Best 21" Ride Cymbals 2026
Top-rated 21" ride cymbals 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: February 4, 2026 • Next update: February 11, 2026
#1
⭐
4.9/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Istanbul Agop 21" Agop Signature Ride
Expressive Playing
Jazz Fusion
Medium-Heavy Playing
Key Feature:
• Excellent for expressive ride playing
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Istanbul Agop 21" Agop Signature RideRide CymbalHand.hammeredSize: 21"Material: B20 bronzeProduces a dry...
⭐
4.9/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 435654
$527
#2
⭐
4.7/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Mehmet 21" Nostalgia 70's Ride
Expressive Playing
Jazz Fusion
Medium-Heavy Playing
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than standard sizes
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
Istanbul Mehmet 21" Nostalgia 70's RideRide cymbalSize: 21"Dark stick definitionVery reminiscent of the...
⭐
4.7/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 326295
$501
#3
⭐
4.5/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Istanbul Mehmet 21" Mehmet Legend Ride
Rock
Medium-Heavy Playing
Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
✗ CONS
- • Requires developed technique to control
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Istanbul Mehmet 21" Mehmet Legend Ride, 21" Ride Cymbal, ML-R21, Natural finish, Specially designed for jazz,...
⭐
4.5/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 311459
$457
#4
⭐
4.5/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Sabian 21" HHX Groove Ride Tradition.
by
Sabian
Expressive Playing
Studio Recording
Rock
Key Feature:
• Excellent for expressive ride playing
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Heavier physical weight
- • More expensive than standard sizes
Sabian 21" HHX Groove Ride Tradition.Ride cymbalSize: 21"Traditional versionB20 bronzeHand-hammeredExcellent...
⭐
4.5/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 510850
$659
#5
⭐
4.4/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Sabian 21" HHX Legacy Ride
by
Sabian
Rock
Expressive Playing
Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✓ PROS
- • Professional sound quality
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • More expensive than standard sizes
Sabian 21" HHX Legacy RideRide cymbalSize: 21"HHX seriesDave Weckl SignatureLegacy ride cymbal with...
⭐
4.4/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 193439
$659
#6
⭐
4.9/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Zildjian 21" Z Custom Mega Bell Ride
by
Zildjian
Expressive Playing
Rock
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
✗ CONS
- • Requires developed technique to control
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
Zildjian 21" Z Custom Mega Bell RideRide CymbalZ Custom SeriesDiameter: 21"Problem-free projection with a...
⭐
4.9/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 589098
$549
#7
⭐
4.8/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sabian 21" HHX Complex Medium Ride
by
Sabian
Expressive Playing
Jazz Fusion
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Professional sound quality
✓ PROS
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • More expensive than standard sizes
Sabian 21" HHX Complex Medium RideRideSize: 21"B20 BronzeCombination of HH and HHX hammeringHand hammered...
⭐
4.8/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 498162
$659
#8
⭐
4.9/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Istanbul Agop 21" Traditional Medium Ride
Jazz Fusion
Medium-Heavy Playing
Rock
Key Feature:
• Professional sound quality
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • Requires developed technique to control
Istanbul Agop 21" Traditional Medium RideRide CymbalSize: 21"Traditional Medium SeriesWide scope of...
⭐
4.9/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 558936
$483
#9
⭐
5.0/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 21" Byzance Foundry Reserve FR
by
Meinl
Medium-Heavy Playing
Expressive Playing
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Great sustain and wash capabilities
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Heavier physical weight
- • More expensive than standard sizes
Meinl 21" Byzance Foundry Reserve FRFlat RideSize: 21"Byzance Foundry Reserve SeriesMaterial: B20...
⭐
5.0/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 581833
$659
#10
⭐
4.8/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Zildjian 21" A-Series Sweet Ride
by
Zildjian
Jazz Fusion
Progressive
Medium-Heavy Playing
Key Feature:
• Excellent for expressive ride playing
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Heavier physical weight
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Zildjian 21" A-Series Sweet RideSweet ride cymbalSize: 21"Regular finishBeautifully round sounding ride...
⭐
4.8/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 141228
$435
#11
⭐
4.6/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Zultan 21" Heritage Ride
by
Zultan
Rock
Studio Recording
Medium-Heavy Playing
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✗ CONS
- • Heavier physical weight
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
Zultan 21" Heritage RideRide CymbalHeritage SeriesSize: 21"A 100% handmade cymbalmanufactured according to an...
⭐
4.6/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 422415
$366
#12
⭐
4.8/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Meinl 21" Byzance D. Double Down C-R
by
Meinl
Medium-Heavy Playing
Progressive
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Excellent for expressive ride playing
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
✗ CONS
- • Heavier physical weight
- • More expensive than standard sizes
Meinl 21" Byzance D. Double Down C-RCrash Ride CymbalDeveloped in cooperation with Matt HalpernSize:...
⭐
4.8/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 564130
$626
#13
⭐
4.7/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 21" Byzance Vintage C Squared
by
Meinl
Rock
Progressive
Medium-Heavy Playing
Key Feature:
• Great sustain and wash capabilities
✓ PROS
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
- • Heavier physical weight
Meinl 21" Byzance Vintage C SquaredRide CymbalSize: 21"Chris Coleman Signature RideByzance Vintage SeriesB20...
⭐
4.7/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 505973
$615
#14
⭐
4.6/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Agop 21" Mel Lewis Signature Ride
Studio Recording
Rock
Expressive Playing
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Professional sound quality
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Istanbul Agop 21" Mel Lewis Signature RideRide cymbalMel Lewis Signature ModelGood stick definitionClassic warm...
⭐
4.6/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 313982
$545
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sabian 21" AAX Medium Ride
by
Sabian
Progressive
Medium-Heavy Playing
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Excellent for expressive ride playing
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
✗ CONS
- • Heavier physical weight
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
Sabian 21" AAX Medium RideRide CymbalSize: 21"AAX SeriesStrength: MediumBrilliant finishMaterial: B20...
⭐
4.5/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 465195
$549
How to Choose the Best 21" Ride Cymbals
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced 21" ride cymbals typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
