A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
Group: Rides
Type: Armand Ride
Size: 19 Inch
Series: A Zildjian
Weight: (NOTE: This model comes standard with 3 rivets) 1654g, 1675g, 1720g, 1737g, 1785g, 1796g, 1809g, 1818g, 1821g, 1835g, 1870g (2008 Serial Number), 1874g
Median Weight: 1791g (n=12)
Years of production: 2004 - Present
Sound File: A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
A Zildjian 19" Armand Ride "Beautiful Baby"
Zildjian's Description: <<< - >>>
Review: "The ride cymbal that Zildjian has created in tribute to their late patriarch, Armand Zildjian, is unique on a number of counts. To begin with, its 19" diameter is a rare size in ride cymbals. It's also thinner than most ride cymbals today. It's design is based on an A Zildjian ride that was Armand's favorite, the one that was on his drum kit in his office at the Zildjian factory for over thirty years.
Zildjian states that the Armand ride has a "bright and musical 'vintage' "A" sound with focused stick definition, balanced wash, and plenty of sizzle."It certainly was bright (yet warm), with a pleasant, musical sound and a very precise stick-attack that stood out clearly from the underlying wash. And that wash was balanced, in that it never built up to overpower the stick sound, even under aggressive playing. The sizzle is provided by 3 rivets, positioned in a cluster about 1 1/2" in from the edge of the cymbal.
My only disagreement with Zildjian's description would be about the 'Vintage A' part. When I compared the Armand to a 1962 20" Medium Ride that I own, the new cymbal sounded quite a bit higher and dryer - more contemporary, if you will. I'm not saying that's bad, in fact it will probably make the cymbal more appealing to the ears of drummers today. But given the model's pedigree, I was a bit surprised. <br.
The bell of the Armand ride was another surprise - a very pleasant one. For what is ostensibly a cymbal designed for Jazz or other acoustic settings, the bell is clean, resonant, and penetrating.
The power of the bell may be a contributing factor to the "gonginess" that occurs when the cymbal is struck on its shoulder with the shank of a stick, or when it's crashed on the edge. Jazz drummers tend to use their ride cymbals in this way, so it's a characteristic to be aware of.
The Armand Ride features its namesake's signature laser-engraved into the surface. It's also stamped with Armand's favorite expression: "Beautiful, Baby". It's an attractive and musically distinctive cymbal likely to find favor with drummers seeking a ride sound that falls between the classic and contemporary. The limited-edition model is priced at $398."
Review written by Rick Van Horn ("Quick Looks - Zildjian Armand Ride", October 2004, p. 39)
Artist/song where it can be heard:
