Zildjian K Constantinople 22″ Review:
What To Expect from This Ride
Quality
We loved the sound quality of this cymbal. It has such an epic low-pitched tone that rings out very musically when you strike it near the bottom.
As you play up the bow, the sounds get a bit tighter, offering more articulation. The bell is the brightest and highest-pitched part of the ride to hit, but it still has a lower sound than most other bells.
When you crash the cymbal, you get a very warm crashing sound that covers the kit with musical intensity.
These cymbals are often weighted differently, so it’s normal for two K Constantinople 22” rides to sound slightly different from each other.
You get the main fundamental sounds, but then you’ll get a few differences to make your personal ride sound unique.
Construction
The cymbal is made with Zildjian’s B20 cast bronze alloy. As we said earlier, this is the highest-quality alloy that Zildjian uses, so you get the best construction quality.
The cymbal has been hand-hammered to add more character and complexity to the sounds.
It’s also been designed to have a medium weight. A 22” cymbal with a medium weight is still quite heavy, but it’s still very manageable to carry around.
It also means you can hit it hard repeatedly without worrying too much about durability. We know drummers that have owned these rides for more than a decade without them breaking or cracking.
Performance
We think this ride is incredibly versatile. It just works within so many different cymbal setups, as it always sounds musical and responsive.
It works fantastically as a main ride or as a crash-ride, so you can strike the edge to get big crashing sounds when playing loud choruses.
The bell also has enough cutting power to be heard clearly.
Lastly, the stick definition you get is great. The stick strokes are so articulate when you play the bow that you can hear every small detail of whatever patterns you’re playing.
Price Value Ratio
With this being one of Zildjian’s best cymbals, it’s also one of the most expensive. Ride cymbals are typically your priciest options, but this one is especially pricey.
If you’re willing to pay for it, the performance and value you get from it is definitely worth the cost.
We also think it’s worth saving up for this so that you can use it for years. After using it as a main ride for a while, you won’t regret paying the high price for it.