The Meinl C Squared Ride is the new signature cymbal of the drummer Chris Coleman. The Chris Coleman signature ride cymbal is part of the Meinl Byzance Vintage line and it unique in almost every detail.
Let’s take a look at what makes the C Squared ride unique.
Who is the Meinl C Squared ride for?
The C Squared ride has been designed by Chris Coleman and Meinl cymbals to achieve one aim. Be a versatile ride cymbal that covers multiple musical applications. Or as explained by Chris, he no longer wanted to carry three ride cymbals and needed one ride has had the best features of them all.
I can relate to this and I’m sure many drummers can.
The question is, is it possible to get the sound of 20″ Byzance Raw Bell Ride, 20″ Byzance Extra Dry Ride and 20″ Byzance Dark Ride into one cymbal?
If any company is going to be able to do it, it is Meinl. There innovation and R&D is always pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Here is what Chris Coleman has to say about his Meinl C Squared Signature Ride.
So what does the Chris Coleman Signature ride sound like?
The C Squared ride has a dry yet musical tone with a clear stick definition and short sustain. The ride is musical, cutting and earthy.
As the ride is part of the Meinl Vintage line it embodies what that line aims to deliver. The classic vintage cymbal voice with modern appeal.
Based on that I would say this ride certainly achieves this.
Sound
- Pitch – low
- Character – dry, vintage
- Timbre – dark
- Volume – medium to low
- Lathe – none
- Sustain – medium to short
Here is a sound demo of the cymbal from Meinl.
How does it get this sound?
The Chris Coleman signature ride is made from B20 bronze. The cymbal is heavy and features a high profile to get the desired stick definition. The cymbal also features a lot of hand hammer that gives the cymbal a beautiful finish when combined with the unlathed finish.
The raw finish on the cymbal gives the cymbal an earthy tone whilst not taking away from its musicality.
The final yet most distinctive feature is the sixteen holes around the edge of the ride. Although these are uncommon on ride cymbals it reduces the wash and sustain. This gives the ride the characteristics more of a 20″ ride rather than that you may expect of a 21″.
Where can I buy a Meinl C Squared Chris Coleman Signature ride?
This cymbal is available from either your local drum kit or most online music stores. If you are going to purchase one online, here are our top choices.
Our thoughts
This is one hell of a ride cymbal. If you turn up to a gig with one of these everyone is going to be asking what it is. Firstly because of its standout looks and secondly how great it sounds.
This is an amazing cymbal that would be a great addition to any drummers setup. The only thing that may put you off is the price tag. This cymbal isn’t cheap but it is easy to see why. A lot of hours of hand hammering go into this cymbal to bring it to life.
Once again Meinl is pushing the boundaries of what is possible with cymbals. If you are looking for some other great Meinl creations, we recommend checking out the new Meinl Byzance Trash Crashes or Meinl Classics Custom Dark 18″ Big Bell Ride.
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