Orion Strondo 21" Heavy Ride
Group: Rides
Type: Heavy Ride
Size: 21 Inch
Series: Strondo
Weight: ?g
Years of production: 2006 - ?
Sound file: Orion Strondo 21" Heavy Ride
Zildjian's Description: <<< - >>>
Review: "The 21" heavy ride was a winner, right off the bat. I played it at various dynamic levels, and I’m convinced that this cymbal could work as well for jazz or pop drummers as for its intended demographic: rockers. I was most impressed with its performance at lower volumes: The sound remained uniform. This may seem like a small point, particularly in the technologically modern age of cymbalmaking, but all of the overtones and brightness were increased or reduced only by the degree of my own aggression—which is the way it should be.
The cymbal’s sound is enhanced by haphazard-looking abrasions that litter the top, and what looks like grooved, rotary-belt skid marks riddling the bottom. (We were informed by Marcos Tachikawa, Orion’s marketing and product development manager, that these machine-like marks were, in reality, made by hand and hammer.) This design feature has a dual purpose. The main one is that hammering on both sides of the cymbal ensures sonic consistency. Secondly, marks such as these enhance the cymbal’s visual appeal. It’s hard to tell just how much these marks contribute to the overall sound, but I certainly didn’t notice any ill effects because of them.
The bottom line? The 21" heavy ride had good stick definition and a protruding, buffed bell made for layered, controlled, and cutting overall sound. The bell’s projection was fantastic, creating no unwanted hiss or build-up. This was no doubt a by-product of the duality of the buffed bell and dull “riding” surface.
I especially had fun playing the ride while using offbeat accents on the hi-hats, either via stick or foot. (The “chick” of the hats was not smothered. More about that in a moment.) In fact, I’d say that the ride cymbal’s playability improved my performance. I simply did not have to dig deep to bring out a “tick,” “ping,” or “ding.”"
Review written by Will Romano ("Product Close-Up - Orion Strondo Series Cymbals - These Brazilian Beauties Speak In Many Tongues", Modern Drummer, July 2006, p. 40)
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