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Zildjian 21-inch Z Custom Mega Bell Ride Cymbal

21-inch Ride Cymbal made from B20 Bronze

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Item ID: ZC21MBR

Zildjian 21-inch Z Custom Mega Bell Ride Cymbal

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Zildjian 21-inch Z Custom Mega Bell Ride Cymbal

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Q: Who is the Zildjian 21-inch Z Custom Mega Bell Ride Cymbal designed for?

This cymbal is perfect for drummers who need a powerful, cutting sound that stands out in loud musical settings. Its heavy weight and loud volume make it ideal for rock, metal, and other high-energy genres where projection is key. Both experienced players and those looking to upgrade to a professional, commanding ride will appreciate its full-bodied sound and articulate bell.

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Q: What kind of sound does the 'Mega Bell' produce on this ride cymbal?

The Zildjian 21-inch Z Custom Mega Bell Ride features an exceptionally large bell designed for maximum projection and clarity. It delivers a bright, piercing, and highly articulate sound that cuts through dense mixes with ease. This prominent bell tone is perfect for accents, intricate patterns, or when you need a clear, focused sound that demands attention in any loud performance.

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Q: How does the heavy weight and B20 material affect the sound of this cymbal?

The heavy weight of the Zildjian Z Custom Mega Bell Ride contributes to its loud volume, long sustain, and clear stick definition, making it highly articulate. Crafted from B20 bronze, a professional-grade alloy, it offers a rich, full-bodied sound with a powerful wash when crashed. This combination ensures durability and a consistent, high-quality tone suitable for demanding musical situations.

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Massive and Bright Bell Tones

For ride rhythmizing with undeniable presence and focus, few cymbals can compare to Zildjian’s legendary fan favorite, the Z Custom Mega Bell ride. This B20 bronze cymbal measures a classic 21 inches across, with its finished bell of volcanic proportions towering over the bow at the center of the cymbal. When struck, drummers gain immediate access to a bell tone that is extraordinarily bright, projective, and focused in rhythmic clarity. This engineering ensures that your patterns remain prominent amid mixes of even the heaviest and harshest intensities. Metal and hard rockers, rejoice! Sweetwater players love the live presence of this ride, suited for success under virtually any stage-centric circumstances. The bow retains Zildjian’s beautiful and bright narrow lathing with those iconic Z Custom star stamps for a look that’s entirely unparalleled by other ride cymbals. Hear the difference of the Mega Bell today!

The Z Custom returns

Launching in 1994, Zildjian’s relatively short-lived Z Custom series of cymbals blends revolutionary engineering, powerful sonics, and knockout aesthetics into one unmatchable design. Now resurrected here at Sweetwater, these Z Custom models come finely crafted once more for an eruption of bright and hard-cutting musical tone, with rugged performance longevity to outlast even the most demanding percussion careers. Perfectly suiting metal, rock, punk, and similar heavier realms, the Z Custom series instills a bold authority within every mix it joins, from small gigs that make a lot of noise to full-blown festival stages. Brilliantly finished and emblazoned with that familiar star pattern, Zildjian’s stunning made-in-the-USA Z Custom series of cymbals awaits with powerful poise to skyrocket your drumming to new heights.

Zildjian Z Custom Mega Bell Ride Cymbal Features:

A resurrection of Zildjian's original Z Custom series of cymbals, complete with brilliant finish and iconic star pattern
Enlarged center bell provides incredibly bright, clear, and projective tone
Remarkably focused sound shines through harsh and intense live mixes
Perfect for super-hard-hitting drumming styles
Ideal for heavier genres like metal, rock, hard rock, punk, and more
B20 bronze alloy formula establishes a highly musical foundation
Carefully crafted in the USA

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Tech Specs

Type: Z Custom Mega Bell Ride
Size: 21"
Weight: Heavy
Finish: Brilliant
Material: B20
Volume: Loud
Sound: Full-bodied, Powerful Wash
Bell Size: Large
Manufacturer Part Number: Z40121

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Reviews

4.1

Customer Photos & Videos

This cymbal is amazing.Sounds great in any style of music. The big bell really cuts through and demands to be heard. I use 5B forward sticks with nylon tips. Depending on how hard you hit, it responds to my liking. It might not be for everyone, but for me I am satisfied with it.

The Zildjian Mega Bell cymbal has an awesome sound, but one of my favorite things about the cymbal are the stars that are imprinted on it. Sweetwater was awesome and they got it to me really quick!

Obviously this is made, and perfect for, metal, but it's a bit more complex than you'd think. Use the right sticks and i could see it being used for certain kinds of jazz. The bell, of course, does not disappoint.

So I've heard this ride in so many Gojira songs and YouTube clips, I've heard it in person a few times as well. It always has a very distinct sound. I desperately wanted this exact ride for a while now for recording my metal bands first album.

When I first got the ride I was decently happy with it, but the bell had a weird quirk; if you don't hit the very edge of the bell, it sounds like absolute doodoo. But if you are precise and hit the edge at an angle, then it sounds pretty great, yet somehow also sounds much different than every other mega Bell ride I've heard before. The tone is a lot more complex, sounds a bit more like a church bell or something, maybe some extra overtones, and though I do like it, it was a bit disappointing. When I say precise, I mean it, it's quite frustrating how hard it is to consistently hit the very edge and gain the best sound. My friend immediately noticed this as well, and thought the ride was just a dud.

So I asked to swap it for a replacement, and I was very excited to hear how it would sound upon receiving it, as customer support also confirmed to me that my ride didn't sound right. Imagine my disappointment when the replacement bell sounded worse, and still lacked that signature sound. It didn't require as much precision however and was much easier to consistent play.

So now I had to pick:
1) complex bell that requires very precise stick placement / angle
2) replacement ride with a worse bell, bur doesn't require being anywhere near as precise with stick placement.

Where neither has the signature mega Bell soun this cymbal should have. I ended up keeping my original (#1) and sendun replacement back. Maybe that was a mistake.

I'm beginning to wonder if it's just the acoustics in the room I play in, or if tactually need a 90s mega Bell ride to capture that sound rather than brand new. It won't allow me to attach the video I sent customer support. Not really sure what to do, and it sucks to spend so much and not get that signature sound.

Ask any drummer at Sweetwater, and chances are, we'll tell you that Zildjian represents the gold - or rather bronze - standard in cymbal making. Seriously, Avedis Zildjian may have been trying to make gold, but he did even better when he formulated what's arguably the best cymbal material on the planet. We've played virtually every type of Zildjian cymbal out there, and you won't find anyone at Sweetwater who wouldn't happily recommend their instruments to you, plus their sticks and other accessories are also pretty sweet. Whether you're grabbing your first S or Planet Z pack or have saved up for the A or K series cymbals you've always wanted, Sweetwater is your source for all things Zildjian.

See also: cymbal ride, Zildjian, Zildjian Ride Cymbals