Best 21" Ride Cymbals for Intermediate 2026
Perfect 21" ride cymbals for intermediate - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
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
#2
⭐
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
#3
⭐
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
#4
⭐
4.6/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Zildjian 21" K Series Crash Ride
by
Zildjian
Medium-Heavy Playing
Studio Recording
Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Requires developed technique to control
- • Heavier physical weight
Zildjian 21" K Series Crash RideCrash Ride CymbalSize: 21"K seriesBrilliant finishMaterial: B-20 alloyFast...
⭐
4.6/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 344341
$527
#5
⭐
4.5/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Ufip 21" Blast Extra Dry Ride
by
Ufip
Studio Recording
Jazz Fusion
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • More expensive than standard sizes
Ufip 21" Blast Extra Dry RideRide CymbalSize: 21"Blast Extra Dry SeriesMaterial: B20 BronzeDouble...
⭐
4.5/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 485836
$461
#6
⭐
4.8/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Ufip 21" Bionic Series Heavy Ride
by
Ufip
Jazz Fusion
Studio Recording
Medium-Heavy Playing
Key Feature:
• Professional sound quality
✓ PROS
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
- • Requires developed technique to control
Ufip 21" Bionic Series Heavy RideHeavy RideSize: 21"Material: B20 BronzeBright and warm with great...
⭐
4.8/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 424292
$402
#7
⭐
4.5/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Paiste 21" Masters Medium Ride
by
Paiste
Medium-Heavy Playing
Expressive Playing
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • More expensive than standard sizes
Paiste 21" Medium MastersMedium Ride CymbalSize: 21"Twenty Masters Collection SeriesSatisfyingopenrich in...
⭐
4.5/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 319740
$637
#8
⭐
4.7/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 21" Byzance Polyphonic Ride
by
Meinl
Jazz Fusion
Medium-Heavy Playing
Rock
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Requires developed technique to control
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Meinl 21" Byzance Polyphonic RideRide CymbalSize: 21"Byzance SeriesTraditional design with an untreated...
⭐
4.7/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 428666
$593
#9
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Zildjian 21" K-Series Projection Ride
by
Zildjian
Studio Recording
Expressive Playing
Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✓ PROS
- • Professional sound quality
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than standard sizes
- • Heavier physical weight
Zildjian 21" K-Series Projection RideRide CymbalSize: 21"K SeriesDual traditional brilliant finishWeight:...
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 613515
$604
#10
⭐
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
#11
⭐
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
#12
⭐
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
#13
⭐
4.5/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Istanbul Agop 21" Custom Series SE Jazz Ride
Jazz Fusion
Medium-Heavy Playing
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Excellent for expressive ride playing
✓ PROS
- • Professional sound quality
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
✗ CONS
- • Heavier physical weight
- • Requires developed technique to control
Istanbul Agop 21" Custom Series SE Jazz RideRide CymbalSize: 21"Custom Series Special Edition JazzTraditional...
⭐
4.5/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 480233
$546
#14
⭐
4.7/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 21" Byzance Thomas Lang Ride
by
Meinl
Expressive Playing
Medium-Heavy Playing
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Meinl 21" Byzance Thomas Lang RideRide CymbalByzance SeriesBrilliant finishThomas Lang Signature ModelSize:...
⭐
4.7/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 606868
$611
#15
⭐
4.6/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Zultan 21" Q Ride
by
Zultan
Expressive Playing
Rock
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
- • Requires developed technique to control
Zultan 21" Q RideRide CymbalSize: 21"Q SeriesGreat bell soundMore powerfuldefined and loud stick attack with...
⭐
4.6/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 415086
$263
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.
