Let's Talk Zildjian Flat Rides

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jashoup

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Jazz players - what have been your favorite Zildjian flat ride models over the years?

For some reason flats have never been my thing but I've played a couple recently that have drawn my interest. Since I'm a Zildjian artist I want to stick to my brand; currently the company only offers a flat in the K Custom range. The K Custom flats I've found online sound nice, but I'm curious what others might be out there that I could find used. I believe there have been A Custom flats, K series flats, I'm sure there were some "vanilla" A series flats at some point. And I know that there were some K Con flats for a very short time. Just curious what your experience with them might have been, and if there were particular models that stood out.

Thanks,

JS
 
My only Zildjian flat is a 20" Tall Stamp flat ride from way back. It was a tad too high-pitched for my taste, but, still, I would use it in an amplified band setting. It does not seem amenable to acoustic or lightly amplified environments.

My favorite flats are my 18 and 19 inch Soultones - one is in the Vintage Series and the other from the Custom series. Actually, their smaller flats from the Latin series are decent. But the Vintage and Custom series are perfect for all acoustic gigs.

I am sure that whatever Zildjian has for a flat in the K Custom line will be pretty nice. I've never played one, but I have owned a lot of K Custom series cymbals and have never been disappointed.
 
I had a IAK 20" Flat years ago that was great but didn't get much use so traded it on DFO. I would agree that anything K Custom probably will be great. I just got a 20" Dark K Custom Ride and it's awesome
 
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I had a 22” K Flat from around 2000 (+/- 10 years). Just a standard K, not K Con, or anything. I used it in a pop band in a sizable room for a couple years. It was a one-trick pony, but a very, very nice trick. Gorgeous, solid ping and subtle wash.
 
I have both K Con & K Custom flats. Both are great, the Con is very thin, great for piano trio and more crash-able, super quick decay. . The K Custom is a bit more versatile (as far as flats go) thicker with more articulation and a touch brighter.
 
I’ve never played one, but it seems people like the 22 inch A custom flat. I think it’s hard to find though.
 
I had 20” K Custom I really enjoyed, sold it about a year ago. It crashed well for a flat, articulate and some complexity (for a flat that is). Some thin flat can be too soft but this had enough muscle for some louder contexts.
 
If you ever happen to see an A Custom Flat for sale, pick it up. You'll surely be pleased. It's too bad they discontinued that one.

Another one to look out for is the ZBT Flat. If it was good enough for Roy Haynes...
 
egw said:
If you ever happen to see an A Custom Flat for sale, pick it up. You'll surely be pleased. It's too bad they discontinued that one.

Another one to look out for is the ZBT Flat. If it was good enough for Roy Haynes...
Click to expand...
Ah, forgot I had the ZHT flat 20" as well, probably because I didn't have it long, and was stolen...that was a great cymbal
 
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I’ve owned a 20” K, 20 K custom, and a 20” K light. The light is my favorite and I still own it and play it with a piano trio, it’s actually crashable.
 
I’ve owned an A Custom 20” flat ride for about twenty years. Great ride, I put two rivets in it, it’s glassy and a little higher pitched than the K’s. I really like that it stands out to the K’s and Constantinoples. Mine isn’t a good crash at all….like none.

I’ve used in acoustic settings with a cover band/Dead cover band over the years.
 
Jeff,

You might want to contact Randy Marsh.

I think he may still have a K Custom flat that I gave him a few years ago.

Not sure if he’s still using it much or not, but he may be open to letting you take a swing at it.
 
The ones I actually played were an old hollow logo 20" A and a new 20" K Custom Light. The A was heavy as a manhole cover and sounded about as good. The K was DOA - barely any sound at all, crashed like a wet blanket. Wonder how that one made it through QC.
Online I heard many nice Zildjian flats so I guess what I´m trying to say is - try before you buy.
 
I have a 20” flat the had all the printing removed, so I’m not really sure what it is, but from the hammering and lathing I think it’s a K Custom Dark.

Really nice. I use it at rehearsals where I want to keep the volume down. Used it tonight as a matter of fact.

And I don’t play jazz with it. Use in a trio with a female vocalist and it’s just perfect.
 
I have a hollow ink era A 20” flat. Its a pretty heavy cymbal. Probably not what most people are looking for out of a flat ride. It basically functions as a very controlled ping ride. Great stick definition, fairly high pitched but not too abrasive, very clean sound. Its nice for playing pop/rock in smaller rooms without getting obnoxious, but wouldn’t be most peoples idea of a jazz ride
 
I've got a 20 A custom flat. I use it surprisingly more than I thought I ever would, even not on the Beauford replica. It turned out to be perfect for one of our studio recordings for a light, airy ride.

Carter Beauford has stated it's his favorite cymbal ever made.
 
egw said:
If you ever happen to see an A Custom Flat for sale, pick it up. You'll surely be pleased. It's too bad they discontinued that one.

Another one to look out for is the ZBT Flat. If it was good enough for Roy Haynes...
Click to expand...

Roy Haynes? No way.

I’m equally shocked Z made a flat in the ZBT line. Wow.
 
TrickRoll said:
Jeff,

You might want to contact Randy Marsh.

I think he may still have a K Custom flat that I gave him a few years ago.

Not sure if he’s still using it much or not, but he may be open to letting you take a swing at it.
Click to expand...

That's cool! I've seen/heard Randy play that cymbal. I have a friend here in the Lansing area that has a 20 K Custom Flat he's going to let me check out.
 
p83 said:
i have been playing and loving a 20 for decades. i would slap my mother in public for a 22.
Click to expand...
When I was going to go see Bill Stewart, someone on here told me to go up to Bill after the show and ask him if he’d sell that ride. I knew it had to be good if somebody was telling me to do that. Also, I saw online that Antonio Sanchez was playing that ride at one point too
 
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