Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $407
Standard/Professional
$200
$501+
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Price History
Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Introducing the Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant, a perfect all-rounder cymbal that transcends musical genres with its colorful medium overtones. A part of the esteemed A Zildjian Series, this cymbal is a staple among drummers worldwide, earning its reputation as the gold standard in drum set components. The Sweet Ride Brilliant is a testament to Zildjian's centuries-long tradition of excellence in cymbal craftsmanship. It's cast from their secret alloy formula, a process refined over hundreds of years, resulting in a cymbal that not only sounds amazing but embodies a piece of music history.
This cymbal offers a bright, full-bodied, and natural tone that is versatile and responsive. Whether you're laying down a steady groove or launching into a thrilling solo, the Sweet Ride Brilliant is ready to meet your musical demands. Furthermore, it's finished brilliantly, making it not only a treat for your ears but for your eyes as well.
Key Features:
- All-purpose ride with medium overtones
- Cast from Zildjian's secret alloy formula
- Part of the A Zildjian Series
- Bright, full-bodied, natural tone
- Size: 21"
- Weight: Medium
- Finish: Brilliant
- Versatile for any musical setting
- Beautiful, round sounding ride cymbal
- Suitable for all applications
Product specs
| Type | Ride |
| Size | 21" |
| Weight | Medium |
| Finish | Brilliant |
| Material | B20, Cast Bronze |
| Volume | Loud |
| Sound | Medium |
| Sustain | Long |
| Pitch | Low to Mid |
| Bell Size | Large |
| Balance | Blend |
FAQs
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What type of music is the Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant best suited for?
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The Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant is versatile, making it suitable for various music styles, including rock, jazz, and pop. Its medium weight and brilliant finish provide a balanced blend of bright and warm tones, ideal for diverse musical settings.
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How does the brilliant finish affect the sound of the Zildjian Sweet Ride?
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The brilliant finish on the Zildjian Sweet Ride enhances its brightness and clarity, contributing to a more shimmering sound. This finish can make the cymbal cut through in live performances, adding a polished, lively character to its overall tone.
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What is the sustain like on the Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant?
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The Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant features a long sustain, allowing notes to linger and resonate. This characteristic makes it ideal for creating a full-bodied sound that can fill a mix or complement other cymbals in a drum setup.
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Is the Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant suitable for loud playing environments?
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Yes, the Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant is designed for loud volume levels, making it well-suited for live performances and energetic playing environments. Its large bell and medium weight allow it to project sound effectively, even in louder settings.
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What material is the Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant made from?
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The Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant is crafted from B20 cast bronze, known for its durability and rich tonal quality. This material contributes to the cymbal's blend of warmth and brightness, making it a popular choice among drummers.
Videos
Boston Drum Center
A. Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride: Traditional vs. Brilliant Finish
Reviews
PROS
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Versatile sound, suitable for various musical genres and styles
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Clean staccato ping with a beautiful wash for crashing
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Loud, clear bell cuts through mix effectively
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Brilliant finish offers a glassy, controlled sound
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Excellent for dynamic transitions between ride and crash
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Durable and withstands extensive use
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Provides a multitude of distinct sounds for creative expression
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Perfect balance between shimmer and definition
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Long-lasting shimmer and sustain
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Superior to many other ride cymbals in its category
CONS
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Brilliant finish may fade quickly over time
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Lacks strong articulated ping for detailed ride patterns
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May be too sensitive and light for some drummers' preferences
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant.
Use cases and applications
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Traditional finish Sweet Ride is preferred for versatility across musical styles, offering a balanced washy-crash sound ideal for various genres.
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The A Sweet Ride excels in rock genres due to its ability to cut through loud mixes, while its crash capability enhances dynamic performances.
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The A Sweet Ride is favored for louder volume ranges, making it suitable for larger venues and energetic performances.
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The K Sweet Ride is praised for being crashable, adding versatility compared to thicker rides, especially for worship and diverse musical styles.
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The K Sweet Ride pairs effectively with K dark and K special dry Trash crashes, offering a robust setup for worship music.
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User experience
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Brilliant finish Sweet Rides can appear smudgy over time, which might be off-putting for some, despite their bright sound quality.
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Users highlight that the A Sweet Ride provides adequate stick definition but lacks the pronounced ping found in darker cymbals like the K Ride.
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The K Sweet Ride's bell is noted as not being the greatest, but it remains a well-loved all-around ride for its crashability and sound.
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Comparisons
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Some users find brilliant cymbals too bright compared to the traditional finish, which they feel provides a warmer tone suitable for different music styles.
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Some owners find the A Sweet Ride more gong-like than the K Sweet Ride, suggesting a different tonal quality in live settings.
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Owners feel the K Sweet Ride has a lower crash compared to the A Sweet Ride, suggesting a tonal difference that might influence trade decisions.
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K Sweet Ride is described as buttery and thunderous, valued for its darker sound, particularly when paired with larger K crashes.
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Features and functionality
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The bell of the A Sweet Ride is noted as a weaker aspect, though it remains functional in live settings.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 4 Ratings
Resonant, responsive ride with punch
If you're looking for a ride with a hard sound and nice tone, this ride is for you. Light and responsive, each strike will produce excellent sound
+Good tone +Responsive return -A little too sensitive at times
8 // 10
Artist usage
Add artist
In a Zildjian video "Sound Legacy - Travis Barker", Barker talks about his cymbal setup and how the 21" Sweet Ride plays a role:
"While playing with Transplants and Blink, I feel like my cymbal setup just gets bigger. I always played 19, 20 inch crashes. Sometimes I'll use the Sweet Ride as a crash/ride (the 21"), and I'll just use it as a straight crash sometimes."
Dan Pawlovich is listed on the Zildjian website as using the Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant cymbal.
At the 1:18 mark of this video, Atom states that he uses this cymbal as a crash.
Dani Washington used the Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant cymbal during the recording of Neck Deep's album "The Peace and the Panic," as evidenced by an image from a Google search.
Longineu W. Parsons III uses the Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant during his tour with Yellowcard, as confirmed by Zildjian.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA_ZTOGzaeI in the description
Album Usage
The Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Brilliant, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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