You can easily purchase a regular Zildjian ride used for the price of a ZBT new. ZBT, B8, etc. usually have strange overtones. ZHT is better.

Hi Brian!

I´m no expert on cymbals either. Just can give you some thoughts:

Do you have any chance to "test drive" said cymbal before buying it?

Reviews are helpful to find a direction and to sort out in the run-up to buying.

But - so I found out for myself - best decision guidance is given by your ears. Will the certain cymbal fit into your already existing set, sound-wise?

Or is the sound the one you´re looking for?

Back in the 80´s I stumbled over a Zildjian "Scimitar" 20" Ride - which was an entry-level-line, maybe comparable to the nowaday´s ZBT.

I was amazed how good it sounded at a cost of (today) about 75$! Still have it.

Not only high end instruments can sound good - as we all here know ;)

Hope this is a bit of help for you.

Cheers, Jurgen

I had a medium 20" ZBT plus and a 16 crash that I got with a kit. Sounded good for entry level cymbals. I think that musical context is important. In a loud, heavy rock band I think you can get away with a 'cheaper' ride easier than in a small jazz combo where the ride has times when it would be in focus and take up some real estate in the overall mix.

Play it. If you like it buy it. If you don't keep looking.

I used a B8 ride for over ten years, and for what I was doing at the time it was perfect. I never personally liked the lower end Zildjian lines such as ZBT,ZHT, etc... I'd look into getting something used. You can probably find a really nice ride on the cheap. My first ride ( still have it ) was a 22" Paiste 2002 Heavy Ride. $89 and the thing is practically new. Had that, woah almost 20 years now. But if you do wanna go with a ZBT, buy used. You'll spend almost $100 for it new, and the most you'd ever get resale is $20. So you may find one on the real cheap.

For some reason the 21" Rock Rides made by Zildjian and Sabian go for cheap, but in my opinion are excellent all-around rides.

Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate your input. I think I'll shop around a bit, like some have suggested, for a used Zildjian of a higher end scale. Thanks again. Like I say, I am no expert at anything. Willing to learn though!

Brian

Ride cymbals,and cymbals in general are so subjective sound wise. I have a friend who plays in a 5 piece cover band and the crash he uses above his 12" is an A Custom 16".Every time he hits it I cringe...but he thinks it fine, and I'm the only person who's ever said a thing about it. It sounds like a car accident to me.

First, if you already have some cymbals, try to take them along to see how they sound with the new one. The new one may sound fine by itself, but if it doesn't blend with what you already have, then you're wasting money, IMHO.

Second, get the best cymbal you can for what you can afford. No shame in buying used if it has the sound you seek. I'd say that I purchased about 80 percent of my cymbals used ... I've found that it can take several years to get a new one dialed in.

Third, with Zildjian and Sabian especially, there will be some variance among cymbals of the same line and size. That's neither good nor bad, it's just a vagary of their manufacturing process. Because of this, it's as possible to find a diamond within the ZHT line as it is to find a clunker among the A line. I have a friend who is as much of a cymbal snob as I am who uses a ZHT ride with a bunch of A crashes and hats. I was taken aback at first, but I have to admit that that cymbal sounds great alone and with its partners. It probably wouldn't work with my setup, but it doesn't have to. Ultimately, go with what sounds best to you.

Al

Thanks, Al! I am of the same mind as you. If it sounds good to the individual, then go for it! I'll try out this cymbal on Monday! Thank you, sir.

Brian