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. and 18″, 19″, 20″ crashes. Now, it is time for…
Zildjian K Sweet: 21″ and 23″ rides
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: K Sweet
- Cymbal type: Ride
- Cymbal size: 21″ i 23″
- Finish: Natural, randomly hammered
- Character: fast response for a ride cymbal, very crashable, warm and full body wash
- Weight: Medium thin
3. The product and the sound
The K Sweet family is Zildjian‘s attempt to extend the legendary K series “into a new direction of tonal colors that are dark, sweet, and responsive”. That’s exactly what the rides tested here are. Both are perfectly crashable and crashrideable, the stick definition is just beautiful with a warm body wash around it, the bell is slightly louder than the body (no glaring disproportion, though). In all of these instances, the sound is simply exquisite and honey-sweet. The 21″ ride cymbal is brighter and higher in pitch when compared to its 23-inch brother.
4. Summary
We think we should let Krzysztof Dziedzic himself sum up the whole experience: “Zildjian K is a universal cymbal family which has a great deal of stylistic applications. You can instantly hear the Sweet series is its kin. There are no bad or mediocre Ks because they are so versatile. This feature also characterizes Zildjian K Sweet cymbals. The rides are perfect for such genres as Latino, Afro-Cuban, or electro. The bells are quite high-pitched, which not every jazz drummer will like, but the cymbals are so precious-sounding and selective that they will work in a jazz environment as well. I would say they’re a breath of fresh air in Zildjian’s catalog. They’re not quiet, and you have to learn how to use them, but they’ll repay you for having done that.”
Producer: https://zildjian.com/
Distributor in Poland: http://www.adamusic.pl/
OUR VERDICT: 5/5 TOP
Advantages:
- Excellently crafted
- Quick response for a ride, warm and full body wash
- Stylistic versatility
- Magnificent look
Disadvantages:
- None
Drummers and Drummerettes! It’s time to put the 21″ and 23″ Zildjian Sweet rides (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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