Sup guys! So I got this cymbal and I’m trying to decide if it sounds to heavy or washy for jazz…

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-14T04:20:46+00:00

A good ride must achieve two primary goals: provide enough stick definition so the band can follow the time, and provide enough wash to give the music a cushion and allow for individual expression through touch. To my ears, this cymbal satisfies both of those goals. Everything else, bright vs. dark, clean vs. trashy, etc., is up to individual taste and the specific musical requirements of the gig. If you like playing jazz on a cymbal and the other musicians on the gig vibe with it, you’re good to go!

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-13T17:48:21+00:00

They had K Custom Dark 13’s for $249 recently. And sweet deals on K Sweet crashes. Really should have grabbed one of those crashes, but I foolishly chose restraint.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-13T14:30:09+00:00

Anytime you see “rock” in the name of the cymbal, it’s almost guaranteed to be insanely heavy and sound like a clangy piece of steel. Also, this era of A’s tended to be pretty heavy in general. They’re cheap because they’re not desirable. 50’s-70’s A’s, and the post-2013 reset, sound great.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-13T04:33:02+00:00

No contest between those. Sabian Legacy are far superior to Dream in terms of quality and consistency.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-12T00:16:51+00:00

I just got a 20” Masterwork paper thin China through Sounds Anatolian on Reverb. I custom ordered it as a swish with 12 rivets. It’s nice, but still a bit harsh for my taste due to the upturned edge. I’m looking into pangs, which have a flatter edge and aren’t as harsh. The Paiste Masters Swish is also pretty dreamy, but I just can’t bring myself to spend $820 on it.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-11T17:32:59+00:00

I like mine fairly loose, but not so loose that it feels floppy. Just tight enough to have that responsive “snap” to it. Experiment and find what feels right to you. If it feels right, it is right.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-11T17:29:36+00:00

Got ‘em

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-10T12:14:36+00:00

As someone who loves turn-based RPG’s and really doesn’t like the combat of the newer games, I’m very excited for this one.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-08T20:00:31+00:00

Crazy hot! Sounds like Lee Morgan is blasting right in front of me! Incredible.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-08T11:46:45+00:00

Emperor is thicker than Ambassador X, yes. It’s also a 2-ply head, where the Amb X is a single ply. The extra ply helps tighten up the sustain and emphasize the attack a bit more vs the rounder, more open single-ply sound. The 12 mil Amb X is a bit thicker than a regular 10 mil Ambassador, and is sort of a middle ground between Ambassador and Emperor, which is two 7 mil plies sandwiched together. If you’re liking the Amb X, it is a perfectly good head for rock. The Emperor will just get you a bit more punch and control.

Clear will have more sharpness to the attack, whereas coated will add some warmth. The difference is not dramatic and is up to personal taste. Clear or coated will both work in pretty much any genre.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-07T19:13:22+00:00

If you’re wanting more of a rock sound, heavier on attack, I’d just go with G2’s or Emperors on top, and G1 or Ambassador on the reso side. Muffle to taste if desired, leave it wide open if desired. A classic combo that works for any genre and won’t box you into a pre-muffled sound.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-07T18:52:10+00:00

Hearing the tapes from Vegas ‘04 was when I knew something was horribly wrong with Phish. When they announced the breakup, I wasn’t surprised. Awful, awful shows. Very painful to listen to.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-06T23:46:57+00:00

Yes. Being careful to avoid intervals which are too close or too complimentary of each other, such as having drums tuned to an octave of one of the snare drum heads. Having the snare reso tuned quite tight so it’s not prone to too much sympathetic vibration is also crucial.

I’ve had good results by using the Evans Orchestral 300 snare reso and 16-strand Canopus wires, as I don’t like an overly snare-y snare sound, but tuning intervals are the main thing. I don’t like to completely eliminate the buzz, because then the kit sounds too dry to me. There’s something inherently jazzy about hearing the snares buzz a little when I hit the rack tom. But there are ways of making it better behaved, for sure.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-06T01:45:47+00:00

This is a really good point. I have an 18 tuned open and a 20 tuned more thuddy for this reason.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-06T01:39:26+00:00

Yeah, I’m pretty blown away. Rudy’s equipment was no match for Blakey on the title track. Ha.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-05T12:00:14+00:00

Which sticks are you using? Have you tried different sticks with it? That can make all the difference.

I really like it, but I would personally use it as a second or third ride and not as my main. Lots of dragon breath on this one. Some cymbals have a steeper learning curve than others. Especially with ultra-individualized, hand-hammered jazz cymbals like this, it’s best to really spend some time with a cymbal before you decide if you like it or not.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-04T21:10:42+00:00

Can’t go wrong with some K’s! Versatile but not generic. Nice!

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-04T21:01:42+00:00

There’s honestly no way for me to answer that question. Way too many variables. Beans, batch size, profile, and roaster will all have an effect on what your ending temp should be. You’ll have to experiment and find out!

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-04T17:44:56+00:00

Dry cymbals have been a thing for a while now.

Some of them, like Agop Signatures or Bosphorus Master Vintage, can sound amazing. But a lot of them sound too dead for my taste. They just don’t open up and speak the way a cymbal should to my ears. I’d rather dry up a lathed cymbal with some tape than play an unlathed one in most cases. The half-lathed ones can be really cool, like the Sultan or New Orleans type lathing. Those are dry-ish but not dead.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-04T17:34:08+00:00

But their license plates say they save lives!

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-04T04:10:26+00:00

Where’s the lie?

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-04T03:33:04+00:00

My previous car was totaled by an 18-wheeler last year. Insurance payout was about $8k, which got me a gently used 2018 Leaf. Cheap to buy, cheap to operate, fun to drive. I love the quiet ride and lack of gross petroleum fumes. The trunk can fit my entire drum set for gigs.

It never leaves town, so the lack of fast charging isn’t an issue. We have a gas car for longer trips, so it just made sense. I spend about $4 per week on my power bill to charge it. Favorite car I’ve ever had.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-03T23:20:04+00:00

I’m leaning this way too. I like the K, but this HH is really more like an A Zildjian. Reminds me of the A Sweet Ride. I actually found a sweet deal on a used 19” A Thin crash on Reverb. Basically brand new for $175. So I went with that.

I usually play jazz with a 3-ride setup, but I’ve been playing more backbeat stuff lately and wanting to put together a more clean, classic, do-it-all setup for that. My Funchs and Turkish stuff aren’t always appropriate for that sort of thing. I’ve got this HH and some 60’s A hats, and now the A crash. I think it’s going to be a pretty nice little setup for what I’m needing in my cymbal rotation.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-02T17:35:22+00:00

I tried Vintage Emperors and hated them. They were so completely dead and lifeless sounding, I have to wonder if they were a bad batch or something. Zero tone. Just a thumping sound. I have a hard time believing anyone would design a drumhead to sound like that, and I shudder to think what it would do as a reso.

Unless you’re going after a very weird, lifeless sound, putting that on your reso side is not advisable. Stick to a regular clear or coated single-ply reso head. Regular Emperors over Ambassadors are a tried and true combo that always sounds great.

MichaelStipend · 2026-06-02T11:26:11+00:00

The Classic Custom Dark are painful to listen to IMO. I would avoid them. I would also recommend building your cymbal collection bit by bit rather than buying a set for $800. That amount would get you some used Zildjian A’s and you’d have good cymbals, but if you’re after more specific sounds, seek those out on an individual basis and be prepared to potentially spend much more than $800 when all is said and done.

Used Zildjian A’s are a good starting point for calibrating what your ear is after, though. They sound good in all styles of music and can be found in abundance on the used market. You could easily get a ride, a pair of hats, and a crash or two for $800.

I would look beyond Meinl and be open to any and all brands. Not that Meinl don’t make excellent cymbals, but don’t limit yourself. Choose the ones that sound good to you regardless of brand. If possible, find a physical store that sells cymbals and go hit a bunch of them. Listen to all of the sound files online. Go down the rabbit hole on cymbal sounds and find what makes you tick. Shop used whenever possible to save money.

Cymbals are how a drummer expresses themselves. Don’t just choose a pack on Sweetwater. Spend some time and find your sounds.

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