By the way, just as a comparative reference, what rides do you like the sound of, or like to play?
The K's I like, I can't afford. I like thick and heavy one's. I have a late 60's A crash that's pretty thick with 6 rivit holes. I filled the holes with various rivets but the sizzle sound is too much. My current ride is a really thick Sabian 20" and it sits flat on a saw table but if you turn it, it looks warped. The crash has only one flatter plain but the ride has at least two.
I tried many many thin cymbals both Zildjian Paiste but thin just sucks. I hit hard on the drums and sometimes the Brass too. It's hard to find a thick cymbal that doesn't clang but mine don't. I dig the fire truck bell sound and I like stick from wood tip only.
I got hat's that only say Japan in itty bitty letters on the very edge, they are thick, trap air when flat and are more Copper than mix. They shine like a new penny when I clean them.
For playing, I play the bell, the little flat at the bottom, then about two inches away from the bell, you get kind of a dead sound but as I walk the sticks, fast or slow, toward the edge, I get various effects depending on how fast/hard I hit. Like going to the edge of a snare, it changes pitch. I like getting tree pitches from bell to flat to edge but I've gotten as many as five. One time my wife thought I was playing a few cymbals when all I was using was the top Hat. She goes, "You were playing those cymbals long enough" but it was just the top hat. The big ride has more options and none of my cymbals wash until I make them. Between your fingers and sticks, there's a lot you can do on one cymbal. The Hats are endlessness.
