Signature Ed Thigpen 18" Crystal Ride

Group: Rides
Type: Crystal Ride
Size: 18 Inch
Series: Signature
Alloy: B20
Weight: 1430g, 1475g, 1487g, 1529g, 1600g
Years of production: 1993* - ?
Sound file: Signature Ed Thigpen 18" Crystal Ride
Signature Ed Thigpen 18" Crystal Ride
Signature Ed Thigpen 18" Crystal Ride
Signature Ed Thigpen 18" Crystal Ride
Signature Ed Thigpen 18" Crystal Ride
Signature Ed Thigpen 18" Crystal Ride
Sabian's Description: <<< - >>>
Review: "The primary characteristic of the Crystal Ride (which is available in 18" and 22" sizes) is that it is a flat cymbal, meaning that it has no raised bell. Flat rides are known for producing a dry stick attack with shimmering overtones that never build up so as to wash out the definition. In general, flat rides are good for situations in which you want to be able to really lay into your ride cymbal without drowning anyone else out. Their very contained sound is well suited for miking, whether live or in the studio. (Danny Gottlieb and Paul Wertico have both used flat rides extensively with the Pat Metheny Group.)
The Thigpen Crystal Ride shares those basic characteristics, but has a personality of its own. There is a strong separation between the fundamental "undertone" and the high-pitched overtones, resulting in a basic midrange pitch (that will blend in with a band's sound) as well as almost "white-noise"-like overtones that shimmer over the music like frost. At the same time, the cymbal produces an extremely dry "click" sound from a drumstick, providing crisp definition."
I received one regular and one Brilliant-finish cymbal in each size. The 18" regular had an excellent balance between undertone, overtones, and stick definition. The pitch was high enough that it wouldn't muddy up a band's sound, but not so high as to sound brittle, as some 18" ride cymbals can do.
The 18" Brilliant, however, seemed a bit too dry. For fast tem-pos the definition was tremendous, but at slower tempos the overtones seemed to die a bit too quickly. I was tempted to install a couple of rivets to add some shimmer (but since the cymbals were on loan, I didn't). The Brilliant model was very close to an 18"Sabian HH Flat Bell cymbal (with a Brilliant finish) that I played it alongside of. The differences between the two were comparable to the differences I would expect between any two "identical" cast cymbals.
While playing brushes primarily on the snare drum during ballads, I found it quite effective to reach up and flick the edge of the 18" regular with the wire strands of the brush. It made for a soft, "all-overtones" crash that blended well with the swish sound coming from the snare—not unlike a cymbal with a couple of rivets" Review written by Rick Mattingly ("Product Close-Up - Sabian Ed Thigpen Crystal Ride", Modern Drummer, Aug. 1993, p. 44)
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