Bosphorus Cymbals
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1990s |
| Headquarters | Istanbul, Turkey and Kennesaw, Georgia, United States |
| Number of locations | 2 |
| Industry | Musical Instruments |
| Products | Cymbals |
| Website | http://www.bosphoruscymbals.com |
Bosphorus is a cymbal manufacturer based in İstanbul, Turkey and Kennesaw, a suburb of Atlanta,Georgia, United States.
The factory is located near the Bosphorus Strait, from which the company draws its name. It is owned by three master cymbalsmiths, Ibrahim Yakici, Hasan Seker, and Hasan Ozdemir. They originally worked at the Istanbul Cymbals factory until the company split in the 1990s. There they were trained by Mehmet Tamdeger, who worked at the K Zildjian Cymbal Company in the 1950s and Agop Tomurcuk who was foreman of the K Zildjian factory in Istanbul until its closure in 1978. The K Zildjian company, based in Istanbul, produced cymbals by hand for many decades and was a distinct and separate company from the Avedis Zildjian company located in the United States, which maufactures its cymbals using machine automation.
The US operation is owned by a trio of drummers, including Jeff Hamilton, Michael Vosbein, and Bill Norman.
Unlike most modern cymbal manufacturers, Bosphorus continues to produce its cymbals using centuries old traditions. Every cymbal is cast, hammered and lathed completely by hand. A single cymbalsmith will hammer each cymbal, striking it thousands of times until it is finished. This process is said to render a unique "old-world" warmth that some people feel is lacking in modern machine-made cymbals.
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[edit] Current Products
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[edit] Turk Series
The unlathed Turk Series is dark, dry, and earthy, with lots of stick definition. Available in Thin weight. Medium-Thin and Medium weights are available by special order.
[edit] Traditional Series
Fully lathed, the Traditional Series is very complex due to the varying thickness from bell to edge. They have a clean ping and a generous amount of wash which varies according to weight. These are versatile enough for many situations, ranging from rock to jazz to symphony. Available in Paper-Thin, Thin, Medium-Thin, and Medium weights.
[edit] Antique Series
The Antique Series combine the complex characteristics of the Turk and Traditional series, with an unlathed bell and strip on the top and a fully lathed bottom. The amount of wash and stick definition lies between the Turk and Traditional series, resulting in a cymbal with clarity, darkness, and controlled overtones. Versatile enough for many situations. Available in Paper-Thin and Thin weights. Medium-Thin, and Medium weights are available by special order.
[edit] Master Series
Developed by jazz great Neal Smith, the Master Series cymbals are very thin, designed using patterns from the 1940s and 1950's. Ideal for jazz, blues, and big band music. They are so thin that the edge has a distinct wobble when played. Available in Thin weight only.
[edit] Gold Series
The heaviest of Bosphorus cymbal line, the Gold Series are bright, warm, and crisp with the projection and power required for medium and high volume settings. Ideal for rock music.
[edit] New Orleans Series
The New Orleans Series are another hybrid, combining characteristics of the Turk and Traditional Series. The top and bottom feature a wide, spiral lathing pattern from bell to edge with a surface which features lathed and unlathed grooves. They have a slight dryness, ample stick definition, and controlled wash, resulting in a sound best described as "smoky". Great for jazz and contemporary settings.
[edit] Versa Series
Designed by Grammy award winning drummer Ignacio Berroa, the cymbals in this series are medium in weight and fairly uniform in thickness. The ride and hi-hats feature a top which has an unlathed bell and center, and a lathed strip running from the middle to the edge. The flat ride is heavier than most and has a ping when played, reminiscent of a heavy Zildjian A Custom flat ride.
[edit] Hammer Series
Designed by jazz drummer Jeff Hamilton, the Hammer Series is similar to the Traditional Series, though it has a smaller bell and tapered profile with a paper-thin edge. These cymbals are thin, dark, smooth, with ample wash which never gets out of control. Perfect for Jazz and Big Band, yet flexible enough for many types of settings. Hammer Series includes 14" Hi-Hats, 20" and 22" Rides, and 22" China.
[edit] Stanton Moore
Funky best describes the Stanton Moore Series, which comprises four cymbals: Fat Hats, Trash Crash, Pang Thang, and Wide Ride.
The Wide Ride, available in 20" and 22" sizes, are dark, funky, smooth, smoky, and crashable.
The Pang Thang is somewhat trashy but can be used as a crash or ride.
The Trash Crash is loud, raw, and can even be used as a ride, sounding like rain hitting a tin roof.
[edit] Rockett Ride
Designed by Poison drummer Rikki Rockett, the Rockett Ride is a heavy ride cymbal available in 20" and 22" sizes. It features a large unlathed bell, lathed top, with a small unlathed strip near the edge. The majority of the bottom is unlathed with the exception of a small lathed strip near the edge. The cymbal has great stick definition, with a larger bell and less overtones when compared to the Gold Series rides. Ideal for rock and live performances which require volume, projection, and cutting power.
[edit] Notable Artists
- Jeff Hamilton
- Stanton Moore
- Ignacio Berroa
- Roger Humphries
- Rikki Rockett
- Johnny Vidacovich
- Zach Velmer
- Jay Lane
- Kurt Sodergren
- Ron Welty
- Jamey Haddad
- Neal Smith
- Kevin Kanner
