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REVIEW: 20" Paiste Signature "Dry Dark" Ride (Prototype)

...and the obligatory hideous sound files:

• single strikes, bow and bell
• cymbal alone
• cymbal w/kit

I've been looking for a Paiste Dry Dark sig for a few years now, prior to purchasing this one. This cymbal is one of many "prototype" cymbals that Paiste puts on the market from time to time, but it's consistent in sound and appearance with production model Dry Darks I've heard and played. If I'm reading the serial number correctly, this cymbal dates to 2003.

One drummer I work with often, brings his Dry Dark ride whenever I hire him for a steel band gig, and I've always been impressed with the sound of the cymbal in that context. The "stick" is very clear, and the bell is very strong, but the cymbal isn't dead-sounding the way some "dry" rides are.

This ride has several noticeable features, including:

- a large, unhammered bell

- no lathing

- large, heavy hammer marks (with some smaller hammer marks mixed in on this particular prototype)

I haven't weighed this cymbal yet, but in my experience, Dry Dark rides tend to be on the heavy side, compared to the other 20" Paiste cymbals I've owned and played.

It's not as versatile as some cymbals (pre-serial 602s, or a great old A Zildjian, to cite a few examples), but it's not really a one-trick pony, either - this cymbal would work well in medium-loud or louder situations, where an articulate stick sound is desired. (I don't know how this cymbal would hold up against a stack of Marshalls - I don't get to play "stack o' Marshalls" gigs.) As far as jazz is concerned, this cymbal gives off a really strong "Jack DeJohnette" vibe. (I know that Jack was a Paiste artist in years past, but I don't know if he ever used this ride, or if he had any part in its development - perhaps someone else could help me out on that count?) I doubt that I would use this cymbal with a piano trio, but I think it would work really well in more of an "electric jazz" context (Mike Stern or John Scofield come to mind).

The Sig Dry Dark was discontinued a few years ago, which I still have trouble understanding - this model has a strong and devoted following, and I've never played another cymbal that sounds quite like it. Perhaps it was the cymbals unique appearance that hurt its standing in the marketplace? If so, then that's too bad - this is one of the nicest rides I've ever played.

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Edited by James Walker (Sat Nov 29 2008 02:13 AM)