CYMBALISTIC: I’ve just posted a bunch of new cymbals on the site— six Holy Grail Jazz Rides, 20-22″, a HG 16″ crash, a 20″ Janovar— inspired by Giant Beat, in B20 bronze— and a couple of 18″ custom Turk Light Rides.
The Turks are really cool. They’re modeled after a one-off cymbal “Toshiro” from a couple of years ago. Slightly different than their usual style making Turks— these are a little darker. The current two 18s are already spoken for, but I’ll probably be ordering more in the next batch, in about 3 months.
There are a good selection of 20″ Holy Grail Jazz Rides now—any one of which would be the best cymbal somebody ever owned. Some of them are a little stronger as primary cymbals, some may be better in a “left side” role— send me a note about that if you’re considering one of them. They each have slightly different strengths.
The 20″ Janovar is interesting— it’s a brighter cymbal that fits somewhere between the Leon Collection— airy, musical, lush— and the Mersey Beat or American Artist series— which have (relatively) a stronger “A-type” sound. The Janovar is very lush, and with a little aggressive edge. I may experiment with adding a patina to it, possibly rivets.
Aggressive is the wrong word. I mean a little more cutting, a little wilder tessitura— meaning there are some more random harmonics in the overall sound. With too many prominent wild overtones you have a really noisy, ugly sounding cymbal; when they’re more restrained, they just give it a little edge. The Janovar would make a good left side cymbal, contrasting a larger, darker main cymbal.
I am happy to help you with any of the materials on the site, and with anything else drumming related— contact me for private lessons, online world wide, or in person in Portland, Oregon. All levels of players, and all people, are welcome.
Email Todd | Call or text +1(503)380-9259 | Chat on WhatsApp
I guess, you'll keep it as a great secret, who – or which company in Turkey – makes YOUR cymbals.
Knowing that about 99.9% of today's Turkish cymbal makers are apprentices of Mehmet Tamdeger and/or Agop Tomurcuk – the founders of "ISTANBUL" cymbal company – and also knowing, that all these manufacturers do OEM work – makes it even more interesting.
YES I absolutely agree: today's best and most 'personal' cymbals are made in Turkey!!!!
FOR ME – and that's VERY personal and in no way judgmental – the best cymbals are made in Turkey and I love the individuality in every cymbal in the same range.