Here is yet another product of the recent trip we took to Warsaw, Poland, to meet up with Krzysztof Dziedzic, who is a drummer known to all drum freaks in Poland. He is an official Zildjian endorser in our country, and his musical C.V. includes collaborations with Nigel Kennedy as well as such Polish jazz classics as Tomasz Szukalski, Henryk Miśkiewicz, Jarosław Śmietana, but also younger stars such as Adam Pierończyk, Piotr Wyleżoł, or Irek Głyk. This year, his solo album “Tempo” was nominated for the Polish Music Industry Award ‘Fryderyk’ in the “Recording Debut of the Year, Jazz” category.
All this makes Krzysztof the perfect partner to test the Zildjian K Sweet cymbals, as that is exactly why we visited the capital of Poland. It is a new series from the renowned cymbal maker, which was premiered at this year’s NAMM Show. We have already published our tests of 15″ and 16″ hi hats, 18″, 19″, 20″ crashes and 21″ and 23″ rides. Now, it is time for the…
18″ Zildjian A Uptown Ride
1. The test
The test was carried out in the most professional studio conditions at, i. e. at the Witold Lutoslawski Polish Radio Concert Studio in Warsaw, Poland. Krzysztof Dziedzic also used K Sweet hats and crashes (already tested on en.beatit.tv).
2. Basic specification of the cymbals tested here:
- Company: Zildjian
- Series: A
- Model: Uptown
- Cymbal type: Ride
- Cymbal size: 18″
- Finish: Natural, unlathed, hammered
- Character: Dry, minimal overtones, good stick definition, crashable
3. Product and sound
Zildjian A Uptown Ride is a cymbal of a diameter smaller than usual, and it is offered as part of the so-called Zildjian City Pack (alongside a 14″ Zildjian A Fast Crash and 12″ Zildjian New Beat hats). It is the manufacturer’s goal to equip drummers who play small venues and in the street and are on the lookout for smaller-sized gear. This 18-inch ride cymbal fulfills this task producing a dry, easily controllable body sound with a distinctive stick definition. Body wash, overtones and decay are significantly reduced compared to standard-sized rides, but warm sound characteristic has remained and is really impressive. The bell also sounds a bit dry, but warm at the same time and is not excessively loud. It’s a beautiful jazz cymbal which could also be used for unplugged shows.
4. Summary
We think we should let Krzysztof Dziedzic himself sum up the whole experience: “Zildjian A Uptown Ride is a wonderfully crafted cymbal, perfect for playing a Hip-Gig-type kit in a small club. I don’t think it likes to be smacked and sounds best when treated with respect and love. I played a gig with this one used as a crash and ride (body plus bell) and the result was great. A good drummer will be able to pull off an entire show with this ride, but also play all that’s necessary in studio.”
Producer: https://zildjian.com/
Distributor in Poland: http://www.adamusic.pl/
OUR VERDICT: 5/5 TOP
Advantages:
- Excellently crafted
- Dry and warm body wash
- Easily controlled
- Magnificent look
Disadvantages:
- None
Drummers and Drummerettes! It’s time to put the 18″ Zildjian A Uptown Ride (still rather unknown to drummers in Poland) to the most important test of all, i. e. the en.beatit.tv viewers’ test! Exclusively for you, we give you Krzysztof Dziedzic!
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