I like my Trans stamps ride at 22" or 20" heavy or thick..That's just me..

I would not go with a crash/ride cymbal i just don't like the sound of them.

Also when it comes to picking out a ride i like to hear it first by it self on a stand and do some stick work on it..Oh if you used more than one size of stick use one of each that you play with,the sound will not be the same from stick to stick..

Mikey

Thanks Mikey. Good tip about using my sticks. I do have a very specific stick I like to use. It's a close copy of a Slingerland 1S wood tip. VERY different sound than any modern design.

So you like the heavy trans stamp rides? Good to know.

If you want faster decay, I'd lean toward a 20" rather than a 22".

I recently heard (and liked) the 21" A Zildjian sweet ride that I think fits an odd void between K zildjians and A zildjians.

BUT, if you want period correct cymbals for your kit, I don't have much advice. I have a mid 50's A Zildjian 22" ride that has a tremendous stick and bell, but also excessive (in my opinion) wash. It is very heavy in weight too.

Good luck with your search!

(and I second the stick has a huge impact on the sound of a ride)

You might want to consider some late '50s or early '60s A's. Until two years ago, I played with two late '50s 20" rides, one of which I used as a left-side crash ride. Very sweet sounding, good stick definition and not IMO an excessive amount of wash. I also had an early '60s 22" ride (medium-light 2320 grams) but just found it too big for my liking . I don't like thick or heavy cymbals so my 20"ers were medium-light and light in weight at 1930 and 1870 grams respectively.

Another option may be some K Custom Darks. Other than my hi-hats, I've switched to those in the last two years and found them to blend quite nicely with the vintage '50s and '60s cymbals that I was still using during the transition period. Again though, all are lighter cymbals (from a splash at 430 grams to a ride at 2190 grams) and, nothing new. All my K Custom Darks are dated between 2000 and 2008.

WOW!

This is so very interesting! I recently got myself a pair of K Custom Dark Hi Hats (13" in my case) and I'm really diggin' 'em. So, I started looking into that line for a crash and ride options. The 18" crash I like a lot (I have tried several now), but smaller ones I'm not too crazy about (of the ones I have tried- 16 and 17 inch sizes).

The 20" ride is also decent (I have not tried as many of these yet). I DO NOT like the K Custom Dark Complex ride, which I think is getting too dark and too trashy for my taste.

I just find it interesting as I found these in a round about way.

Edited to ad that I think some cymbals from this line fit the gap between current regular K's and current regular A's. Pretty cool!

Hey...I'm gonna piggyback this.

Im also gathering some 50s/60s As for the 1969 Buddy Rish kit.

So far...a 22 Zlidjian with the 'block stam' letters. Pretty thin, with rivets, and very nice.

Am early 60's 20 I bought from a forum dude, some 13" hats (14'sa too, that I thought were 50's, but one is 60's...still sound good).

But I'm having a hard time finding a good crash. Tried a couple of 18s, but they sound too heavy. I'd like brighter, quick decay kind of thing. So now I'm in the market for a 16.

Will all the 50's 16s have the dark sound the 18s have?? Or are these just too heavy?

Anyone have one I might be able to afford (as in less than 200 or so)?

Oh, yeah... I did pick up a 12 Trans stamp that the previous owner had carved a little bit out of the edge to avoid a crak. Result? I could afford it. Cool splash...and looks right for the bass mounted L arm!

I also kept the Craig Lauritsen 20" Johan Tribute cymbal. Just too cool...and a one off.

Seller's remorse on those cymbals!

Does it 'have to' be Zildjian?

http://istanbulmehmet.com/products/sultan-series/83

Lots of great brass out there that fit your sound requirements. Shopping around is half the fun!

John

Well, John, you have a point.... but I am going to use the Zildjians...my first drum teacher started me out on a Ludwig Downbeat with Zildjians. And in my mind, they are the ones for the vintage kit.

No, it doesn't make much sense.

BTW, your signature reminds me: "It's Peoples Commisioner Tirebiter now, and nobody's sweetheart!"

Boy, I hope I have the right reference!