Ride cymbals are as important as any other drum piece and finding the best ride cymbal available on the market for a particular price point can be a tricky and time consuming task.
Later on we’ll discuss the main reasons why drummers struggle to find the best fit for their needs on the things to consider section of this buying guide.
But first let’s start with our list for the top ride cymbals designed for diverse price points and different musical styles like rock, metal, jazz and funk.
Without further ado let’s dive right into it:
The first ride cymbal in my list is the Zildjian K Constantinople 22” Ride cymbal. Among the many reasons why you should consider it, I will only name a few.
First of all, Zildjian K Constantinople 22” Ride cymbal is the pinnacle of Zildjian’s craftsmanship. This brand is one of the leaders in the drum gear industry, and the fact that this is one of their best ride cymbals means something.
Secondly, Zildjian K Constantinople 22” Ride cymbal is a professional-level ride cymbal. This will dissuade the beginners and drummers who’re on a budget, but, if you’re ever in a financial position to afford spending a couple of hundred dollars don’t think twice.
Furthermore, this ride cymbal has a superior performance and versatility. It can fit any drum setup with great ease. This is provided by a set of outstanding features, including the cluster hammering, medium weight, and the thin texture.
Lastly, Zildjian K Constantinople 22” Renaissance Ride cymbal excels in aesthetics. It’s one of the most beautiful ride cymbals out there.
The only downfall is that this ride cymbal costs quite a lot, but this is easily compensated for by the manifold of exceptional features.
Zildjian K Constantinople 22” Ride cymbal is also extremely durable. This ride cymbal was specifically designed for all jazz drummers by Zildjian’s artisan Adam Nussbuam.
It’s perfect for smaller and medium-size drum setups, but virtually any kind of musical setting will accommodate it easily, mainly due to the high level of versatility it provides.
Apart from that, the medium-thin texture of Zildjian K Constantinople 22” Renaissance Ride cymbal provides an outstanding sound output and acoustic resonance. All in all, this is the ultimate ride cymbal, if you can afford it.
Here we have one of Sabian’s ride master piece, the Sabian 21” HH Raw Bell Dry Ride Cymbal. Basically, this is one of their high-end products, as it belongs to the lower bracket of the “expensive” price point category, but it’s highly versatile and very valuable for the cash.
Sabian 21” HH Raw Bell Dry Ride Cymbal was constructed from premium-quality materials and its design features high-definition sticking and accurate, unlathed cuts for optimum performance and maximum sound clarity.
Needless to say, Sabian 21” HH Raw Bell Dry Ride Cymbal is very durable, its performance is off the charts, but it’s not exactly affordable, at least not by everyone.
Istanbul Mehmet Cymbals might not sound all too familiar, at least when compared to Zildjian, Meinl, or Sabian, but you’d be missing out if you didn’t give them a shot. Now, this particular cymbal (the Nostalgia 24” Ride) is a masterpiece, handcrafted in Istanbul, specifically for jazz drummers.
Even though it doesn’t look traditional, it delivers upon the promise of quality without fail.
Istanbul Mehmet Cymbals Nostalgia 24” Ride is a unique ride cymbal, outfitted with a smooth bell bridge.
Needless to say, it’s ideal for jazz drummers due to its specific texture and width, but it’s also extremely reminiscent to the Turkish rides built in the early 70’s.
All in all, this is one of the best ride cymbal models for the cash.
Another Sabian ride cymbal in our review, the Sabian 21” HHX Groove Ride cymbal is definitely a cymbal any drummer should at least consider. Namely, this is one of the best Sabian ride cymbals for the cash.
Why is that?
This cymbal delivers a precise, clear tone that can easily be distinguished among various high-quality cymbals.
Furthermore, the HHX tone is something you need in your drummers arsenal if you’re going pro – this cymbal offers superior performance and plenty of versatility specially for funk at an affordable price.
On that matter, Sabian 21” HHX Groove Ride cymbal belongs to the upper bracket of the “medium” price point category.
Sabian 21” HHX Groove Ride cymbal constructed of durable, high-quality materials, hammered, and cut in the traditional Sabian style.
Its efficacy can be best seen through the marvelous, exquisite design, which is also one of the reasons why most professionals go for Sabian.
Here we have one of the best ride cymbal models from Zildjian’s A Series with 21” in diameter. This ride cymbal features a copper/tin mixture with the traditional, brilliant finish.
Essentially, this Zildjian’s A series Sweet Ride cymbal is a moderately priced cymbal, but it’s more than just beautiful. This ride cymbal is very versatile, which means that it can easily complement any drum setup.
Zildjian’s A Series Sweet Ride cymbal features a texture made of Copper (80%) and Tin (20%). By knowing this, we can safely deduce that this cymbal has the ability to provide an excellent sound output without sacrificing durability.
What’s more, it features a traditional, brilliant finish, making it one of the most beautiful ride cymbals out there. All in all, Zildjian’s Sweet Ride is worth every single cent.
Check my buying guide for the best cymbals for rock.
Simply put, Meinl’s Custom extreme metal 18” ride cymbal is one of the best ride cymbal models in our review for metal. It features a huge bell and a masterfully hammered texture that offers a perfect combination for Metal drummers.
This ride cymbal was constructed using the B10 bronze alloy and High-tech computerized technology.
All in all, Meinl’s Custom extreme metal 18” ride cymbal is extremely durable, even though its performance would best fit a metal drum setup.
Next on our list is Zildjian’s ZBT 22” ride cymbal. This cymbal offers a medium-high tone with precise, clean definition that works like a charm in any drum setup. This is also one of the largest ride cymbals from the Zildjian’s ZBT series.
In summary, Zildjian’s ZBT 22” ride cymbal is an affordable ride cymbal that boasts high values of versatility and performance.
Zildjian’s ZBT 22” ride cymbal was precisely hammered and constructed from high-quality, durable materials. It’s a sturdy cymbal that offers plenty of versatility, but, in the end, it can’t compare to the latest Zildjian cymbals.
Overall, it holds a high value for the cash, mainly due to its affordability.
It’s not just the material that was used in the construction process – usually it’s the technology and skill that determines the build quality of a ride cymbal. The way cymbals are forged, hammered, and sliced – those are the factors that determine the build quality of a ride cymbal.
The reason why most people avoid shopping online is very simple. You can’t get a good look of what you’re buying, and you usually can’t predict the value of a ride cymbal before you try it out. Some ride cymbals are very durable while some are quite flimsy.
Don’t worry though, the models we’ve reviewed are built to last, guaranteed. You can also check other types of cymbals like low volume solutions if need to practice silently.
As it’s a standard problem with all buyable things, there are various price point categories of ride cymbals. Starting with the “budget” price range (which is affordable for everyone), over “medium”, to “extremely expensive”. Needless to say, the latter is meant for people who are prepared to spend more on a ride cymbal, including professional drummers and collectors.
Now, this one is pretty self-explanatory. Whenever you see random letters and numbers (people call it a brand, for some reason), you can get a clear picture of what’s going on. Now, Sabian, Meinl, Zildjian, and such – that’s different. These are the names of the prominent leaders in the drumming industry.
Now, average ride cymbals may be fun to play on. Decent ride cymbals may be somewhat more expensive while offering better sound quality, but the best ride cymbals are something else entirely.
Namely, only the best ride cymbals are capable of providing the drummer with the tools needed to set the stage on fire during live shows. Apart from that, these cymbals provide a more natural tone when practicing.
If you’re looking for more than one cymbal be sure to check our buying guide about the best Cymbal Packs or go through our Hi Hat Buying Guide. Also be sure to check our article on the Best Drums for Jazz.
Now, after hours of intensive research, we’ve compiled this list of the best ride cymbals out there. All you have to do is simply kick back, enjoy, and take your pick.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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