looks like the same stamp on my 18" k ride.

which is the "intermediate stamp" (1958-62)

its worth a pretty penny too..

what did you pay for the drumset? (cymbal might be worth more)

the forum member "Drumaholic" is the K master around here.

he'll tell you everything you would want to know and then some.

good luck!

Just like you said, and just like your own 18" too; an intermediate stamp.

I would say go ahead and clean the bottom side now that the top has been done albeit imperfectly. Looks like the sig is gone, so nothing to worry about in erasing anything. So just do the bottom the same way without getting too particular about it. Even the top still looks gunky enough to satisfy most who might want to buy it anyway. Then just let it patina up naturally from there. And that's a good era for old K's, by the way. Not an old stamp or a new stamp, but in-between the two. Hence the name. Even though its an in-betweener, the intermediates share a closer genetic link to the old stamps IMO. Looks real nice, with broad impact hammering up the ying yang. You were very lucky to get that.

The signature is still present, though slightly faded. It just didn't show up very well in the pic. I have no intent in flipping this one, as it may very well be the most prized cymbal I'll ever own. I am curious, however, to know the value of this baby. Initially, I was haggling with the seller over his asking price for the drum kit. That was before I looked in the cymbal bag!

That's worth $2000 - $2400, or even more if somebody hears it and thinks "that's the one". I sold a 22" of the same vintage and weight for $4000 to somebody who really wanted just that sound.

If you're going to keep it then that's all the more reason to the go ahead and clean it the rest of the way if you want to. And if you want to save the signature then just mask it off with masking tape or duct tape that's cut to custom fit the area where the signature is.

It's a heavy intermediate stamp K. During his tenure with Miles Davis this is exactly the kind of cymbal Tony Williams was using. If it's got that "Tony" sound the value could be through the roof. I wouldn't clean it myself. The darker and stankier the better. I also wouldn't worry about the signature. The people who would be able to appreciate this cymbal aren't looking for shiney but if you don't intend to sell it it's your call.

I'm curious about the profile. Does it flange down at the outer edge a bit?

With that weight and that era, it just might be similiar to Tony's. It's got all the right parameters for it, that's for sure.

Kind of looks like it went thru a fire.......

not your normal patina

Maybe it spent most of its life near the salt water air. That'll do it every time.

I once brought a shiny old new stamp down to Florida, and within days it started turning beautiful shades of brown and purple.

You need a microphone and the right software (sound card + driver) in your computer. Go to your local computer store, and I'm sure they can fix you up. I'd love to hear it.