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Zildjian 19" A-Series Armand Ride

5.0 out of 5 stars from 7 customer ratings ()
100% comparable cymbal sounds recorded with our exclusive Cymbot

Ride Cymbal

  • Size: 19"
  • Beautiful Baby Ride
  • Regular model
  • Brighter and musical A Vintage sound
  • Armand Zildjian's favourite ride cymbal
  • Features three rivet cluster and laser engraved Armand Zildjian Signature with his favourite expression, "Beautiful, Baby"
  • Available since May 2004
  • Item number 169233
  • Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
  • Hand Hammered Cymbal Yes
  • Finish Regular, Traditional
  • Alloy B20 Bronze
498 €
All prices incl. VAT
In stock
1

A classic with character

The A Series is the undisputed classic within Zildjian's catalogue and remains one of the most widely played cymbal ranges in the world. The bright, cutting character typical of A Series cymbals has helped shape the sound of Jazz, Rock and Pop music for decades and sits comfortably in a wide variety of musical settings. The range itself is equally diverse, encompassing hi-hats and rides in numerous sizes and weights, thin to medium crashes, and a selection of effects cymbals. The 19" Armand "Beautiful Baby" Ride is one of the more distinctive models in the series and is dedicated to the company's late patriarch Armand Zildjian. Alongside its somewhat unusual 19" size, this medium-weight ride is fitted with three rivets that produce the characteristic sizzle effect.

Zildjian 19" A-Series Armand Ride

Precisely crafted B20 cymbals

Like all of the manufacturer's current cymbal lines, the Zildjian A Series is produced entirely in the company's own factory in Norwell, Massachusetts. The cymbals are made from B20 bronze, the established standard in the premium segment and an alloy widely associated with a full, warm and complex character. Even more important to the signature sound of the A Series, however, is the manufacturing process. Unlike the darker K Series, which features more irregular hammering, the A Series uses a precise and consistent hammering technique. The clean lathing pattern, finished with fine tonal grooves, extends the cymbal's upper frequency response, while the wholly mechanical production process ensures tonal consistency throughout the range.

Surface on the Zildjian 19" A-Series Armand Ride

A premium sizzle-ride

The cymbals in the Zildjian A Series are true all-rounders, offering a classic and timeless sound at a professional standard. Their bright, clear, and yet natural character allows them to blend seamlessly into the overall voice of a drum kit while still maintaining enough presence to cut through a mix without becoming harsh or abrasive. That's a quality that's appreciated both on stage and, in particular, in the recording studio. Anyone looking for a dependable, dynamic premium cymbal that performs well across almost any musical style is likely to find exactly that in the classic A Series.

Zildjian logo

About Zildjian

The Avedis Zildjian company is one of the world's oldest manufacturers of musical instruments. In addition to cymbals and gongs, the Zildjian range also includes drumsticks, percussion mallets, and accessories. The company's history dates back to 1618, when an Armenian, Avedis Zildjian, made his first cymbals from tin, copper, and silver near Constantinople. In the early 20th century, the company moved its headquarters to the United States, where a short time later the era of big bands and Swing music began. Zildjian worked closely with the most famous drummers of that era and over the decades earned an excellent reputation among Jazz drummers. Since Ringo Starr led the way more recently, Zildjian cymbals have also become increasingly popular among Rock drummers, and today the range includes cymbals for every conceivable genre, ranging from affordable entry-level cymbals to handmade models of the very highest quality.

Exceptional versatility

Since its origins in the 1930s, the Zildjian A Series has played a major role in shaping the sound of modern music. The range is named after Avedis Zildjian III, who involved pioneering Jazz drummers such as Gene Krupa in its development. The goal was to create a thinner cymbal with a more sensitive response. Later, Rock and Pop pioneers including Ringo Starr of The Beatles and Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones embraced the powerful, cutting sound of the series. The list of influential drummers who have used Zildjian A cymbals on landmark recordings is almost endless and extends deep into the world of guitar-driven Rock. Dave Grohl, for example, used cymbals from the A Series during the recording of Nirvana's Nevermind. Among the best-known models in the range are the 14" New Beat Hi-Hat, the 21" Sweet Ride and the various Medium Thin Crashes, all of which can be heard on countless Rock, Pop and Jazz recordings.

7 Customer ratings

5 / 5

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5 Reviews

R
And now for something completely different !
Robert814 06.07.2014
I would never have chosen anything as quirky as this as a main ride (It would work though), but as a second ride cymbal it's like having an extra gear in the gearbox. The 19 inch size means higher pitch, which I like. The A series usually means a low resonance, which I don't, but the rivets/sizzles perform well at transferring this energy into a nice wash. I was rather wary of rivets, as often they are added by the player to change a sound which has not been pleasing. These are well balanced and the overall result is good. The hammering is very light with small dents, with the lathing also very fine and covering the whole surface right up the bell. This would be expected to produce less wash than deep heavy hammering. The 3 rivets produce the wash to just the right level and it is quite a strange experience playing a smaller ride like this and being able to hit it as hard as I like with a consistent wash. There is perhaps less scope for varying the sound (less expressive) than other rides, but as a second ride, with the ability to change around between cymbals it is a fine bit of kit. I've stepped up an (extra) gear. Having said all that, if the rivets are silenced with a small strip of tape, then there's a whole different set of unique sound. Update 18-09-15: Having played this ride for over a year now I can see how it was Armand's favourite! Although 19 inch, it is actually about the same pitch as a 20 inch. The sounds achievable are very wide ranging (My initial thoughts were wrong) This is a very well designed and tried cymbal. Armand really knew his business! - Well, he would, playing them and running a whole factory!
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In the name of Jazz !
Franck LaNouche 24.12.2025
Comme tous les batteurs le savent, choisir la cymbale qui va sonner comme on le souhaite - ou plutôt comme on le fantasme...- peut tourner à l'obsession, pour ne pas dire autre chose. Entre ce que l'on entend en concert, sur les albums, le son des essais en magasin et j'en passe, rien ne va se ressembler. La bonne question à se poser c'est : de quoi ai-je réellement besoin, ou plus précisément, de quoi ont besoin les musiciens avec qui je joue. Dans mon cas (je joue principalement du jazz), la demande était très claire : un son jazz (mais qu'est-ce que c'est, au fait ? ), du wash, une bonne discrimination, une cloche suffisante pour les plans latinos et surtout pas trop de puissance. J'avais essayé par hasard la Zildjian 19" A-Series Armand Ride dans un magasin il y a quelques années et j'avais été surpris et immédiatement séduit par la prestation globale de la cymbale et sa qualité de fabrication. A force d'y repenser, d'essayer d'autres cymbales et surtout de réfléchir à son intégration dans mon kit (crash Agean 18", charley Constantinople 14", ride K Custom Dark Ride 20, plus diverses splash et autres crash Paiste, j'ai fini par me décider et sauter le pas. Le choix s'est avéré le bon pour les raisons suivantes : primo la taille, modérée (19" seulement ce qui permet une intégration facile autour des toms), deuxio un son assez clair (normal c'est une 19") vraiment axé sur le jazz grâce aux trois rivets qui distillent un wash léger venant se superposer au wash naturel de la cymbale et supprimant la nécessité de "muler" pour en sortir quelque chose. Troisième caractéristique sur laquelle je souhaite m'étendre un peu : après quelques semaines de pratique en répète et en concert, j'ai découvert une qualité très appréciable, à savoir que la cymbale autorégule en quelque sorte sa puissance (à la base déjà relativement discrète), c'est-à-dire permet de ne pas trop retenir la main pour éviter trop de son, et autorise également très facilement le passage à une sorte de surpuissance, sans que cela n'induise un effet sonore envahissant ou persistant. Tout cela pour dire que je n'ai pas fini d'explorer les caractéristiques et les qualités de cette cymbale peu connue mais qui à mon avis a le pouvoir de résoudre bien des problèmes de jeu de par sa conception et sa fabrication originales. Dernier point, elle est parfaite en complément d'une ride plus puissante et plus sourde dans les changements de couleur en cours de morceau, un point essentiel en jazz. Conclusion : une cymbale offrant une plage d'utilisations étendue mais toujours dans le genre jazz.
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Excellent !
manugauth 06.02.2026
J’avais déjà eu cette cymbale il y a plus de 10 ans et j’ai souvent regretté de l’avoir revendue. Elle a toujours manqué à mon jeu.
Je cherchais à avoir à la fois une ride à gauche et une crash, mais aussi une cymbale assez polyvalente pour les cas où je n’ai besoin que d’une seule cymbale. Et elle est parfaite pour tout ça !
Elle est fine, elle brille et scintille en étant toute discrète mais fait aussi preuve de dynamique. Un vrai bonheur.
Service Thomann Top et livraison nickel… comme d’habitude :)
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Sehr klar
Musikos 22.03.2022
Schöner Klarer Sound mit deutlichem Ping, welcher bei härterem Spiel etwas vom Grundrauschen übertönt wird
Die Sizzles bringen unaufdringlich etwas Silber in den Sound
Für mich ein Allround Becken
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