The Avedis Zildjian cymbals of the 1960s represent one of the most celebrated chapters in American cymbal making — cast from Zildjian's proprietary secret alloy in Quincy, Massachusetts, hand-hammered and lathed by craftsmen working at the peak of the company's pre-corporate era. Finding a 1960s Zildjian ride with a legible ink stamp is genuinely uncommon — the ink fades with age and playing, and a readable "Thin Ping" designation on a cymbal of this era tells you something meaningful about what you are getting into tonally before you ever strike it.
The Ping Ride was Zildjian's answer to drummers who wanted a ride with a more focused, cutting stick sound and less wash than a standard medium ride — a drier, more defined voice with a clear, articulate ping that speaks immediately and decays without building into an overwhelming wash. At 2050 grams this cymbal sits in a weight range that gives it enough mass for a full, authoritative stick sound while remaining responsive enough to feel musical rather than sluggish. The "Thin Ping" ink stamp indicates this cymbal was voiced on the lighter side of the Ping Ride range — more sensitive and responsive than a heavier example, with a slightly drier and more articulate character. Sixty-plus years of bronze aging adds warmth and complexity to the overtones that no modern production cymbal replicates.
Condition is very good. There is a very slight keyhole — minimal and not structurally concerning — and tape residue on the underside from previous use. The 1960s ink stamp remains visible and legible. No cracks, no dents. Please refer to the photos for a close look at the keyhole, tape residue, and stamp.
- Make: Avedis Zildjian
- Model: Ping Ride, Thin Ping
- Size: 20"
- Era: 1960s (confirmed by bold Zildjian Co stamp with three-dot Arabic lettering)
- Ink stamp: Thin Ping, visible and legible
- Country of origin: USA (Quincy, MA)
- Alloy: cast B20-style Zildjian proprietary alloy
- Weight: 2050g
- Character: focused, dry, articulate ping; controlled wash; sensitive and responsive for weight
- Condition: very good — very slight keyhole, tape residue on underside, no cracks or dents
- Modifications: none
- Includes: cymbal only, no hardware
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value.
International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
