Denis Loncaric
In this article, I will review 7 The best selling ride cymbals today.
These are mostly ride cymbals for beginners with a price range from $79 up to $219.
Let’s dive in and see why these 7 ride cymbals have been purchased over 2327 times on Amazon only.
THE QUICK LIST
Meinl HCS 18" Crash/Ride
- Affordable
- Multipurpose
- Great for beginners
SABIAN 20" SBr Ride
- Affordable for Its Size
- Bright, Crisp Sound
- Great for beginners
Zildjian Planet Z Ride
- Longer Sustain
- Mid-Pitched
- Bright Sound
SABIAN 20" B8X Ride
- Made of Bronze
- Affordable Quality
- Versatile Use
Zildjian 20" I Series Ride
- 100% Copper
- Affordable Yet Distinct:
- Good for Various Styles
Meinl Classics Custom Extreme Metal 18" Big Bell Ride
- Specifically for Metal Music
- Made of B12 Bronze
- Big bell
Zildjian 20" S Medium Ride
- Made of B12 Bronze
- Versatile Sound
- Best for intermediate drummers
7 The Best Selling Ride Cymbals Reviewed
Meinl 18" Crash/Ride Cymbal - HCS
The cheapest ride by a big brand
SPECIFICATIONS
- Material: MS63 Alloy (brass)
- Pitch: Low-Mid
- Finish: Traditional
- Weight: Medium
- Sustain: Medium to Short
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REASONS TO BUY
- Affordable
- Multipurpose
REASONS TO AVOID
- Short sustain
- Sound quality
- Durability
Why this cymbal?
With a price of little over $70, this is one of the most affordable ride cymbals made by a big company such as Meinl.
Another reason for its being affordable, except for material (MS63 Brass Alloy), is its size. 18″ is usually crash size, while ride cymbals, 98% of the time, go from 20″ to 24″. It is a crash/ride, after all.
Who it’s for?
Only for beginners and hobbyists to practice at home.
If the size doesn’t matter to you, then why not go with this ride? However, for $20-$30 more, you can find a Zildjian Z ride or Sabian SBR ride with a size of 20 inches.
For those who are not informed, Meinl HCS is Meinl’s most affordable entry-level series.
They use two materials for this series:
Brass and Bronze.
Although the one made of brass is 6x more popular, from my experience, you can expect a better sound from the HCS ride made of bronze.
SABIAN 20" SBr Ride
Great bang for buck
SPECIFICATIONS
- Material: Brass
- Weight: Medium
- Sustain: Medium to Short
- Pitch: Low-Mid
- Finish: Traditional
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REASONS TO BUY
- Very affordable
- Bright and crisp sound
- Great for for beginners and hobbyists
REASONS TO AVOID
- Sound quality
- Durability
Why this cymbal?
Same as the previous model, this is the most affordable ride cymbal but made by another company, Sabian.
Entry-level series like SBR and our previous Meinl HCS are made out of brass. But, for around $20 more, you get 2 more inches, and with 20″, you are getting a “ride size” cymbal.
Who it’s for?
For beginners and hobbyists, since brass is soft and can’t be hammered, hammering “shapes the sound.”
Due to this, brass cymbals are known for their sharp, crisp, and metallic sound. They can produce a jarring, bell-like tone.
If you want to go cheap but still get a 20″ cymbal, you will not go wrong with this one.
However, if you like “The Sound of Sabian,” for around $50 more, you can get the B8X, a series that’s in comparison to this one made out of bronze.
Zildjian Planet Z Ride
Best ride for beginners
SPECIFICATIONS
- Material: Brass
- Weight: Heavy
- Sustain: Medium to Long
- Pitch: Mid-High
- Finish: Traditional
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REASONS TO BUY
- Slightly longer sustain compared to similar models
- Mid-pitched, bright sound
REASONS TO AVOID
- Made of brass, which may not provide the desired sound quality for all drummers
- More expensive compared to other entry-level cymbals.
Why this cymbal?
Same as the two previous models, it is made of brass, and it comes from the oldest cymbal manufacturer with the most significant market share, Zildjian.
It is the best-selling ride cymbal on Amazon, with over 1200 ratings.
Who it’s for?
As the first two cymbals are made of brass, you should expect a similar sound.
I would give this one slight advantage, however.
Why?
Well, of course, it’s a matter of personal preference, but to me, this one sounds slightly better because of the longer sustain.
In comparison to the SBR ride, it is slightly more expensive and worth it if you like the sound of Zildjian cymbals.
SABIAN 20" B8X Ride
Highly versatile entry level ride
SPECIFICATIONS
- Material: B8 Bronze
- Weight: Medium
- Sustain: Medium to Short
- Pitch: Low-Mid
- Finish: Traditional
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REASONS TO BUY
- Better sound projection than Brass ride
- Most affordable B8 bronze ride cymbal
- Step up in quality from basic brass cymbals
REASONS TO AVOID
- Still considered an entry-level cymbal
- Might not fit the budget of some beginners
Why this cymbal?
It’s time to change the gear.
This is the first ride cymbal I have reviewed so far made out of Bronze, B8 bronze, to be precise, instead of brass.
With a price slightly over $150, it’s the most affordable B8 bronze ride cymbal.
Who it’s for?
With B8 bronze cymbals, we still haven’t stepped into a backyard of cymbals professionals use.
Like many on my list, these are all ride cymbals for beginners.
In comparison to the previous model by Sabian, the SBR offers more projection, better definition, and broader tonal response.
Zildjian 20" I Series Ride
Rare 100% Copper ride
SPECIFICATIONS
- Material: Copper
- Weight: Medium
- Sustain: Medium to Long
- Pitch: Mid-High
- Finish: Traditional
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REASONS TO BUY
- Unique 100% copper material, offering a distinct sound
- Affordable
- Mid-pitch and semi-dry sound
REASONS TO AVOID
- Lack of sound complexity
- Pure copper material could result in a less durable cymbal
Why this cymbal?
This cymbal is made entirely out of copper. In comparison to the previous model, Sabian B8X is made out of B8 bronze (92% copper, 8% tin)
Creating less expensive bronze cymbals involves a unique process.
They’re not hammered like the pricier ones. Instead, these cymbals are rolled out on a sheet, then cut and shaped through stamping.
The ‘lathing’ marks you see?
They’re just part of the pressing process, not actual lathing. This method keeps costs down.
Who it’s for?
Due to the lack of complexity professional drummers demand, ride cymbals made of 100% copper are still for beginners.
But you might like the sound of the entire Cooper cymbal, and it is one of a kind on the list of best-selling ride cymbals I am reviewing here.
Meinl Classics Custom Extreme Metal 18" Big Bell Ride
Great mid-tier ride for metal
SPECIFICATIONS
- Material: B12 Bronze
- Weight: Heavy
- Sustain: Medium
- Pitch: Low
- Finish: Brilliant
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REASONS TO BUY
- Specifically designed for metal music
- Made of B12 bronze, offering better sound quality than entry-level cymbals
REASONS TO AVOID
- Limited use outside of metal music due to its specific design
- The large bell might limit the versatility of the cymbal
Why this cymbal?
Alright, it’s time to break the bank.
I am just kidding but YES this is one of two cymbals from this list with a price over $200.
Meinl Classics series fall under cymbals for intermediate drummers.
It’s the first cymbal on this list that’s made out of B12 bronze (12% tin, 88% copper). In comparison, top-of-the-line cymbals are made from B20 bronze.
Who it’s for?
This ride cymbal is for metal heads only; for the others Meinl has two offers:
The price is almost the same, but the Big Bell ride is more popular.
Although a bell this big “eats” the cymbal body, if you play metal, the bell is all you need most of the time.
Zildjian 20" S Medium Ride
Great ride for intermediate drummers
SPECIFICATIONS
- Material: B12 Bronze
- Weight: Medium
- Sustain: Medium-Long
- Pitch: Mid-High
- Finish: Brilliant
SEE BEST DEALS
REASONS TO BUY
- Made of B12 bronze, suitable for intermediate drummers
- Versatile sound profile
REASONS TO AVOID
- Most expensive among the reviewed cymbals
Why this cymbal?
It is the most expensive cymbal I reviewed here, but with the price below $220, it shouldn’t give you chills.
The Zildjian S Family series is not that old, and so far, it has shown promising results. Zildjian even added a new version of it called S Family Dark.
But at the moment of writing this article (Jan 3rd, 2024), S Family series is more popular.
Who it’s for?
Like the Meinl Classics ride, this one is also made out of B12 bronze.
This kind of material is something intermediate drummers commonly use.
Why?
Brass cymbals sound more like toys, and high-end cymbals cost double this amount.
With B12 and S Family, the series is an excellent bang for the buck and a perfect mid-tier cymbal line.
Fill out the form, and I will hand-pick the best cymbals for you and drop you an email.
Things to know before buy
Cheaper Ride Cymbals – they are usually brighter in sound and lighter in weight, but can be improved by how they are shaped in the end.
Expensive Ride Cymbals – crafted by melting or mixing metal alloy, and pouring into a cast of shaping. Cast cymbals are considered the best quality and they are more durable.
Brass VS Bronze – brass is brighter than bronze, which means they cut through the mix much better. But it is not very strong and may not take you for long, especially in more aggressive drumming styles.
B20 VS B10 – B20 alloy that has 20% tin is considered the best metal for making Ride cymbals. B10 metal is found in mid-range cymbals.
Lathed vs. Unlathed – lathed cymbals will have a greater harmonic response, but with less definition. Unlathed cymbals deliver a more defined sound but with less harmonic content.
Summary
- Meinl 18″ HCS ride: A highly affordable option for beginners, not the best in quality but decent for practice.
- SABIAN 20″ SBr Ride: Offers value for money. A good starter cymbal, but with limitations in sound quality.
- Zildjian Planet Z ride 20″: Popular due to its brand, but sound quality might be average for more experienced players.
- SABIAN 20″ B8X Ride: A step above entry-level, better for those developing their skills.
- Zildjian I Series 20″ Ride: Unique in its make, but may not suit professional needs.
- Meinl 18″ Big Bell Ride: Specific to metal music, great for its niche but limited in versatility.
- Zildjian 20″ S Medium Ride: A good mid-tier cymbal, balancing cost and quality effectively.
My name is Denis. I am a drummer, percussionist, music enthusiast, and blogger. Drums have been my passion for 15 years now. My idea is to write about the things I like and I am interested in. I want to share my drum passion with fellow musicians who walk, talk, and breathe drums.
