🥁 Zildjian K Custom Medium Ride – 20" (K0854) – Unplayed – Dual Finish – Articulate & Warm

A note from Nick: Don't let the unusual finish combination throw you. The K Custom Medium Ride pairs a traditional-finish top with a brilliant underside. I use one personally. It is an outstanding ride, and the bell is especially bright and cutting.

Condition: Unplayed – Opened only to photograph
SKU: K0854
Retail Price: $529.95

Listed by Nick’s Drum Gear – Collector-Grade Cymbals, Professionally Curated – Home of the STR Rating

NDG Unplayed Condition
At Nick's Drum Gear, unplayed means the cymbal has never been owned or played by an end user. Many of our cymbals originate from factory cymbal packs, giving them a known history from day one. Because they do not include a manufacturer's warranty, they are represented as unplayed rather than new.

The 20" K Custom Medium Ride is one of the most versatile rides in the Zildjian lineup — delivering a balanced blend of stick definition, warmth, and controlled wash.

Designed for players who need clarity without harshness, this cymbal sits comfortably in both live and studio environments, adapting easily across multiple genres.

The dual-finish construction gives you the best of both worlds:

• Traditional top for warmth and musicality
• Brilliant underside for added articulation and presence

Note on Handcrafted K-Series Cymbals
Zildjian K-series cymbals are individually hand-hammered and tonally shaped at the factory. Natural hammer marks, tonal shaping impressions, finish variation, and minor handling marks are normal characteristics of the series and are not considered defects.

⭐ STR Rating — Style, Tonality & Response

Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Handles everything from rock and pop to jazz, worship, and studio work.

Tonality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Warm, controlled, and musical with classic darker K-series character.

Response: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Clear stick definition with smooth decay and strong bell projection.

🎶 Genre Match

Rock & Alternative ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pop & Studio ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jazz & Fusion ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Worship & Ambient ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Funk & R&B ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

⚙️ Specifications

Diameter: 20"
Weight: Medium
Series: K Custom Medium Ride
Finish: Traditional (top) / Brilliant (bottom)
Material: B20 Bronze
Manufacturer: Zildjian

🔊 Sound Profile

Tone: Warm and focused
Stick Definition: Clean and articulate
Bell: Clear, present, and controlled
Wash: Balanced and contained
Feel: Confident and consistent under the stick

📝 Nick’s Notes

This is a true “do-it-all” ride — one of the safest high-end picks if you want a cymbal that works in nearly any setting without fighting the mix.

Important Note on Finish & Appearance:
K Custom Medium rides feature a lathed brilliant underside, which can show visible polishing marks, tonal variation, or linear finishing lines under certain lighting.

These are normal manufacturing characteristics of the dual-finish process over cast B20 bronze — not scratches, not damage, and not signs of use.

We photograph each cymbal individually so what you see is exactly what you’ll receive.

📦 Shipping & Assurance

Every cymbal is carefully inspected, packed with care in a custom-fitted box, and shipped fully insured to ensure it arrives exactly as described.

This cymbal ships in its original Zildjian factory bag with tags, confirming its unplayed condition.

STR = Style, Tonality & Response — Nick’s Drum Gear’s exclusive system to help players match cymbals to real-world playing applications.