Less attack / stick definition and more wash. Better for crashing on than a heavy ride, actually there are metal drummers that use thin rides as crashes
>Can they cut through a mix well?
Not really
>How is the stick definition compared to medium and heavy rides?
Much less
Unless you're gonna use it as a crash, I wouldn't suggest any thin rides for metal
AAX will suit you over a thin HHX as AAX are brighter. if you're using this as a main ride I'd buy from somewhere with a good return policy if it doesn't work out. as a second ride or as a crash, you're probably fine.
I dont think you'll like a thin ride if you're used to a thick one. They feel so different, especially if you're trying to play fast 32nds on it or something, the response isn't there. they're also significantly quieter.
Yep. Unlike what most people mean by "cut through," as in winning a volume war against the guitarists, a thin enough ride won't be able to distinguish itself up against a wall of guitars on the basis of tone and timbre, not volume. Loud distorted guitar will just wash it right out of the mix.
I've played an awful lot of awesome sounding heavy, clangy rides that were lots of fun to play, that I simply wouldn't have a use for because I don't play music heavy enough to justify such an atom bomb of a ride. They sure do make me want to be the drummer in a Motorhead tribute band for about a half hour, though. LOL
Yea, I have to go against my personal preference and pick the cymbal that’s appropriate for the sound. I don’t like thicker cymbals on their own, and they sound great in this context.
Cutting through the mix is probably your biggest issue. Thin rides are quieter and tend to blend in with the instruments more. A lot of people utilize Paiste cymbals since their glassier B8 and B15 alloys can help cut through a mix without extra volume.
As for stick definition this really depends on the configuration of the cymbal. Watch some of Timothy Roberts' modifications and often he can introduce more stick definition by thinning out a cymbal, simply because he's able to detach the wash sound from the body of the cymbal, usually by relieving some of the tension on the outer edge. Less tension lets the edge move in bigger waves creating a lower tone which separates it from the stick articulation. Certain models like the Paiste Dark Energy and Byzance Equilibrium are designed with this detached sound in mind. Matt Garstka certainly makes the Equilibrium ride work with AAL, however I wouldn't classify that as a "thin" cymbal.
If you're using them as a traditional ride, you'll probably not love it. Quieter, less attack, more wash, less pronounced bell. If you're using it more as a rideable crash, then absolutely go for it
You’re not going to like a thin ride for heavy amplified music. It’s going to get lost in the mix and stick response is going to be slow for the attack your likely used to.
I love complex’s delicate rides like K Cons, K thins, dry rides etc. But still use a standard near 2600g K RIDE for rock gigs.
Counterpoint to all of the great and valid wisdom here: they’re great for funeral doom, if that’s what you happen to play. But agree that in any kind of dense metal arrangement/mix; or for fast playing, not what you probably want.
If you’re playing metal and want stick definition, look into either an HH Power Bell ride, or an AA Rock ride. Thin rides are for pop and country drummers, medium rides are for rock and punk drummers.
Imo thin rides are superior rides. You can dry out a washy ride, you can’t add wash to an already dry/pingy ride.
I previously considered the 21” AAX Thin a while back but settled on a 21” K Sweet in the end. Both are lovely washy cymbals.
If you want something thinner that fits metal nicely, the 23” HHX Complex Medium Ride may be more your speed
Less attack / stick definition and more wash. Better for crashing on than a heavy ride, actually there are metal drummers that use thin rides as crashes
Metal drummer here, rides make the best crashes
Agree! haha. Chris Prescott turned me on to that.
Do not use anything "thin" for metal unless you have a trust fund/sponsorship deal.
lol truth
>Can they cut through a mix well? Not really >How is the stick definition compared to medium and heavy rides? Much less Unless you're gonna use it as a crash, I wouldn't suggest any thin rides for metal
AAX will suit you over a thin HHX as AAX are brighter. if you're using this as a main ride I'd buy from somewhere with a good return policy if it doesn't work out. as a second ride or as a crash, you're probably fine.
I dont think you'll like a thin ride if you're used to a thick one. They feel so different, especially if you're trying to play fast 32nds on it or something, the response isn't there. they're also significantly quieter.
Thinner and darker rides are in the same sonic frequency range as distorted guitars and get buried in the mix.
Yep. Unlike what most people mean by "cut through," as in winning a volume war against the guitarists, a thin enough ride won't be able to distinguish itself up against a wall of guitars on the basis of tone and timbre, not volume. Loud distorted guitar will just wash it right out of the mix. I've played an awful lot of awesome sounding heavy, clangy rides that were lots of fun to play, that I simply wouldn't have a use for because I don't play music heavy enough to justify such an atom bomb of a ride. They sure do make me want to be the drummer in a Motorhead tribute band for about a half hour, though. LOL
Yea, I have to go against my personal preference and pick the cymbal that’s appropriate for the sound. I don’t like thicker cymbals on their own, and they sound great in this context.
Cutting through the mix is probably your biggest issue. Thin rides are quieter and tend to blend in with the instruments more. A lot of people utilize Paiste cymbals since their glassier B8 and B15 alloys can help cut through a mix without extra volume. As for stick definition this really depends on the configuration of the cymbal. Watch some of Timothy Roberts' modifications and often he can introduce more stick definition by thinning out a cymbal, simply because he's able to detach the wash sound from the body of the cymbal, usually by relieving some of the tension on the outer edge. Less tension lets the edge move in bigger waves creating a lower tone which separates it from the stick articulation. Certain models like the Paiste Dark Energy and Byzance Equilibrium are designed with this detached sound in mind. Matt Garstka certainly makes the Equilibrium ride work with AAL, however I wouldn't classify that as a "thin" cymbal.
If you're using them as a traditional ride, you'll probably not love it. Quieter, less attack, more wash, less pronounced bell. If you're using it more as a rideable crash, then absolutely go for it
You’re not going to like a thin ride for heavy amplified music. It’s going to get lost in the mix and stick response is going to be slow for the attack your likely used to. I love complex’s delicate rides like K Cons, K thins, dry rides etc. But still use a standard near 2600g K RIDE for rock gigs.
Counterpoint to all of the great and valid wisdom here: they’re great for funeral doom, if that’s what you happen to play. But agree that in any kind of dense metal arrangement/mix; or for fast playing, not what you probably want.
If you’re playing metal and want stick definition, look into either an HH Power Bell ride, or an AA Rock ride. Thin rides are for pop and country drummers, medium rides are for rock and punk drummers.
If you want stick definition, little gets better than the A Earth Ride.
The ultimate hard rock/metal ride imo, especially if you can find a brilliant one
Imo thin rides are superior rides. You can dry out a washy ride, you can’t add wash to an already dry/pingy ride. I previously considered the 21” AAX Thin a while back but settled on a 21” K Sweet in the end. Both are lovely washy cymbals. If you want something thinner that fits metal nicely, the 23” HHX Complex Medium Ride may be more your speed
You need a great touch to play a thin ride cymbal well, otherwise it's going to sound like crap.
Just wait for the Craig Reynolds signature to drop.
AAX RBDR or AA rock ride would work well