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Thread: Bought a Swiss made 20" Paiste Alpha Full Ride Cymbal ?

  1. #1

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    Smile Bought a Swiss made 20" Paiste Alpha Full Ride Cymbal ?

    I bought a used 20" mid 1990's Paiste Alpha Full Ride cymbal made in Switzerland. I had thought about a 18"
    Dream Bliss crash/ride, a Paiste 3000 power ride or a Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride.
    I am looking for a good ride with a decent to good crash.
    I came to the conclusion that the Dream may be so thin & have a bad gong sound, that the Paiste 3000 may be too thick for a good crash & well the Sweet rides are also pretty thick but a lot more expensive, too expensive to serve as a 2nd ride. I already own a 20" Zildjian A Custom Med. ride which is a pretty good ride but for sure not a crash.
    I hope I will like the Alpha Full ride non-brilliant finish.
    Being a non brilliant the tone may be darker, with a good stick artiticulation, a good wash & crash sound.
    If not I will be selling it for one of the other cymbals I was considering.
    And also with this cymbal being Swiss made, I read they were better made & sound better than the German made Alpha version.
    Just how rare & good are the Swiss Alphas ?
    That was a main reason I did buy this Alpha ride.
    And exactly what is a full ride compared to power rides or other ride types?
    Thanks Guys


    Mapex Meridian Birch, Tobacco Fade
    20" A Custom Medium Ride
    16" A Custom Crash
    16" K Custom Session Crash
    12" A Custom Splash
    14" A Custom MasterSound Hi Hats
    Toga Hi Hat Tambourine
    Pearl Primero Rock Cowbell
    Pearl P-902L dbl. bass pedal

  2. #2

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    Default Re: Bought a Swiss made 20" Paiste Alpha Full Ride Cymbal ?

    I can't comment on those particular cymbals , but I use 3 rides in my current setup. I really like crashable rides and the Wuhan S series is an affordable option. Doesn't excel at anything but is very serviceable. I also use a vented Saluda decadence ride that is very crashable. And again, fairly affordable.my third ride is a power ride which has a great ping but is too heavy to crash.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Ludwig centennial natural 11 piece
    Gp jungle natural 4 piece
    Yamaha dtxpress3
    Saluda cymbals
    zildjian a customs
    Sabian aax

  3. #3

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    Default Re: Bought a Swiss made 20" Paiste Alpha Full Ride Cymbal ?

    The Alpha Power Ride is a heavyweight, pingy with a loud cutting bell - the Full Ride a medium weight, other than that I know nothing. Sorry.

  4. #4

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    Default Re: Bought a Swiss made 20" Paiste Alpha Full Ride Cymbal ?

    What difference does a non brilliant finish make as compared to a brilliant finish?
    Is it a darker sound, not as bright?
    Thanks for your help guys


    Mapex Meridian Birch, Tobacco Fade
    20" A Custom Medium Ride
    16" A Custom Crash
    16" K Custom Session Crash
    12" A Custom Splash
    14" A Custom MasterSound Hi Hats
    Toga Hi Hat Tambourine
    Pearl Primero Rock Cowbell
    Pearl P-902L dbl. bass pedal

  5. #5

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    Default Re: Bought a Swiss made 20" Paiste Alpha Full Ride Cymbal ?

    I think regular finish cymbals are brighter, but in the case of B8 they come with a protective clear coat lacquer which seals most of the lathe grooves and surface imperfections - I'm guessing that difference is minimal on similar model B8 cymbals because of the clear coat.

  6. #6

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    Default Re: Bought a Swiss made 20" Paiste Alpha Full Ride Cymbal ?

    Newbie drummer here, I just put a Paiste Alpha 20" metal ride on layaway recently.

    Its one of the West German versions....how does it compare to the Swiss version and is it crashable?

    It was very reasonable in price and I could return it, however it is in near mint shape from what I could tell.

    I do plan on having many fine cymbals in my collection...I am a schooled trumpet player and know the value of excellent cymbals....seems the Alpha series is very good overall and one series that can be found for reasonable in the used market.

    Definitely going to check out the Swiss Paiste Alphas next!

  7. #7

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    Default Re: Bought a Swiss made 20" Paiste Alpha Full Ride Cymbal ?

    Rare? No
    Good? It's a cymbal with holes in it. Do you like its sound? (that's all that matters)

    Paiste has killed off the Swiss Alphas and replaced with the PST X series of holey swiss, cymbally goodness.

    Acoustic & Electronic:
    Pearl Prestige World Series WLX 1988
    Tama Swingstar 1983
    Tama Superstar Hyper-Drive (Birch) 2007
    Ludwig Acrolite Snare 1976
    Ludwig Supraphonic 6.5x14" 2021
    Pearl Sensitone Elite Aluminum 5.5" and 6.5" Snare
    Pearl COB Custom Deluxe [Gladstone] (75-76) Snare
    Love Drum Co. Hammered Steel 5.5" Snare
    Roland TD-1KV

    Paiste
    Accent 8"

    Paiste Signature:
    6", 10" Splash
    14" Dark Crisp Hi-Hats
    14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats
    16", 17", 18",19", 20" Full Crash
    22" Symphonic Med-Heavy (use as a Ride)

    Paiste Formula 602:
    22" Formula 602 Modern Essentials Ride

    Paiste 2oo2:
    22" Ride
    16" Crash
    8",10" Splash

    Paiste 2oo2 Big Beat:
    15" Hi-Hats
    19", 20", 21" Big Beat Multifunctional

    Paiste Sound Formula:
    16" Crash
    20" Full Ride (Frankenstein)

    Paiste Twenty:
    16" China

    Paiste Alpha (original Swiss made):
    12" Splash

    Paiste PST7:
    Medium
    16", 18" Crash
    20" Ride
    14" Hi-Hats

    Sabian:
    XS20 18" China
    AA 14" Fusion Hi-Hats


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