Paiste Formula 602 18" Medium Ride
Group: Rides
Type: Medium Ride
Size: 18 Inch
Series: Formula 602
Weight: 1600g - 1922g (median 1700g) n=18
Used Prices: $106 - $300 (median $220) n=25
MAP New: $440 list $710 (Aug 2020) for 18" models in production
Years of production: 1959 - ? (1993?) currently out of production
Sound file: unknown
Paiste's Description: <<< - >>>
Review:
Review written by
Artist/song where it can be heard: Clive Bunker, Ian Paice, Cozy Powell, Alex Riel
The Medium Ride shown here has a typical weight (1738g) and the typical ink pattern for 1976. The RIDE portion of the red model ink is a little faint, but present. The embossed trademark is the Outline form which is associated with the Black label serial number period (1972 to 1981). The ink stamps on the bottom are the diameter in black ink 18" and the pAisTe in outline form. The ink on the top side also includes the two line pAisTe Formula 602 ink stamp between the embossed trademark and the bell.
Weight comparisons for some other 18" Fo602 cymbals:
Paperthin 1162g - 1280g median 1200g
Thin Crash 1284g - 1535g median 1450g
Thin 1410g - 1590g median 1424g
Seven Sound Set #4 Ride/Crash 1462g - 1542g median 1474g
Modern Essentials 1485g
Morello 1510g (just two the same weight)
Medium 1600g - 1843g median 1677g
Medium Ride 1600g - 1922g median 1700g
Heavy 1930g - 2030g median 1990g
On present evidence Paperthin are a different range from Thin Crash, but Thin Crash and Thin overlap. Similarly Medium and Medium Ride weight ranges overlap. The Medium/Medium Ride weight ranges are distinct from the Thin/Thin Crash ranges. In order to distinguish a Thin Crash from a Thin once the model ink has gone we would want more then just weight. In order to distinguish a Medium from a Medium Ride we would want more than weight. Research is ongoing to determine if knowing production era (pre serial, black label, blue, reissue) can help. It is also likely that the differences in sound and feel are due to shape and weight distribution not just weight itself. Work is ongoing to assess the profile (curvature of the bow) and taper (thinning of the metal towards the edge) which might inform that understanding.
Note that the Medium and Heavy models have been reissued as of January 2020 but this info has yet to be percolated throughout the wiki.
