I don't know what ride it was but wanted to say you are absolutely right about how great it sounds. It gets me every time I hear it, too.

Budget considerations are often the determinant factors as to which drums and cymbals end up played on recordings. Many studios insist on their own "in house" drums and cymbals remaining in place for use by all players, because those particular drums and cymbals have been chosen, 'tweaked', and 'tuned' to their room's specific electro-acoustical environment. There are other situations, when bands buy time in studios located along their tour itineraries, when their management contracts with professional back line and cartage companies, stipulating that road cases full of drums and cymbals be in place prior to recording so that the drummer may select from among an assortment of snares and cymbals those best suited to the music being recorded. There are as well other possibilities, such as live in-concert recordings of drummers performing either on their own equipment or on equipment provided by the venue. It shouldn't be too difficult to find out which ride cymbal was used for that recording. Try contacting .38 Special or the studio they used.

Buckie I have never ever come across a studio engineer insisting on me using the in house kit. It's been an option on occasions, and I have ended up using the house kit for convenience. I recently used a beautiful 70's Ludwig studio kit in Bowling Ball Blue for a session earlier this year that was up in the booth when I arrived, I just left my drums in their cases in the hall. The guy was chuffed that I liked them but it was no way compulsory, in fact he was about to take them down.

Anyway that Ride sounds quite a heavy "Rock Ride" to me, and yes its a cool cymbal that sits great in that track. Do you know if the guy has a cymbal endorsement, that may help to round it down a bit.

Unfortunately the studio where it was recorded in 1980, Studio One, Doraville Georgia, northern Atlanta suburb, closed around 1989. Maybe there's some way to contact the drummers, Jack Grondin or Steve Brookins. Maybe they have websites.