UFIP and Paiste Dark Energy

[@poppapeg-yb6zv]

BROOOO ARE YOU MICHAEL FROM GTA 5?

[@keithdoeskungfu]

The backing track though... Have you guys ever listened to a rock song? Lol

[@patrikvelek2630]

Paiste 2002 ❤

[@daniel93freestyle]

nice! what is the title of this song? :)

[@ThomannsDrumBash]

It's a play along of the drumtraxx website. It's called Dazey.

[@steeltruedrum]

Love my 20" HHX Complex Medium Ride - my go-to ride... but my passion is 22" HH Rock Ride... It's just like railroad rail.... BRUTAL) \m/

[@richardguinan3298]

Maybe just use four different ride cymbals all the time. Heck with those pesky crashes

[@pibroch]

Cymbals a lot louder in the mix next time, please.

[@rowintettero1255]

The fact that you almost don't hear the stick sound when riding, but nearly only wash makes me doubt the drummers skills.

[@morenoblu83]

L’ufip suonato per 2 secondi con in sovraimpressione le scritte di fine video… era meglio non metterlo a questo punto…

[@batouttahell454]

Not a WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE

[@Russ.Murphy]

The majority of these cymbals are great JAZZ ride cymbals! Most of these cymbals are too dark, too washy, and lack the definition necessary for Rock and Pop. There's a LOT BETTER cymbals out there for the Rock and Pop genres that you DIDN"T display! Out of those that you did, the Zildjian 21" A sweet ride, the Zildjian 20" A custom ride, and the UFIP 20" medium ride had the most appropriate qualities; distantly followed by the Istanbul Agop 20" Xist ride Brilliant. The Paiste 22" 2002 had the right pitch; but not quite the definition. The Paiste 20" PST7 sounded kind of off and was really too weak for any genre. I primarily use a Zildjian 20" ping (ca. 1970-1972) for Pop and Rock and Metal. For ballads and darker tones, I'll switch to a Zildjian 22" (ca. 1957-1959), which I also use for Classic Jazz and Be Bop. Even the Zultan 22" Rock Beat ride would be great for Jazz and Be Bop; not Rock.

[@jamesnikki5]

Agree, many of these cymbals are following the current trend, about dark/ dry / thin cymbals, trend set by Meinl round slabs of metal called cymbals.... I mean even Paiste had to catch on to that with the MK1s!

[@Russ.Murphy]

@@jamesnikki5 Thanks, Jaime! The rides should match the tone of the composition. And, I think you have to allow the playing environment to enter in your cymbal choice. In a studio or an intimate setting you can get away with lower-pitched cymbals; where everyone is playing at lower volumes. If you're playing Heavy Metal or Hard Rock in an auditorium, a Zildjian K or equivalent Sabian, Paiste, or Meinl will just get buried. When I'm using my full kit, I have 3 rides, 8 crashes, 2 hi hats, and a splash. I'm kind of a cymbal fanatic. But I'm no where up to a Terry Bozzio or Neil Peart. By 1973, I came to the conclusion, that I needed more than one Ride to play the music I was playing. I also came to the conclusion that there is no perfect ride.

[@SagiDrums]

The K ride 20" is fantastic for rock... a masterpiece from Zildjian

[@Russ.Murphy]

@@SagiDrums Hi Sagi! Just a suggestion, try an experiment. Find a Be Bop piece with a lot of ride work on it. Record just the drum line. No EQ! Volume on 4. Overhead mics only! Record the rest of the band together without the drums. Overhead mics only. No EQ! Volume on 4. Add the two tracks together in the studio, again no EQ changes and the volume held on 4 for both tracks. Find a Hard Rock piece from the 1970's with a lot of ride work on it. Repeat the prior Materials and Methods used before. Once completed, listen to the two final compositions in an A/B comparison, again no EQ or Volume changes. Describe your auditory findings to your greatest detail. Please pay particular attention to how the cymbals blend with the rest of the band. You might want to find several other musicians to do the A/B comparison as well.

[@chillpillology]

“pop/rock” rides and then plays over elevator music….

[@tomanetopotomane1953]

20" Zildjian A Ping Ride