davidio
March 22nd, 2005, 05:50 PM
I have recently discovered that my true love in live ride cymbals (I have yet to take 'em into the studio) is the Paiste 602. But I had a rocky road trying to figure out what I loved about certain 602s that made it my perfect sound. Maybe this post will help folks in the process of building a 602 set. Through the lovely Chicago-based-Bonzo-lovers Bonzoleum and Bonzomoon I have acquired my two ride cymbal "keepers:" The 23" Marching cymbal and the 24" "Medium."
Marching 23"--
Need to be careful buying these. Some "marching" are the heavy kind, some are French or Vienesse, meaning they are medium to med/thin. Unfortunately, although mine seems like a Vienesse (med) type, the only ink on it says "Marching." Big help if you are buying on the bay. I got lucky with mine (Bonzoleum, thank you). Mine is medium weight and possesses some pleasant wash. Both of the rides have a woody stick sound that doesn't wash out: That is a must for me. Compared to Zildjian As with a similar size and profile, these 602s are decidedly brighter if not higher pitched. This bright quality is what makes a woody ride sit in complex mixes and yell "hey, there is a woody wash going on back here! HEYYYYYYY!!" Overall, this is a very present ride. The stick and the wash are equally loud, but with the sound qualities of a softer, jazzier ride. Take the most fantastic old A you've ever heard, then crank up the volume. The marching doesn't wobble much compared to the "medium" but it plays a little. It makes you do a little more of the work, but the sound is wonderful.
The 24" "medium"--
I had a 22" 602 a while and sold it and kicked myself for months afterward. Then I said, "No, I don't care what it takes, I'm gonna buy every 602 I can until I find that sound again." Have YOU ever done that? Anyway, I went through the 22" "Medium Ride." the "Medium Ride" is thicker than the "medium," and it rings and washes like a banshee. If you were laying light with some 7A's that's one thing, but this thing wants to give you more wash than stick when you lay on the gas. And the stick attack has ping qualities instead of the straight-up old-school sticking. Finally I found the "Medium." THAT IS THE SOUND. Not "medium RIDE." Here's why: The cymbal wobbles more than any other ride you will ever play, unless it's a strick jazz cymbal. You can play Zeppelin with this (as Bonham did in the early days)and it's gonna sit right on top of guitars, acoustic strings, whatever...it's got that brightness, but just enough. You can see the unheard frequencies shimmering off in the wobble after you lay into the cymbal. The stick is 90 percent wood and it never, ever gets covered up, because those frequencies in the wash are shimmering away so fast. Because of the wobble, the cymbal plays itself. It takes the stick, then throws it back at you. And its plenty loud for live pop. How else could you get the best of both worlds. The "marching"s are hard to find, but get yourself a 602 "Medium," not a "medium ride," and hold yourself up in the practice room with a bottle of scotch, 'cause you're gonna need it!!
Marching 23"--
Need to be careful buying these. Some "marching" are the heavy kind, some are French or Vienesse, meaning they are medium to med/thin. Unfortunately, although mine seems like a Vienesse (med) type, the only ink on it says "Marching." Big help if you are buying on the bay. I got lucky with mine (Bonzoleum, thank you). Mine is medium weight and possesses some pleasant wash. Both of the rides have a woody stick sound that doesn't wash out: That is a must for me. Compared to Zildjian As with a similar size and profile, these 602s are decidedly brighter if not higher pitched. This bright quality is what makes a woody ride sit in complex mixes and yell "hey, there is a woody wash going on back here! HEYYYYYYY!!" Overall, this is a very present ride. The stick and the wash are equally loud, but with the sound qualities of a softer, jazzier ride. Take the most fantastic old A you've ever heard, then crank up the volume. The marching doesn't wobble much compared to the "medium" but it plays a little. It makes you do a little more of the work, but the sound is wonderful.
The 24" "medium"--
I had a 22" 602 a while and sold it and kicked myself for months afterward. Then I said, "No, I don't care what it takes, I'm gonna buy every 602 I can until I find that sound again." Have YOU ever done that? Anyway, I went through the 22" "Medium Ride." the "Medium Ride" is thicker than the "medium," and it rings and washes like a banshee. If you were laying light with some 7A's that's one thing, but this thing wants to give you more wash than stick when you lay on the gas. And the stick attack has ping qualities instead of the straight-up old-school sticking. Finally I found the "Medium." THAT IS THE SOUND. Not "medium RIDE." Here's why: The cymbal wobbles more than any other ride you will ever play, unless it's a strick jazz cymbal. You can play Zeppelin with this (as Bonham did in the early days)and it's gonna sit right on top of guitars, acoustic strings, whatever...it's got that brightness, but just enough. You can see the unheard frequencies shimmering off in the wobble after you lay into the cymbal. The stick is 90 percent wood and it never, ever gets covered up, because those frequencies in the wash are shimmering away so fast. Because of the wobble, the cymbal plays itself. It takes the stick, then throws it back at you. And its plenty loud for live pop. How else could you get the best of both worlds. The "marching"s are hard to find, but get yourself a 602 "Medium," not a "medium ride," and hold yourself up in the practice room with a bottle of scotch, 'cause you're gonna need it!!