Paiste Combo Crisp Hi Hats & Rude Power Ride The Reign

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| FEBRUARY 2016 WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM
GEAR REVIEW
H
ere we have two signature
products at opposite ends of
the Paiste cymbal spectrum.
Dave Lombardo achieved fame
with Slayer in the 1980s when he and the
band pioneered speed/thrash metal; 1980
also saw the advent of Paiste’s Rude cymbal
series, aimed at metal and punk players. In
1986 Lombardo played Rude cymbals on
Reign In Blood , and in recognition of this his
22" Rude Power Ride is called The Reign.
Stewart Copeland’s equally potent, fi ery
style was honed in The Police and his fl orid
reggae-infl ected hi-hat licks have been
admired ever since. His signature 12" Combo
Crisp Hats are titled The Rhythmatist after
his 1985 solo album and fi lmed African
odyssey, and are designed with his dancing
style in mind.
Build
Paiste’s Rude cymbals were from the
beginning aimed at metal and punk
drummers. The Rude title refers to the
unlathed surface. Lombardo’s Reign ride is a
22" titan, with smoothly polished unlathed
body, pock-marked with irregular
hammering top and bottom, excepting
the bell which is lathed with a broad knife.
Cymbals are hand-made in Switzerland
using Paiste’s B8 bronze (CuSn8), also
known as 2002 alloy.
Copeland’s 12" hats are novel in that
From £349 Paiste looks for inspiration from two of its most
infl uential and genre expanding long-term endorsees
PAISTE COMBO
CRISP HI-HATS &
RUDE POWER RIDE
THE REIGN
WORDS: GEOFF NICHOLLS
Paiste has used different alloys for the top
and bottom cymbals. The top is cast from
B20 ‘602’ bell bronze (CuSn20) and the
bottom from Paiste’s Signature alloy, which
is closer to B15. Both are certainly heavy
cymbals, but the alloys and fi nish look
similar in colour, the top cymbal having
slightly broader lathing underneath. The top
also has a smaller, peakier bell, while the
bottom’s bell is broader and rounder, more
typical and handy for seating the pair.
Copeland’s buccaneering Rhythmatist logo
adds a fi nal fl ourish.
Hands On
Starting with the 12" Combo Crisp hi-hats,
although the two cymbals are similar in
weight the top is signifi cantly deeper in pitch
than the bottom, which is high and pingy.
The B20 bronze of the top hat has a slightly
warmer tone than the bottom Signature
bronze, known for its brilliance. Thus the
bottom provides the cut while the top gives
the smoother, darker playing surface. The
result is that played closed there is still a
loud and clear stick sound, while the
pedalled ‘chip’ is urgent and incisive.
The difference in the two cymbals is
exaggerated also by the bell profi les, the top
cymbal’s rather smaller bell having a tinklier
sound. But let’s not forget these are small
12" hats and so are always going to be agile
and tightly focused. Whether played closed
THE B20 BRONZE OF THE TOP HAT
HAS A SLIGHTLY WARMER TONE
THAN THE BOTTOM SIGNATURE
BRONZE, KNOWN FOR ITS BRILLIANCE
or open, jazzy 10-to-10 style, they
are always fl eet and assertive, like
Copeland himself. But the lower
pitch of the top cymbal makes sure
they retain a warmth, so there is
no danger of them ever being thin
and tinny.
They respond well to numerous
styles, from old-fashioned Papa Jo Jones
swing right up to post-electro Mark Guiliana
or Chris Dave cutting-edge beats. Being
small they are also suited to life as a
secondary pair, or perhaps mounted on a
remote pedal centrally, Bill Bruford style.
Turning to the 22" Reign ride, it’s one of
those cymbals that requires you to lay-in
with a heavy stick. This way you get the
full effect of the loud and shrill attack. But it
too has a surprising soft warmth underlying
the undeniably aggressive intention. In fact
if you crash it you get a huge, deep,
satisfying roar.
A single hard tap to the body of the
Also try…
1
PAISTE
SIGNATURE BLUE
BELL RIDE
We say: “ Made to
Stewart Copeland’s
specifi cations, the Blue
Bell ride is unique in
sound and looks. ”
2
ZILDJIAN A 13”
POCKET HATS
We say: “ Gospel
drummers are
renowned for their taut
groove and these razor
sharp cymbals are as
cutting a pair as you’ll
ever need. ”
RHY251.gear_Paiste.indd 108 11/12/2015 10:11