Istanbul Agop Picture-Fest

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by Latin Groover

Yea both mine are very thin
21" Signature 1856g
20"SE 1581g
But they are both amazing. The sig has a fairly strong, stick definition over that dark, trashy wash that is the AGOP sig. I like to describe the stick definition as 'beady', as it has this small, precise, but still very present click. It's amazingly controllable, I can play from a whisper to crashing it and it follows. It doesn't ring for ages either, perfectly controllable.
Whats your lightest sig? Do you only have a 21" and 22", I'd love a 22"sig, big brother set-up.
But then I'm also saving for a 22", 21" Turk, and I love the sig hats. I'd love to know how your Epoch goes too. My addiction definitely has started.

Sounds like you have some killer thin samples Latin Groover. My 22" Sig is 2210g as has the qualities you describe but with a little more woody stick perhaps. Hard to say. My Turk Jazz Ride comes in at 2250g and again has a nice woody yet very complex stick sound and attack. My word of advice is try to get a pair of the heavier Sig hats if your decide to get some. They are amazing. Also they were just introduced at NAMM 08 in a 16" size. Matt Chamberlain is using them and has already recorded with them.

No Epoch yet but did test 10 samples last Monday all were very nice. I got hooked on that sweet 21" 1970g Ottoman Jazz Ride I recently mentioned and pictured. Think i'm going to go with an Epoch too down the road when I get a chance to hear them one more time and make a decision on one without any other surprise last minute Agop "distractions" to sway me away from getting one. No rush on it i'm well supplied :} and yes the "Turkish addiction" continues LOL!

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by Latin Groover

Here is my 20" SE at 1581g Yet again the lighting does alot.

Something special too with the SE Jazz Rides. Combination of woody stick and the "air" they have is a striking sound to my ear. Must be quite the sound indeed at1581g for a 20 incher both in stick wash/crash. My SE is 21" and comes in at a beefy 2325g. Has some striking similarities in some ways to a couple of Elvin's recorded 20 " Med. weight old Turkish K's in regards to depth of tone and almost a metalic woody stick click but NOT pingy. Amazing full deep responsive crash too.

Your hooked now Latin Groover there's no help or cure at this point :}

[Steamer]

Here's a segment on Agop from NAMM 08 showing the Epoch and other new cymbals released this year such as the Sig Idris ride and the new Azures by the way Latin Groover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rZ9XsfOesU

[Latin Groover]

AGOP thread so more pics the better...Steamer inspired shots

[Drummer Karl]

Latin Groover: Those two new Agop pies are simply delicious!!! That is so great...I still plan to get myself a 22" SE or Signature. They sound amazing although I havn`t tried one live yet.
Anyway those are the highest on my list. =)

This Signature should sound even drier at this light weight, what do you think Latin?

PS: Now that he mentioned it...Stan, how do you lighten those pics to show this wonderful texture of the cymbals? Do you just use the sun light but no flash?

Karl

[wowlyness]

Anyone from Nsw, Aus know where to pick these babies up, prefably closer to the south west it dosent seem that many dealers in Nsw stock these... which SUCK!

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by Drummer Karl

Latin Groover: Those two new Agop pies are simply delicious!!! That is so great...I still plan to get myself a 22" SE or Signature. They sound amazing although I havn`t tried one live yet.
Anyway those are the highest on my list. =)

This Signature should sound even drier at this light weight, what do you think Latin?

PS: Now that he mentioned it...Stan, how do you lighten those pics to show this wonderful texture of the cymbals? Do you just use the sun light but no flash?

Karl

Hey Karl it looks like Latin Groover is working on my Agop eye candy photo technique :}. Nice pics!


I just use natural light coming in from the window at the right time of the day well placing them sitting on a upright piano Karl. What you see is what you get with the angle of them just right for the sunlight to show all their natural beauty on both sides. I would say buddy that our friend Latin Groover is well on the path of no return at this point regarding Agops :}.

[Latin Groover]

Originally Posted by Steamer

is well on the path of no return at this point regarding Agops :}.

Lies! I have complete control.

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by Latin Groover

Lies! I have complete control.

Okay :} I'll remember that when I see more of the predicted Agop "treasures" i'll see from you posted on this thread down the road my friend :}

[Steamer]

Istanbul Agop Lenny White 22" Epoch Signature ride 3025g. Front and back shots:

[Steamer]

Prolile, edge and lathing close up shots of my new Epoch:

[Steamer]

21" SE Jazz Ride with 2 recently added Agop brass split rivets:

[Tom Sawyer]

Very nice pictures on here indeed. Sweet!

[CVdrummer]

i have a noob question. i'm not familiar too much with Istanbul Agop cymbals....but i'm doing farther research on them...although i got a question..it seems to me that Istanbul Agop cymbal tend to be in the more jazzier side than the Alchemy cymbals...are they da same company but just different lines...for different styles??? ssorry for my ignorance..

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by CVdrummer

i have a noob question. i'm not familiar too much with Istanbul Agop cymbals....but i'm doing farther research on them...although i got a question..it seems to me that Istanbul Agop cymbal tend to be in the more jazzier side than the Alchemy cymbals...are they da same company but just different lines...for different styles??? ssorry for my ignorance..

Quite correct. Both are made by the same company Istanbul Agop. The Alchemy Pro line was developed for louder heavier music but with the same high level of quality and hand labour as put into the various Istanbul Agop production lines.

[Steamer]

Pictures of my latest Istanbul Agop beauties: 16" and 18" Agop Signature crash cymbals.

[Latin Groover]

How do the signature crashes play Stan?

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by Latin Groover

How do the signature crashes play Stan?

Full, quick, responsive, dry, warm and dark with a nice level of pleasing trash and lots of individual character Latin Groover and yes I love the sound of them as you might have already guessed:}

I started a thread in the cymbals section Latin Groover about them giving some more detailed info on my first impressions of them.

[drumbandit]

I posted my 20" traditional ride earlier and I'm now looking to get a pair of Agop hats and eventually a 17" crash of some sort. What can people recommend hi-hat related, considering I play non-heavy rock, funk, blues, (Kings of Leon covers haha) etc. Nothing where the cymbals are going to take a beating but not ultra light jazz hats.

Thanks guys, and tell me if this post is too irrelevant to the 'pic fest'.
Tom

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by drumbandit

I posted my 20" traditional ride earlier and I'm now looking to get a pair of Agop hats and eventually a 17" crash of some sort. What can people recommend hi-hat related, considering I play non-heavy rock, funk, blues, (Kings of Leon covers haha) etc. Nothing where the cymbals are going to take a beating but not ultra light jazz hats.

Thanks guys, and tell me if this post is too irrelevant to the 'pic fest'.




Tom

A pair of the Empire hats will do the trick nicely Tom. Very versatile and crisp pair of hats in the the med to med heavy range of weights.

[drumbandit]

Thanks for the quick reponse, they look great, do you know anything about the traditional 'funk' hi-hats?

Tom

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by drumbandit

Thanks for the quick reponse, they look great, do you know anything about the traditional 'funk' hi-hats?

Tom

Haven't played or heard them in person Tom but like I say these heavier Empire hats have a versatile character that can cover alot of ground fitting into a wide range of musical settings.

[drumbandit]

Empire hats, I'll get searching.

Cheers man

Tom

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by drumbandit

Empire hats, I'll get searching.

Cheers man

Tom

Worth the hunt Tom. Do a internet search. I believe I saw a pair of 14" Empire hats listed by a online UK dealer not long back. If I find a link i'll pass it along.

Update: It was here that I saw them listed for sale {1/4 way down the page they are pictured}:


http://www.bostondrum.com/

[Steamer]

24" SE TW Jazz Ride 2534g

[the gayge]

A 24" at 2534?
Dangerously thin buddy.
I'll bet its ultra trashy.

[Latin Groover]

Being that thin it's worthy of my collection!

I didn't know they made 24" TW, only 22"? Are the TW and 25th aniversary rides still being produced?

[Tom Sawyer]

Originally Posted by Steamer

24" SE TW Jazz Ride 2534g

Always these great pictures. How do you take them? What kind of cam do you have, and fo you use flash?

[Steamer]

I was waiting to see who might of noticed this cymbal:}

Quite a story behind it as always but to keep it short. It is indeed an ULTRA rare sample at this weight and was sitting in storage since produced specifically at this size and lighter weight by Agop for the local Canadian Agop distributor a few years back only to be spotted and tested by me yesterday during some moving of stock well connecting with the distributor on another cymbal related matter. I instantly fell in love with it's sound.

Yes it is very light for a 24" SE TW Jazz Ride at 2534g probably the lightest they made at this size but here's the BIG surprise guys THE STICK SOUND. First off the woody defined stick click sound is to die for sitting on top of the deepest richest sounding wash i've heard to date on a Agop ride cymbal. Sure it has some wash but it's not really trashy but very dark, smooth in overtones combined with a deep amazing shimmer of highs and lows in the mix. Never builds up to the point of overtaking the stick sound but creates a wonderful full cushion of underwash to play off. The crash sound is very responsive and sounds like an entire orchestra of pleasing overtones when it opens up.

When I tested it on it's own I noticed the stick sound right away and tried hard to see at this weight if it could get lost played hard. No go it stayed put. I was truly impressed. It must relate specifically to the very detailed hand labour work ie: hammering/lathing on this larger thin ride cymbal to have pulled this off being none to easy of a task to do at this weight and size you can well imagine. However the artisans at Agop achieved it which is truly impressive in my view.

Used it today with a quartet and it really sounded wonderful with other instruments. The low fundamental pitch of this 24" ride really makes it easy to blend in and hear the other instruments in a acoustic jazz setting even when played hard for up swing.

A rare ride cymbal beauty that crossed my path I will treasure for sure.

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by Latin Groover

Being that thin it's worthy of my collection!

I didn't know they made 24" TW, only 22"? Are the TW and 25th aniversary rides still being produced?

I'm not sure about these ultra rare thin 24"s but I know that the Canadian distributor still gets the 22" SE TW's in with regular shipments Latin Groover. The 20.5" 25th Anniversary rides are still being produced and are currently available.

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Always these great pictures. How do you take them? What kind of cam do you have, and fo you use flash?

Thanks. I use no flash just natural light coming through a window and position the hand held camera to get the best light angle to show the detailed hand hammering.

I'll have give you the specifics on the camera later Tom Sawyer since when needed I borrow it off a friend so i'm not sure about the make and model of it off the top of my head at the moment.

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by Steamer

Thanks. I use no flash just natural light coming through a window and position the hand held camera to get the best light angle to show the detailed hand hammering.

I'll have give you the specifics on the camera later Tom Sawyer since when needed I borrow it off a friend so i'm not sure about the make and model of it off the top of my head at the moment.

I have the specifics on the camera now Tom Sawyer. It's a Kodak EasyShare C603. The owner said it cost only $119.00 a few years back. Does a great job for the price. I'ts set for close up mode by the way too for my cymbal pics you see.

[Steamer]

One other feature I noticed about this paricular 24" SE TW cymbal is the dramatic edge wobble. The last few inches on the TW models are already thinner and recieve a different style of lathing to begin with. Combine this and being 2534g for a 24" when it really gets going it's like the effect of a fast flicker you see from a partially disengaged fluorescent long tube ceiling bulb when watching from the side profile well being played.

[mofle]

Wow! That Epoch looks so nice! Does it sound a lot like Tony Williams Nefertiti-cymbal?

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by mofle

Wow! That Epoch looks so nice! Does it sound a lot like Tony Williams Nefertiti-cymbal?

Yes the sample pictured at 3025g sure has some remarkable similarities to the Nefertiti cymbal especially when recorded or heard in the context of music in a large concert hall.

Still has it's own modern Agop "vibe" and character going to boot. My go-to large ensemble Big Band ride at present mofle.

[Tom Sawyer]

Wow, I'd have guessed a much more expensive camera, nice.
Proves it's the photographer, not the camera. :)

Great pics on that 24'' too. Looks like an awesome cymbal.

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Wow, I'd have guessed a much more expensive camera, nice.
Proves it's the photographer, not the camera. :)

Great pics on that 24'' too. Looks like an awesome cymbal.

I use to be very heavily into photography Tom Sawyer in my younger years. Skills I learned then helped with taking pictures of these handmade Turkish B20 bronze at present :}

[bilkay]

Originally Posted by drumbandit

I posted my 20" traditional ride earlier and I'm now looking to get a pair of Agop hats and eventually a 17" crash of some sort. What can people recommend hi-hat related, considering I play non-heavy rock, funk, blues, (Kings of Leon covers haha) etc. Nothing where the cymbals are going to take a beating but not ultra light jazz hats.

Thanks guys, and tell me if this post is too irrelevant to the 'pic fest'.
Tom

The Traditional mediums would be great, too.

[dry_water]

you guys can check out my kit for some cymbals. I cant post pics now, sorry..

I'm loving all these beauties here. Makes me proud of my home-town! :D

[Steamer]

Nice set of Agops dry_water.