I was a 21 year old hanging out in NY in 91 when Bill Stewart was still kind of a newcomer. Blew my mind, the first time I saw him. Back then he was playing all Istanbul K's, and that original Stewart 'sound' was a 22" K. Interestingly, he also used a vic firth Bolero for his ride, and a vic firth Slammer in his left hand. A few years later I studied with him a couple of times in his apartment. He still had that old K and also had a few Zildjian prototypes that he was working on with them. They sounded nothing like that K when I played them, but Bill can get that sound out of just about any cymbal he plays on. Even that K didn't sound great when I played it, but Bill just has that 'thing'. Anyway, that's a nice cymbal you have there. :-)

That’s the cymbal sound I’ve only dreamed of in my head for years. Amazing amazing work

I'd never considered changing grip to affect the sound of a cymbal - thanks for the lesson! Also, I think I'll be stopping by the local music store for more felts on the way home tonight. So cool!

Oh that gorgeous wobble!!!!

I can see your house from here. I met Bill there. Wow what a record! Drumming heaven!

Both those cymbals sound and look fantastic! Re: the clamping with the extra felt, years ago I was playing on a K that could get easily out of control with shoulder crashes and a fix that I came up with was to obtain a 1/4" thick piece of industrial felt (from McMaster) and cut a 2 1/4"-2 1/2" diameter felt for under the bell, and it actually worked to dry it out and control it. If you try this, don't get too hard of a felt because you want it malleable enough to contour under the bell but not flabby either (it might be worth experimenting with different hardnesses/ thicknesses). You'll also need a drive punch (used for gaskets) to punch a hole in the center. You can also buy large diameter punches for the overall size too which I would recommend once you have determined the final size; it's nicer and cleaner looking. A note on Bill Stewart, I remember a Modern Drummer interview where he mentioned working with Zildjian on a prototype(s) and I noticed in the accompanying photos that he had taken a felt pen and marked out numerous locations on the cymbals, like about a 1/2" -3/4" line each, hardly noticeable. I assumed they were favorable playing areas that he was possibly using as reference points to show Zildjian or maybe just to play on. I have done this myself, that's why I noticed it. I do this on my HHats as well to mark the choice position for that special chick sound. I mark them with one dot each, produced with a machinists center punch, then I stick the tip of a black sharpie into it so it's more easily readable.

So glad I recently came across your channel. I love the details you get into. I hope to one day purchase some of your cymbals.

Your passion is palpable and your talent is undeniable. Keep up the great work

Man, great work! These things are gonna take off big time.

Go to quiet ride for a LOT of great players in the 70’s was the Zildjian 20 in. Mini cup ride--- great definition, does not build much and not loud,,, great cymbal if you want that Pointillistic sound.

The passion is audible.

Thanks! Sounds just like a Dream!!!

These sound great. Crazy how much clamping the cymbal changed the sound! Might have to mess around with that on some of mine lol

Great stuff. Thank you.

Wow! What a great achievement! Sounds just Great!

Great work !! 👍🏻

Best cymbal I've ever heard!!!

What a fantastic cymbal!!!

Beautiful Timothy! I’ve had the same thought about the dry complex for years but not a cymbal maker. I have a dry complex 22” medium thin from the first edition. 2005 I think. Mine does not have any of the issues mentioned in another comment but… IT’S LOUD!!( I call it the beast)!So you nailed the “central” issue. Hope you make some more of these in the near future.Had I known, would have jumped on one of these.I’ll be staying alert🤣. ATB!

these sound SPOT ON!!! Amazing work!!

beautiful cymbals and playing

Great Job ....

I can’t wait for the next batch.

Congratulations on creating a beautiful instrument! Wishing you success!

Sounds Awesome

Saw Bill play with the Sco trio. His stick technique floored me, especially when he does the smooth five-stroke rolls up the toms (often while scooping his hi-hat back in place with his foot). I have a Kerope that was one of the many, many K attempts that Zildjian released. It's fairly close to Bill's in tone, but not quite there. The 22" Constantinople is a bit closer. BTW, I'm really enjoying the Blade cymbal you crafted.

I had the complex I and have complex II -One thing I noticed is that all sounded very, very different but the II is way less aggressive than the I -The bell is not very versatile on either ,so know tower of power -actually, ver 1 plays more like swish knocker than a conventional ride -- Yours sound great btw!! just a tad brighter than the Z 's -Then again as you found out, a cymbal that's been recorded or even miced up through a pa sounds entirely different than it would acoustically

Bright and clean with great stick definition … i enjoy your demos and always pick up some nice ideas- like the demo of the blueprint ride for my cymbal When you went from straight 8th Latin to triple pulse super smoothly! … and my cymbal shipped already so nobody can say I’m just complementing to get a good cymbal LOL

Really interesting video and beautifully sounding cymbals!

Sounds great!

AWESOME!

Ohhhhh yeeahhhh, I'd like to see that handmade bell making....and also, an example of enlarging a pre-existing ( or pressed ) bell...

Wow! Great job on those cymbals!

Man love that sound! I would like to buy one.

you'r making some great sounding instruments.

Yes, the Zildjian Bill Stewart ride IS loud!

My money is on the 2nd one but both are amazing.

Wow. - Sounds better than the old K Bill is using now. I heard him last night from a few feet away.

Your cymbals sound killer!

Really nice cymbals, my friend! Question: do you ever experiment with the hardness of the metal? Like are some cymbals softer than others? My brother makes knives as a hobby, and he tells me that after heating the metal, cooling it at different rates is what effects the temper. Do cymbal makers do that? Cheers,

Wow, owned 3 of those rides, but they all had serious flaws. One refused to crash at all, two had a really bad bell, three appeared too thick after a while. Really interested in this video.

Beauties sir!

keep it up

Amazing job Timothy!! I love the ride. Any possibility you might be able to do a 23"?

Question, do you stamp or Id the cymbals you make from scratch, or the ones you modify ?

Hi Timothy. What kind of device do you use to make those videos? Many thanks Paolo

funny i had dry complex ride and that ride is NOT LOUD at all and they even dissapear in the mix with rock or funk settings. which bill ride that you are refering to?

Beautiful cymbals. What this model in 22” go for? Also, what are your thought on drummers using tape on their cymbals?

I would love to have one of these at about 2300-2400g. Any chance you can do a second edition and label as medium?

Rides sound terrific. The Bill Stewart Zildjian Signature Series sticks have been discontinued. They have been my go to for over ten years. Have you found anything comparable? I sincerely hope Zildjian brings them back or another manufacturer starts producing them. Nothing is as thin or light that I've found.

Where can I buy one of these?

I am wondering how the resonance of the stick could be passed to the cymbal during its extremely short interaction with it before it rebounds? In this case I am thinking that you are chasing components that do not exist! The shape of the tip, material in the stick, how hard or in what angle you hit is likely to affect the sound so much more. A harder grip may affect the time in contact with the cymbal but not to a degree that the resonance of the stick will manage to be transferred to the cymbal. That would require longer (constant?) contact…

What models are these? Do you still have these particular ones for sale by chance ? I looked at the site and didn’t see them but thought I’d ask

I want one!!! How can I purchase one???

20" Dry Complex II is not loud at all

That sax player.... can u use a quieter cymbal. LOL. I woulda said "blow harder... starting down here." Which is why i'm not a pro musician. lmao.