I'm sure this is covered somewhere, but what size and weight was Buddy's ride cymbal? Was there ever any variation?

Hi, I've heard that Buddy for the most part used a 20" Avedis Medium ride.

He also used a A Rock ride on the light side. In the early to mid 60s it was a A 19". In the early 80s it was listed as a 20" A LIGHT ride ( medium thin). I remember seeing a AMIR or something as well. In some photos or video I've seen his ride looked like a 22" A medium. Tommy could most likely let us know.:2Cents:

Yeah... this is what we are all chatting about here! Buddy played a bunch of different rides over the years. That was probably THE cymbal that he changed out the most. We have all seen the various models that he tried over the years in pics... film... video... etc. I think it would be safe to say that if all the rides were averaged out, the 20" "A" Zildjian Medium Ride would be the most popular/most used by him. This is just my opinion of course, but it is based on years and years of being a BR fan... and a huge collection too! As to what weight his ride was... wow ... who would know??!! I would have to say again that the 20" "A" Zildjian in a medium weight was probably the most played/used. Interestingly,

In later years Buddy would "tape" the bottom on some of his ride cymbals in an effort to make them a little "drier" with a bit more stick definition. I always thought that a bit odd as you have to figure he could have requested a ride in a little heavier weight, which I have no doubt that Zildjian would have gotten right out to him. I'd love to ask him... although his answer would depend entirely on his particular mood when you asked him!

Tommyp

this was during the time that I saw him also, check out the paiste ride cymbal Buddies playing on!!! [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-oMkry35F8&feature=related[/ame]

Yes indeed... and this clip of "One O'Clock Jump" is from the 1984 Berlin Jazz Festival where BR and the band just blew everyone away. The Paiste ride cymbal makes sense as he was playing it as a "favor"... or perhaps a gift... from Paiste. Buddy was still a Zildjian artist/endorser, but he was in Europe, and Paiste is in Switzerland, and... LOL! I wasn't aware that he continued playing this ride when he returned to the states, but that is of course entirely possible. Regardless, he returned to his Zildjian "A" s shortly thereafter... until the next one came along!

Tommyp

I bought a 22" vitage K Zildjian that Cathy Rich sold to Guitar Center....and of the 5 I have it is definately the best.

It`s very well balanced and I`m very happy to have it.

I think Buddy sas sent 'the best' that the K guys could send him.

I know this cause I owned a drum shop for 24 years and say this to be the case.

Anyway....whatever

k

Keith, that was the other one I mentioned above. There was yours and this really thin one. Is yours also in nearly unplayed condition?

-Bill

Karnaky!...

Very cool that you have one of the two BR K's... as Bill has the other one... but just to clarify:

I have no doubt that Buddy TRIED the "K" Zildjian rides/crashes as there was an active ad campaign done at the time... ( I have a copy of the ad and Drumaholic also posted one up earlier in this thread ) ... but what I am saying is that I have never SEEN any evidence that Buddy actively gigged/played with the "K" Zildjians, and again, I am basing this on my 43 year collection of "all things Buddy", inclusive of pics... film... video... ads... interviews... books... etc. A lot of it rare and long out of print. I would love to see a pic with Buddy actually playing the "K" Zildjians in a LIVE setting... but I don't think any exist as the "K" sound wasn't the Buddy sound, thus he always returned to the "A" Zildjians. That being said...

I have no doubt that the cymbals Cathy Rich sold to GC are indeed PERFECT examples of two "K" Zildjian rides, because agreed again: They were made/picked expressly for Buddy's use and/or to try out. Beauties I'm sure!... but not a model that he ever actively played.

Tommyp

One time when I was talking with Buddy on the bus after one of his tirades,.....oh yeah that wasn't me. I have a friend who played/toured with Buddy from the mid 80s almost until his death. The next time he's in town I'm going to talk to him about gear. He's a sax player so I'm not sure how much he noticed about the kit, but he does have some great stories.

So what size was that swish cymbal? Is it the same as a swish knocker? Do they still make them? Haven't seen one in the zildjian catalog.

Found this on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Zildjian-Avedis-Swish-Knocker-22-/320559183246?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa2d0f58e

Maybe I just answered my own question unless this is different. Also 2 new ones on ebay.