Zildjian K Rides
102
| OCTOBER 2015 WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM
GEAR REVIEW
C
ymbal variations just keep
on coming, and it is to the
manufacturers’ credit that each
addition has something unique to
offer. Zildjian has had a particularly fruitful
past couple of years with the introduction of
the vintage style K Keropes, and here come
two more special Ks, which are both great
looking and sounding.
For the 20" K Constantinople Renaissance
ride, partnering the already available 22"
version, Zildjian again enlisted the input of
jazz great Adam Nussbaum. The K Custom
21" Organic ride, meanwhile, was designed in
conjunction with versatile drummer and
educator Pat Petrillo.
Build
Shiny silvery-gold with an understated
opulence, the 20" Constantinople is a
stunner. Each cymbal is unique, and has
been handmade with minute variations.
In fact, this one has ‘1764 grams’ (weight)
inked on the underside of the bell, even
though Zildjian’s blurb gives the weight
range as 1,786 to 1,871 grams. Fine lathing
overlays top and bottom, and the upper
surface has irregular dimple hammering,
while the small, low profi le bell is over-
hammered with moderate indentations.
As well as the evocative K Zildjian
Constantinople logo, each cymbal is
engraved beneath with the familiar Armand
Zildjian signature.
The Custom Organic ride is equally
eye-catching in a different manner. It has a
unique wire-brushed top, which leaves a
mottled brown and orange-gold surface with
an aged powdery patina. Underneath
though it’s a modern-day smoothie with a
highly polished brilliance. The rounded bell
is well-proportioned, and the rest of the
cymbal is mercilessly hammered.
From £369 Two more top class, fi nely honed rides from the
Zildjian K camp cater for widely different styles and tastes
ZILD
J
IAN
NEW K RIDES
WORDS: GEOFF NICHOLLS
Hands On
The Organic Ride is exceptionally dry.
Zildjian says that the unique wire-brushed
surface imparts a raw sound, while the
brilliant underside opens things up for
crashing without washing out. My immediate
impression was of a precise ride with a
medium arid character over a warmer
spread, and a noticeably short-lived crash,
with the bell loud and stinging.
You can certainly play jazz on it, but
there’s the power and the edge to work in
heavier, lairier contexts too. There’s also an
abrasiveness that surmounts the other
instruments in the band. Pat Petrillo is
a powerful drummer with a tasty line in
everything from New Orleans grooves
through classic soul to Broadway shows,
and this cymbal has the versatility to cover
all of that. The bright – you could even say
tinny – stick response is emphasised by the
starkly dry and short sustain, but clears
away to reveal a darker, more sumptuous
element lurking underneath.
I fell totally in love with the 20"
Renaissance immediately. It sounds as
gorgeous as it looks. There’s something
magical about that vintage logo, while the
Constantinople name summons up exotically
dusky, edge-of-the-orient fl avours.
Make no mistake, this is the most
luxuriously soft, buttery, harmoniously
cushioned ride ever. Yet the stick articulation
is always crisp and clear. Where the 22"
version has a bell which is unlathed
underneath, this 20" has a smaller, low
profi le and over-hammered bell that is
supple yet tinkly and fruity, seamlessly
complementing the rest of the pliant surface.
The main ride character itself is low
pitched yet authoritative and needs careful
handling. You do need to play off the
surface, preferably with a small(ish) beaded
THERE’S SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT
THAT VINTAGE LOGO, WHILE THE
CONSTANTINOPLE NAME SUMMONS
UP EXOTICALLY DUSKY FLAVOURS
stick. A bit of the superlative touch of a
Nussbaum or Bill Stewart would come in
handy. I took it out on a rare jazz gig, playing
lots of ten-to-ten, but occasionally the band
got fairly loud, whereupon I was a little taken
aback to fi nd the ride was more delicate
than I had suspected. Remember, this was
a particularly lightweight specimen and it
K CUSTOM
21” Organic Ride has a
unique wire-brushed
surface, with a large bell
adding to the powerful
super-dry tone
Also try…
1
ZILDJIAN K
KEROPE
CYMBALS
We say: “ Zildjian harks
back to the 1950s and
1960s for this richly
characterful set with an
authentic vintage twist. ”
2
SABIAN BIG
ANDUGL Y RIDES
We say: “ A stunning
and intriguing set of
high-end, provocative,
challenging, complex,
dark and great-to-play
cymbals. ”
RHY247.gear_zildjian.indd 102 9/1/15 11:21 AM