John Clarke assesses relative newcomers Istanbul Cymbals

Not many moons have passed since the choice of professional cymbals was simply between Zildjian and Paiste, with those still awaiting the call of international fame hitting metal discs emblazoned with such names as 'Zyn', 'Ajax' and — wait for it — 'Krut': a name that I always felt could easily be used as an obscenity! Imagine: 'don't do that in the dressing room, you filthy Krut!'!! Anyhow, I digress; so on to the reason for all this waffle. Having extended their ranges by colour, shape and new ideas at a rapid rate of knots, the two big boys also now share their market with a veritable rash of fresh of re-vamped cymbal makers, with what appears to be a very serious challenge now coming from what was the old Zildjian factory in Turkey. When moving to different climes, the company left behind a well-established manufacturing facility along with two obviously enterprising ex-employees who decided to make and market cymbals in competition with their former employers. And so the Istanbul cymbal was born.

Whilst the blending of materials is a family secret (and protected by patents, I assume), the two gents concerned had been involved in making Zildjian cymbals, so one can't help wondering now much of this process they are able to employ in their own line. In case when purchasing an Istanbul cymbal you puzzle at the signatures 'Mehmet' and 'Agop' inside the bell, that's because these chaps choose to sign every cymbal they make. I'll leave you to decide whether this is a nice touch or just a marketing gimmick.

The set I had for review was only part of the range, but not a bad selection of average size and weight cymbals, comprising 14" regular Hi Hats, 18" medium crash, 20" medium ride and a 20" China.

20" Medium Ride: RRP £152

As with all Istanbul cymbals this was a hand made, hand hammered type, firmly in the style of those original K Zildjians, and my 'laying on of sticks' confirmed the sector of the market at which these are being aimed. The stick definition was good, with those reminiscent rich and dry tones very evident yet not as dominant as in the old Ks, and this could be a real benefit. Although many drummers loved that character, it was too much for some who thought these tones over-strong for general playing, so it could be that Istanbul have retained the best of this feature, yet modified it somewhat to appeal to more drummers. I found the sound pleasant and easy to keep under control at higher levels, with a clean, powerful bell sound that cut through well, definitely confirming its Turkish origin. All in all, a superb cymbal.

14" Regular Hi Hats: RRP £187

Regrettably, these did little for me in terms of what I look for in Hi Hats, but to be totally frank I can't honestly say I've found any hand hammereds that suit me at all. Does this make me biased in reviewing these? Possibly, but rather than made negative or unfair comments it's best if I state my preference for other styles of Hi hat, so that at least you know where I stand. Having got that lot off my chest, I'll attempt to evaluate the Istanbul offering when subjected to punishment on my stand, rather on the light side for most players, these are; at the risk of being boring, they're the nearest things to old Ks that I've encountered for a long time. If you're one of that specialist and select bunch preferring such cymbals it might be worth trying a 'pick 'n' mix' ideas on top and bottom cymbals from this range, which I understand features different weights and sizes. The only thoughts I can muster on the most suitable use for the set I tried are that they might suit a band playing 'Thirties jazz influenced material. As with most instruments of individual character, reviews can only give a very broad base on the item. You really must hear these cymbals for yourself, and preferably try a few of the same weight and size as, being individually hand made, they will vary.

18" Medium Crash: RRP £130

Here I can really enthuse. This one is my pick of the bunch, and a cymbal which very few set ups wouldn't benefit from including. Its strong and bright sound cuts through extremely well, with a fairly long decay that fades away in some lovely shimmering tones not to be found in many other cymbals. Speaking fast and clear, and with the power and musical qualities one should expect from such an up-market instrument, I don't think many will be disappointed with this one!

20" China: RRP £175

Putting a definite name to sounds produced by the ever-expanding family of cymbals in this vein must be the most taxing task of all, as any sound is at best difficult to convey in written form. Do I say it's 'Pang with a hint of dropped metal tray', or would 'Swish and subtle traces of Wok' be more suitable? Mounting it 'inverted' (a word for upside-down that our educated readers use), I struck our sample a mean blow across the curve which creates the turned edge on the beast. The resulting sound from this assault was loud, musically trashy, and yet again confirmed the Turkish origin of Istanbul cymbals. Whilst not really gong-like, it contained the sonorous, mellow notes not found in cymbals either computer-designed or machine-thumped. This is definitely for those requiring a full and more melodic cymbal, rather than for anyone seeking that swift and flat China punctuation.

Conclusion

My apologies for the number of times I've compared these Istanbul cymbals to the old K Zildjians, but such are the similarities to my ears that this was inevitable. At least this sort of comparison points potential cymbal buyers in the right direction!

If high quality, hand-made products with very individual natures are your bag, then have no doubt, Istanbul are made to the highest standards, like them or not. Definitely not as versatile as the Avedis Zildjian or Paiste 2002 ranges (which are designed to cater for an extremely wide range of styles), these seem to be for those considering, say, Sabian HH or Zildjian Ks, against which they must feature as a third option.

Whether importers John Hornby Skewes will succeed in interesting both retailers and the necessary quota of drummers to really get these launched in what must be a small and well-supplied market is a matter for conjecture, but I hope so, as they deserve the chance to show what they have to offer. On price it's getting more difficult by the hour to pinpoint best buys, with either one line or another having promotional price cuts each week, but Istanbul should cost more or less the same as other hand hammered cymbals, and in my opinion they stand right beside the established makes in all respect. Give them a try and see what you think.

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