ISTANBUL MEHMET CYMBALS
Original Handmade Cast Bronze Cymbals from Turkey * ISTANBUL-CYMBALS.COM *
Links and Comments
www.istanbulmehmet.com - The official IM website
www.facebook.com/pages/Istanbul-Mehmet-Cymbals-Official/178390548883 - IM Official Facebook Page
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQSsQb3v30w - A beautiful short video about the making of Istanbul Mehmet
http://jazztimes.com/articles/14202-istanbul-mehmet-legend-cymbals - Review of the Mehmet Legend series
www.drumdojo.com/istanbul_nostalga_2.htm - Review of the Nostalgia series
www.timmbiery.com/video.html - Timm Biery playing IM cymbals. Check out the solo piece "Lambahhh" (2nd on the left)
www.swansonblog.com/paul/2009/01/06/visiting-istanbul-mehmet-cymbal factory/ - Somebody's report of a visit to the Istanbul Mehmet factory
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YG-HSk6EIU - Somebody else's video of a visit to the IM factory in Istanbul
Some Quotes from Popular Drum/Cymbal Forums:
" A friend of mine, and fellow forum member here has a 20" Mehmet Radiant that is one of the best rock cymbals I have ever heard...Great tone and excellent projection. Darkish vibe with a bright, somewhat pingy stick. Wish I owned it..."
"Well, 'Ive got a 22" Mehmet Onurhan Ride and 14" Onurhan Hi Hats. The ride is a dream...very good for heavy music, while incredibly loud, the bell is fantastic. It's also very versatile, while it surrounds you with dark tones...and they look good, too. I'm in love with that baby. "
"I am using Istanbul Mehmets and am very happy with them. It is really a matter of taste, but Istanbul Mehmets are the ones that I would go for. I have been talking about it with another drummer in the forum in a different thread, and he said they have this "je ne sais quoi", and I totally agree with him, having tried a lot of different brands and series."
"Also, I own the Mehmet 60th Anniversary 22" - a fantastic "all around" cymbal- one that I think can be used for jazz as well as rock."
"I am a Mehmet endorser and player because I really love my cymbals. I would not play something that I don t like. I played Zildjian K customs and Paiste 2002, Sig. etc, and Mehmets are superior for me. I think that you have by far the biggest choice of models by Istanbul Mehmet."
"I own a setup of 14 inch hihats, 17 and 18 inch crashes, a 12 inch splash and a 20 inch ride, all Mehmet Sultan series. The sound is beautiful, compared to other cymbals. I also have the same setup of Zildjian K fast crashes - HH-ride - splash. The sound is very similar for both of these... As far as the quality of Mehmet cymbals goes, I am very pleased with them. I believe Agop and Bosphorus could benefit, if they drop their prices a little. I take the Mehmets any day for that price difference..."
"These cymbals (Mehmet) are very complex and musically unique. I own over 40 cymbals. Paiste Sig's and Trad's, Sabian, Zyl's, and the fabulous UFIP Class.... Istanbul Mehmet's stand out with rich, lush tonality. Do yourself a favor and check them out. "
"Let me say some of the most beautiful sounding cymbals I have are two Mehmet
20" Traditional rides - Original and Original Light."
"As for the hats ... I just picked up a set of Istanbul Mehmet Sultans (14" med.) that are spectacular, but compare well in $$ to any top-of -the-line set of hi hats."
"There are a growing number of us that are sold on the Sultans around here. LOVELY pies. I could use a couple more myself. "
"Istanbul Radiant series: I really like the 18 crashes. I was at a gig today (where I played) and one of the drummers played them and I was in awe!"
"I think Mehmets tend to be smoother. Check this recording of my Mehmet 14's... I had Agop hi-hats too and they are definitely on the trashier and dark side. I got the Sultan models from both lines - almost the same weight and the Mehmet is smoother. I got both from ebay sight unseen/unheard.
"I play Agops, and have hit a few Mehmets. Agops are every bit as "good" as Mehmets... I have quite a few of both Agop and Mehmet, and use both regularly. The Agops have more of the nasal, trashy sound - more "Tony-ish" - than do the more silvery, purer sounding Mehmets, in general....The Mehmet Legend series (what used to be their Mel Lewis series) have a very prominent stick sound with a soulful wash. More projection than Agops, possibly...I do greatly prefer the Mehmet hihats to the Agops, however - tighter chic, better "foot feel" overall. Their Traditional hats are usually winners."
" I've found Agops to be a bit smoother sounding. But that could also be just the luck of the draw on the cymbals I've hit. They use the same constituent parts, and the same essential techniques, so you're just as likely to find a Mehmet that sounds like a typical Agop as you are to find an Agop that sounds like a typical Mehmet. There is no discernable quality difference."
"Istanbul Mehmets are slightly cheaper in price, because Mehmet doesn't spend as much in advertising as Agop. ... they both make spanking great cymbals and are equally valid in earning my dollar as a customer."
"Istanbul Cymbals are absolutely incredible instruments. I think anyone in love with the "big three" truly needs to look past the advertising hype and check these things out. Sound clips are o.k., but they do not do justice to these fine instruments."
"If you want rich sounding cymbals, there's nothing like (really) hand-hammered cymbals. People who haven't checked out a bunch of Turkish brands have often forgotten what "hand-hammered" really sounds like. You'll rarely find that richness of sound with modern K's/K Cons, Sabian HH's or Paiste Trads, they're all hammered far too little to get a really complex sound."
"...it does seem like a well-kept secret to the general drumming population, but to us cymbalholics, it is a well-established fact (er ... opinion), that Istanbul makes some of the finest cymbals anywhere, at any price. The variety of sounds, the warmth, the trashiness, the complexity. The fact that they are cheaper than many machine-made cymbals strikes me as funny. "
www.istanbulmehmet.com - The official IM website
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQSsQb3v30w - A beautiful short video about the making of Istanbul Mehmet
http://jazztimes.com/articles/14202-istanbul-mehmet-legend-cymbals - Review of the Mehmet Legend series
www.drumdojo.com/istanbul_nostalga_2.htm - Review of the Nostalgia series
www.timmbiery.com/video.html - Timm Biery playing IM cymbals. Check out the solo piece "Lambahhh" (2nd on the left)
www.swansonblog.com/paul/2009/01/06/visiting-istanbul-mehmet-cymbal factory/ - Somebody's report of a visit to the Istanbul Mehmet factory
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YG-HSk6EIU - Somebody else's video of a visit to the IM factory in Istanbul
Some Quotes from Popular Drum/Cymbal Forums:
" A friend of mine, and fellow forum member here has a 20" Mehmet Radiant that is one of the best rock cymbals I have ever heard...Great tone and excellent projection. Darkish vibe with a bright, somewhat pingy stick. Wish I owned it..."
"Well, 'Ive got a 22" Mehmet Onurhan Ride and 14" Onurhan Hi Hats. The ride is a dream...very good for heavy music, while incredibly loud, the bell is fantastic. It's also very versatile, while it surrounds you with dark tones...and they look good, too. I'm in love with that baby. "
"I am using Istanbul Mehmets and am very happy with them. It is really a matter of taste, but Istanbul Mehmets are the ones that I would go for. I have been talking about it with another drummer in the forum in a different thread, and he said they have this "je ne sais quoi", and I totally agree with him, having tried a lot of different brands and series."
"Also, I own the Mehmet 60th Anniversary 22" - a fantastic "all around" cymbal- one that I think can be used for jazz as well as rock."
"I am a Mehmet endorser and player because I really love my cymbals. I would not play something that I don t like. I played Zildjian K customs and Paiste 2002, Sig. etc, and Mehmets are superior for me. I think that you have by far the biggest choice of models by Istanbul Mehmet."
"I own a setup of 14 inch hihats, 17 and 18 inch crashes, a 12 inch splash and a 20 inch ride, all Mehmet Sultan series. The sound is beautiful, compared to other cymbals. I also have the same setup of Zildjian K fast crashes - HH-ride - splash. The sound is very similar for both of these... As far as the quality of Mehmet cymbals goes, I am very pleased with them. I believe Agop and Bosphorus could benefit, if they drop their prices a little. I take the Mehmets any day for that price difference..."
"These cymbals (Mehmet) are very complex and musically unique. I own over 40 cymbals. Paiste Sig's and Trad's, Sabian, Zyl's, and the fabulous UFIP Class.... Istanbul Mehmet's stand out with rich, lush tonality. Do yourself a favor and check them out. "
"I think the Mehmet Legend Ride is a totally fantastic model. Without the
rivets installed or with the two rivets in- everyone I`ve played for loves it.
I`ve actually not come across another cymbal quite so "smooth", dark and yet
retain defined sticking like this model."
"As for the hats ... I just picked up a set of Istanbul Mehmet Sultans (14" med.) that are spectacular, but compare well in $$ to any top-of -the-line set of hi hats."
"I too play (almost exclusively) Istanbul Mehmets...mostly a mix of Turks
and Sultans. Great, great cymbals, very often overlooked by the average American
drummer."
"There are a growing number of us that are sold on the Sultans around here. LOVELY pies. I could use a couple more myself. "
"Istanbul Radiant series: I really like the 18 crashes. I was at a gig today (where I played) and one of the drummers played them and I was in awe!"
"I think Mehmets tend to be smoother. Check this recording of my Mehmet 14's... I had Agop hi-hats too and they are definitely on the trashier and dark side. I got the Sultan models from both lines - almost the same weight and the Mehmet is smoother. I got both from ebay sight unseen/unheard.
"I play Agops, and have hit a few Mehmets. Agops are every bit as "good" as Mehmets... I have quite a few of both Agop and Mehmet, and use both regularly. The Agops have more of the nasal, trashy sound - more "Tony-ish" - than do the more silvery, purer sounding Mehmets, in general....The Mehmet Legend series (what used to be their Mel Lewis series) have a very prominent stick sound with a soulful wash. More projection than Agops, possibly...I do greatly prefer the Mehmet hihats to the Agops, however - tighter chic, better "foot feel" overall. Their Traditional hats are usually winners."
" I've found Agops to be a bit smoother sounding. But that could also be just the luck of the draw on the cymbals I've hit. They use the same constituent parts, and the same essential techniques, so you're just as likely to find a Mehmet that sounds like a typical Agop as you are to find an Agop that sounds like a typical Mehmet. There is no discernable quality difference."
"Istanbul Mehmets are slightly cheaper in price, because Mehmet doesn't spend as much in advertising as Agop. ... they both make spanking great cymbals and are equally valid in earning my dollar as a customer."
"Istanbul Cymbals are absolutely incredible instruments. I think anyone in love with the "big three" truly needs to look past the advertising hype and check these things out. Sound clips are o.k., but they do not do justice to these fine instruments."
"If you want rich sounding cymbals, there's nothing like (really) hand-hammered cymbals. People who haven't checked out a bunch of Turkish brands have often forgotten what "hand-hammered" really sounds like. You'll rarely find that richness of sound with modern K's/K Cons, Sabian HH's or Paiste Trads, they're all hammered far too little to get a really complex sound."
"...it does seem like a well-kept secret to the general drumming population, but to us cymbalholics, it is a well-established fact (er ... opinion), that Istanbul makes some of the finest cymbals anywhere, at any price. The variety of sounds, the warmth, the trashiness, the complexity. The fact that they are cheaper than many machine-made cymbals strikes me as funny. "
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