I bought this at Sam Ash in Dallas and as soon as I got this on my stand, the guys in my band were raising their eyebrows. This ride is solid. Very present in our room where our studio is. I cannot wait to play this live. That being said, I did use a moon gel on the bow to dampen it a bit for recording. The sound I hear is reminiscent of the SOUND FORMULA of 90s. Think the Signature Full Ride and add around 75 grams. The sustain on this cymbal is very long. The crash on this is just luscious. We play classic rock , blues and red dirt country as well as a lot of rockabilly. I have been using a Paiste Dimensions full ride , and this in comparison , is like adding a big dose of octane to my kit. I plan on getting the crashes (thin and regular) from this series to add that voice to my sound......I am that impressed by this thing. If you are looking for an aggressive ride that will cut through the guitars in an amplified setting , this is your PIE. If you want something that is a bit more subtle , look to the Giant Beats or even the new Big Beat 2002 cymbals. Cymbals are all about preference. I like Paiste because of the bright and present character of their lines. I do use Sabian hi hats and have used Zildjian K Con rides in the past , but find them to be just to dark for my liking, again , just a personal preference. This ride is for me , a culmination of what I have sought for over two decades, and thanks to the "Stellar Customer Service" at the Dallas store by Malcom , not to mention the helpful advice of their live sound and recording department , who gave me very good counsel on recording and microphones, my search is over. I must say , I am very pleased with Sam Ash as a whole , and this store in particular. I will never again shop at GC. Bottom line , yes , I would recommend this ride for Rock , Hard Rock and Metal players. This ride would be at home on any other players kit as well, with a bit of moon gel or in some cases (makes me shutter) a bit of tape.

Lazarus Drummer

Cleburne, TX