A MetalHead Meathead to be precise.

Personally, I think Tony Williams ride that he used on Nefratiti is right up there with Mel's. Of course when you have that sort of touch you can make anything sound good.

Anyone ever hear what happened to that ride, or what it's worth?

This is probably the most discussed ride cymbal of all time. I tend to agree with most others that it was a combination of being a nice old K, along with Tony's touch and sticks, and the excellent recording techniques used on those few days at Columbia's 30th St sudio.

Cindy Blackman has a 22" K that she says is "the" Nefertiti ride, but I wonder. I know a drummer that studied with Tony who quoted him as saying, "I've sold the Nefertiti ride about a hundred times", meaning that he had sold a bunch of 22" old K's and told the buyer that it was the Nefertiti ride. Cindy's is on loan from Wallace Roney, and from what I understand, they don't know for sure that it was the Nefertiti ride, they just "think" it is because it has rivet holes. Hardly proof to me! But still a great ride cymbal. To really try to figure it out you would need to get crazy with old photos and spend some time trying to recreate the recording techniques used at Columbia.

Value? I don't know that it would sell for 35K, unless Charlie Watts wanted it!

Thanks,

Bill

Well, here's my :2Cents:

You can pay $35K for a cymbal, but you are going to have to come up with much more than $35K for that beat-- whether you are talking Mel, Tony, Buddy, Elvin or the list goes on...

The point is that it is likely to sound like a garbage can lid in the hands of most...

I played this cymbal at Maxwells awhile back before Charlie bought it. A very cool cymbal, but i don't think if It didn't belong to Mel, anyone in their right minds would pay more than $300 for it. kinda sounds like a dead old A with a very quick speaking crash.

I was told back in the 90's that Tony was using 2B sticks during that era (63-68) so I practiced with them for years. Pretty cool to think he was getting that tone with those tree trunks! Do you know if that is true?

Well, it is and it isn't. Yes, he used 2B's, but Gretsch 2B's in the 60's were nothing like a standard 2B is today. They were more like the modern version of a 5B. I believe that Tony did go to thicker sticks during the 80's.

Thanks,

Bill

Mel's Trans Stamp A. Zildjian in color:

The Band

And with that chocolate patina it looks absolutely delicious. No wonder there's been bites taken out of it. That cymbal would be just about enough to tempt anybody.