Reviews
"This 26" has so much spread, so much depth, so much everything. To give you an idea, the oceanic spread, the roar of complex body tones, mean that even if you play it really, really softly with the lightest stick, while the stick still responds precisely, the hissy wash, like my tinnitus, never really goes away. Controlling this surf-like wash is key then, but if you want the ultimate velvety warm, trashy, spready ride, here it is. The bell being hand-hammered has more of a contiguous bond with the cymbal body than is usually the case. The whole massive cymbal feels as one. It is a fabulously rich, darkly blending, all-enveloping beast." - Geoff Nicholls
"I've been a drummer for 34 years and have played a great deal of equipment. This cymbal is the most dynamic instrument I've ever played on. One tap at the edge gives a mellow, dark roar, yet all stick definition is intact. Sounds increase in complexity and volume as you move up the cymbal, and use different parts of the stick. Best of all (for me, growing up playing metal), the bell is strong and piercing." - Matt R.
"Although fairly unusual by today's standards, a cymbal with this mighty wingspan is not without precedent. At the height of its powers, the Stan Kenton big band commissioned cymbals that included two 26" crashes and a 30" ride. Larger cymbals are becoming more popular again, to fit the demands of the spacious-sounding recordings being made by some of today's rock, pop, and jazz artists. All the ride cymbals in the 30th Anniversary series are described as offering a "rich yet definitive sticking with a complex, dark roar underneath." That statement proved to be completely accurate. If you play these cymbals using an Erskine-esque grip, where the hand acts as a resonating chamber for the stick, you get a lovely woody attack from the giant 26" ride that's met from below by a smoky wash. There's also a noticeable dip in the midrange. This ride is just the right weight for its size. It responded very well in feel and sound to every stick weight and bead design I tried. The shallow profile of the bell means it will not be as isolated from the rest of the cymbal sound, but the bell remained very clear." - Colin Woodford
"This 26" Anniversary is the biggest ride we've ever grappled with in terms of breadth of sound - so much spread, so much depth, so much everything. To give you an idea, the oceanic spread, the roar of complex body tones, mean that even if you play it really, really softly with the lightest stick, while the stick still responds precisely, the hissy wash, like my tinnitus, never really goes away. Controlling this surf-like wash is key then, but if you want the ultimate velvety warm, trashy, spready ride, here it is. The bell being hand-hammered has more of a contiguous bond with the cymbal body than is usually the case. The whole massive cymbal feels as one. It is a fabulously rich, darkly blending, all-enveloping beast." - Adam Jones
