That was also my reaction. Paiste's typically too loud, wet, and washy for jazz but that one...yeah! What's great about Paiste is that each one sounds the same. Example: I buy that 20" Sig Trad Light Ride and you buy one too, both of our cymbals will sound the same (even overtone pitches). By contrast, two Zildjian cymbals of the same size and type can - and often do - sound very different.
This is a perfect video of comparing similar cymbals in a controlled environment. The only thing missing is the choice of sticks which has a HUGE influence on the sound. Choosing my favorite cymbal from these is like choosing my favorite child. Without hearing them in person, my preferred style of light playing would work best with the Istanbul Agop 20" Signature Ride. Thank you!
I thought the symbol sounded okay but when he started playing the drums I realized there's a bunch of compression especially when you place the bass drum everything ducks and sounds like a madlib recording. Still a very useful comparison I haven't seen one with this many cymbals at once before
_Love_ your no-frills presentation and your focus on the cymbal without showing off. Also, playing consistently makes it easier to compare. What I learned; mainly that I should expand my horizons beyond Paiste - despite how nice that Signature Trad Light sounds - and that I still don't like Meinl. My favorite of these is _definitely_ the Agop 22 Trad Jazz, but the Paiste Signature Traditional is wonderful as well.
LIke the Agops, love the 20 Custom. My favorite ride is a K-con 20" medium thin low ride. Bought it 5 years ago and can't stop playing it. Great post! Extremely helpful!
Maybe it's the room, or mic'ing underneath the cymbals, but I felt that all of them sounded a bit too washy. Even the dry cymbals. The Zultan Caz Sizzle sounded the most well-balanced. But to be honest, it might sound even better without rivets.
I really loved this comparison, cuz we can actually get that both Istanbul and Zultan make by far the less "Synthetically, or processed sound" thank you broh
Ride cymbals have always been hard to shop for because they sound so much different in the mix compared to when you're playing alone. You hear more stick sound and fewer overtones in the mix - depending on your band and other factors of course. When I used to play gigs more, I had one set of cymbals for home and one set for playing out. I like drier cymbals more when I'm practicing. Also: Have flat rides fallen out of use in modern jazz? I had a 2002 Flat Ride when I was about 19 and it was weird but I loved it. PS: Sorry to double-comment but your video provoked me, lol 🙂
Thanks! It’s always hard to process audio clips to the real world, many factors to consider past the recorded clip as well. I love that little riff you do, like maybe a 5 stroke between the bass & snare!
Hi guys, many thanks for the review and effort! But only one thing that would make it way nicer and accurate is using a standart jazz mic configuration with condenser overheads. It has a more realistic, accurate and open sound instead of this concentrated 'boomy' sound more for pop/rock. cheers!
Not a fan of close miking snare drum and bass drum when it's about demonstrating cymbals in particular ride cymbals ..above all jazz ride cymbals ! Take a closer look at the 'Memphis drum shop' videos so you know what I mean . Cheers
I’m grateful you’ve gone to the trouble of recording this. However it’s a bit disheartening as I like to listen to a variety of music, much with roots in Jazz but all these cymbals sound horrible . All there is is a loud start to the sound and then a blur of dystonic frequencies like a sonic assault by a wall. it’s not possible to play these things musically. it’s just continuous viomitous noise
What a nice Comparison; thanks. For me, Agop 22 trad jazz is the best by far, having very rich and well balanced sound. Zultan 21 sizzle has a bit weak but nice sound, I liked it also.
Absolutely; I'm with ya. 👍 Listened to them all several times, and that's the one. Having been a loyal Paiste fan for years while playing in rock bands, I _wanted_ to love those Paiste rides but they just wash _so fast!_ Their Sig Trad Light Ride is definitely a nice cymbal though.
@@bveracka By the way, mine (I have a 22 trad jazz) has a darker and softer sound, this one (at the video) has more ballanced and a bit brighther sound; mine is 2200 gr. and the 22 trad jazz at the video may heavier. I prefer mine. And, by the way, imho, agop trad "signature" is the most interesting cymbal for this category; but they must be at least 21 inc to show their charasteristics. And additionally I love paiste too and I agre, Sig Trad Light Ride at the video is very nice.
@@euexThanks for the thoughtful reply. All cymbals made in the Turkish way have unique sound. The cymbals are slowly rolled and hammered from an ingot, whereas Paiste stamps a "blank" disk from a sheet of bronze alloy, _then_ lathe and hammer it. These two processes produce very different results. Because of the great variation in sound, whenever I buy a cast cymbal, I go to a music store to play it, or get it from a shop with good recordings/videos of each individual cymbal. Again, that's why I love Paiste because there is _very little_ variation in sound between their cymbals, but finding that one special and unique Turkish cymbal is awesome. 👍
Excellent comparison. Most of these cymbals are impressive. I prefer the Zildjian Constantinoples and the Istanbul Mehmet. They all have their own merits.
Im fussy about ride cymbals. Every one you played I will be looking for. They all passed the ear test for the sound I like. But if I could only have one it would be Istanbul Agop 22 traditional. I noticed you only grabbed the Istanbul Agop because they ring till morning like UFIP. You certainly know how to pick em.
I prefer the fully lathed cymbals, they have more shimmer. Still dry but not too dry. The Jazz master, the K-cons and the Agop Trad jazz sound best to my ears.
I liked your short, sweet and right to the point style. Playing the same thing over and over helps comparing too. The compression takes over hard though when the drums kick in. Nice work!
A test with a K 22, The rythmatist ride, Rugged ride from paiste, and a colorsound ride.. MYabe what and why te metal aloys from the cymbal what to obtain from those... pore ping, ? mor sustain mor shishhhh, retain or atack, or else.. and the hammering what does? it compress the metal so i fiugre maybe give more ping, more stick rebound, that also increases with the thicknes of the cymbal, more solid surfase les amortiguation
