Istanbul Agop Picture-Fest

[Fishbones]

Originally Posted by Steamer

Here's a couple i've had for a while I just got around to photographing.

First up a 24" Agop Signature ride at 2345g...yes 2345 grams for a big 24" ride folks!

The stick sound heard on top and ultra dark overall vibe and trashy quick explosive crash of this pie heard in the flesh will blow your mind. The ultimate true CRASH/ RIDE in my books doing both REALLY well though not marketed as such a cymbal by the company.

The other seen next is my Agop Signature 18" Flat Ride. This one has been heard on several of the tracks of the Delta Quartet {Jared Burrows and friends} I posted in a link to Jared's website in the recent studio recordings thread. Here the link to the music again for those who missed it to hear this 18" flat in action in context:

http://jaredburrows.com/music/delta_quartet

YouTube clip featuring it on the track "Dinner with John" from the summer recording session:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sjdjF2nnEM

Very nice sounding 18" flat with a great clear stick click sound combined with some bacon sizzle in the dry dark wash.

Kinda reminds me of the old school Jimmy Cobb ride sound. I like it!

[Swiss Matthias]

Hey Stan! I'm a proud owner of a stunning 22" OM ride now!! Its sound is astonishing, but
also quite intimidating, too! I'll have to get used to it after mainly playing a Sabian HH 22" Jazz
Ride, which sounded very traditional, rather high-pitched.

What styles do you use your OM family in? Have you tried it with a piano trio?

Also, as an Istanbul Agop expert, what would you recommend as a second ride alongside
the OM 22? In your previous post you mentioned the 20 is more of a crash than ride (it's called
crash after all). I'm thinking of a Turk Jazz 20" maybe... Would be very dry though.

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by Swiss Matthias

Hey Stan! I'm a proud owner of a stunning 22" OM ride now!! Its sound is astonishing, but
also quite intimidating, too! I'll have to get used to it after mainly playing a Sabian HH 22" Jazz
Ride, which sounded very traditional, rather high-pitched.

What styles do you use your OM family in? Have you tried it with a piano trio?

Also, as an Istanbul Agop expert, what would you recommend as a second ride alongside
the OM 22? In your previous post you mentioned the 20 is more of a crash than ride (it's called
crash after all). I'm thinking of a Turk Jazz 20" maybe... Would be very dry though.

Very cool Matthias!

I use my OM's pretty much just for acoustic jazz work especially when piano is in the situation since their dark and dry qualities have a "ceiling" that really sit well for a blend to hear everything at a wide dynamic approach within the music. I do use the 15" hats in a wider range of situations though from small to large stages.

Interesting enough the right smaller 18" and 16" OM crashes are a little less wet and a little quieter than the 20" OM I have. You have to find the right ones though since there's lots of variations of sounds within the range with these. If you do search around either make for excellent crashes AND light rides. I snagged a 16" OM crash recently that has a nice low undertone/pitch/stick sound for a killer small ride AND it's dark and evil with a quick dry crash that gets right out of the way after it's hit. Great for setting up just the right punctuations in the music but not overly loud for acoustic situations/instruments in smaller venues so far from my experience with it.

Other choices would be a 20" Turk Jazz ride for sure or maybe a 19" Mel Lewis if you would like a more rich and lush sounding pie that has a a nice stick and a full crash sound.

[Swiss Matthias]

Thanks for your advice, Stan! I'll keep looking and surely post any new items in my collection!
It's good to have guys like you here for great advice!

Here's a pic of my OM for all af you interested by the way:

[wy yung]

Great looking cymbal Swiss. My mate at Mehmet speaks highly and fondly of Agop.

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by Swiss Matthias

Thanks for your advice, Stan! I'll keep looking and surely post any new items in my collection!
It's good to have guys like you here for great advice!

Here's a pic of my OM for all af you interested by the way:

You're most welcome Matthias and that's some stunning detailed hand hammering top and bottom on your 22" OM ride. What does she weigh by the way?

[Swiss Matthias]

She's about 2450 grams. Can't measure too properly with my little kitchen device...

I just got myself a used 22" Chester Thompson Ride (Sabian), which is amazing for
rock and pop, and it weighs 4000g! Astonishing...

[Swiss Matthias]

Here's my new addition to my OM ride:

A stunningly dry and thin 19" Agop Signature model. Awesome and trashy! And did I mention
dry and thin? It weighs only 1323 grams!

[EcnivZeud]

22" SE TW, 19" SE 1 sizzle .

+15" Mehmet crash (very thin, awesome even if it's a Mehmet), 12" Mehmet Splash (not on the pic, sounds a bit trashy but goes well with the others)
+ 13" Diril AD series HiHat.

I'm happy with these guys!

[Swiss Matthias]

Nice cymbals! Do you have a recording of your Tony Williams by any chance :)?

[EcnivZeud]

No, sorry I don't have any recording equipment at home (other than the crappy microphones on my laptop and my iPhone...). But, I can tell you this cymbal is wonderful... I had just before a 22" 30th anniversary as a main tide, that I traded for this one, without a single regret!

[Swiss Matthias]

Here's a picture of my super dry 20"Turk Jazz Ride beauty, 1837 g.
...in iphone quality, sorry for that.

[Jonas]

Hi guys. New to the site...first post even. Just bought myself a pair of Istanbul Agop 14" Sultan hi hats...first purchase of the brand...Have been using Sabian HH and HHX up until now. Maybe dumb question but what is the difference between the white Istanbul logo and the black. I noticed some of the sultans have white, some black. Mine are white. Also, any feedback/pics on the 14" Sultans.... Regards.
Thanks to all who are posting..Loving the pics...my pictures to come, they should arrive this week

[Anthony Amodeo]

30th Anniversary 22"



SE jazz ride 22"



30th Anniversary 15" hats

[dmacc]

Left to right:
14" SE Hi Hats / 16" Agop Sig Crash / 22" SE Jazz Ride / 21" Mel Lewis Ride / 18" Agop Sig Crash




Scored these 14" Agop Sig Hi-Hats this past weekend used at a local drum shop. Loving them...

[dmacc]

Originally Posted by Jonas

Hi guys. New to the site...first post even. Just bought myself a pair of Istanbul Agop 14" Sultan hi hats...first purchase of the brand...Have been using Sabian HH and HHX up until now. Maybe dumb question but what is the difference between the white Istanbul logo and the black. I noticed some of the sultans have white, some black. Mine are white. Also, any feedback/pics on the 14" Sultans.... Regards.
Thanks to all who are posting..Loving the pics...my pictures to come, they should arrive this week

Excellent! The Sultans seem really unique and interesting. Would love to try them in person.

I don't know the diff between the white versus green logos. I don't think it has to do with the pre-split era but I may be wrong.

Doesn't appear Steamer makes his way here too much any longer but... in the event he shows up - he seems to be the expert.

[dmacc]

Originally Posted by Gvdadrummasum

30th Anniversary 22"

SE jazz ride

30th Anniversary 15" hats

Anthony... Those 30ths look gorgeous. I'd love to get my paws on some of them some day.

[Anthony Amodeo]

Originally Posted by dmacc

Anthony... Those 30ths look gorgeous. I'd love to get my paws on some of them some day.

D they sound unbelievable as well

.....and your pics have me drooling over here

[Jonas]

Istanbul Agop 14" Sultan Hi Hats.
Purchased 2nd Hand on ebay September 2012

[Jonas]

As promised...my newly purchased white label Istanbul Agop 14" Sultan Hi Hats. Bought on ebay 2nd hand September 2012.

A used Istanbul Agop 18" Traditional Thin Crash soon to follow. Also just purchased on ebay, from a guy in Aquitaine, France.

Thanks for the feedback by the way dmacc...

[Jonas]

Istanbul Agop 18" Trash Hit.
Purchased second hand from Graham Russell Drums, UK
http://www.grahamrusselldrums.com/gr...rums/HOME.html

[Jonas]

Newly aquired Istanbul Agop 18" Traditional Thin Crash. Purchased from a guy in Aquitaine, France.

[mauve]

Hi guys,
I've just traded my K ride for 2 Istanbul Agop dark crashes 18 and 20".
Here they are:

[mauve]

Also, a 21" Mel Lewis Ride without rivets:

[burn-4]

I've been looking at the Sultan and Traditional dark or thin crashes but can't actually hear any in person (nearest stockist is about a 4 hour drive from my house!)

Which of the above would be most similar to a Zildjian K dark thin or K custom dark crash?

I'm looking at an 18 or 19 and wanting something low pitched and dark but that won't get lost on a bigger stage (i.e. still with enough body to project).

The K custom dark crash was perfect really for that purpose (if only it came in a 19!), but a) they are much more expensive than the Istanbul and b) I've really been turned on to Istanbul lately after I got a pair of alchemy hats for REAL cheap and prefer them to my K custom hybrid hats that cost like 5 times as much!

[theSIOUX]

When I was first starting out as a drummer I never even glanced at Istanbul's, my brother-in-law was endorsed by agop specifically the Alchemys. He got me a deal on a:


17" Alchemy medium crash

17" Alchemy Power crash

The power crash is a little too thick and doesn't suite the music that I play nowadays. I think to have such a thick cymbal it needs to be larger or some problems to arise, especially when one is not utilizing good crash cymbal technique. Which is something that I was awful at. My power crash has a solid crack going. So sad.