Cymbal manufacturers
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Cymbal manufacturers are involved in Cymbal making.
Contents |
[edit] Major cymbal manufacturers
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[edit] Other cymbal manufacturers
[edit] AJAHA Cymbals
AJAHA Cymbals was a cymbal company, or cymbalmaker, which produced cymbals as early as the 1910s through the 1970s. Ajaha cymbals appeared in the 1912 Gretsch catalog, a full fourteen years before the Zildjian brand was registered in the United States by Fred Grentsh Sr. In the '41 Gretsh catalog, it is written: "For almost thirty years American drummers have ranked Ajaha second only to K Zildjian". The telltale identifying mark is the signature "X.E. Ajaha" on the underside of the cymbal bell. It has been observed by some that these characters X and E actually bear a strong resemblance to the Greek characters "hee" and "ksi". The last produced vintage of Ajaha cymbals was done by Tosco-Italy, in the 1970s as a stencil brand supplied to Gretsch drums.
Very early Ajahas (date based upon visual stylistic/craftsmanship grounds) tend to be small, 11-14", and either very heavy, or paper thin. The UFIP produced Ajahas of the 70's run the gamut of sizes 12"-22" and weights. Also of note is that these UFIP versions bear an ink-stamped reproduction of the Ajaha signature.
As to whether Ajaha was initially a Turkish maker, or a European (possibly Italian) maker who had apprenticed in a Turkish workshop (perhaps even the K Zildjian workshop in Istanbul) is open to debate. Its difficulty is compounded by the relative rarity of such cymbals still in existence.
The lack of concrete information on these cymbals may also be the result of the fact that, as the only identifying mark was an ink signature or stamp (as opposed to an embossed stamp) many Ajahas likely still exist as "no-names," where the ink was long ago polished or worn away. Also, the varied quality of those which are definitely identifiable does not particularly add much impetus for many to investigate further. Lastly, in keeping with the very unfortunate tradition of not discussing the past artisans with whom they have done business, or employed (if there is no direct marketable gain to be had from it), Sabian (Tosco), UFIP (Italy), and Gretsch all likely have more information on Ajaha than they are willing to disclose.
Too obscure for almost any musicians (and most collectors) to even care about, these cymbals today seem to have very little market value. Ajaha the company, and the cymbalsmith, remains an enigma.
For more information, visit the website www.ajahacymbals.com [1].
[edit] Harpy cymbals
Harpy cymbals originated in Brazil. The cymbals were made out of B8 Bronze. The company was popular for the way they coloured some of their cymbals, adding visual excitement to professional cymbals. As of 2006 the company renamed itself KREST.
[edit] Artists
Artists who play with Harpy/Krest cymbals are more numerous in Brazil. Some popular artists are soloist Gledson Meira, and Jamil Pilli of Chipset Zero. Harpy cymbals are used in America by Andrew O'Donnell, of Attila and the Huns.
[edit] Bellotti Cymbals
Bellotti was a small Italian cymbal workshop which produced cymbals from roughly the 1950s until the 1970s.[1]
Because so few of these vintage cymbals exist on the market today (they are much less prevalent that some other vintage Italian contemporaries, such as Zanchi) Bellotti remains one of the more obscure names in cymbal manufacturers. Most Bellottis are relatively small 12"-15", and quite heavy. Their craftsmanship displays a fine lathing on top and bottom and very broad, circular-peen hand-hammering. The cast bronze cymbals are of a B20 alloy. The bellholes of most Bellottis are of small aperture, which suggests a fabrication date prior to the 1960s or earlier.[2] Very finely crafted, most existing examples are likely to have been hand or field cymbals, due both to their weight and diameters.
The tell-tale insignia is an embossed stamp on the underside of the cymbal. There are two versions of this stamp. The first simply reads "Bellotti" on capital block letters. The second version which appears also reads "Bellotti", but incorporates the logo of a bell as well. Often, Bellottis also have an embossment which reads "Italy" or "Made in Italy" in a semicircular pattern as well, an embossment which also appears on other Italian cymbals of the 1940s-1960s.
[edit] Koide Cymbals
Koide Cymbals is a Japanese manufacturer of cymbals. They are not normally available outside Japan.
[edit] Pasha cymbals
PASHA cymbals were Italian-made cymbals from the early 60's through early '70's. A stencil brand produced in the UFIP factory, Pashas were the stock cymbal for Rogers Drums and appear in Rogers catalogues of this era.[3]
The telltale insignia is a crescent moon with the word PASHA adjacent to it...the font of the lettering being all capitals, the characters with rounded edges. The stamp was either embossed, or simply an ink stamp. Very often, Pashas also exhibit the square ink stamp 'Made in Italy" as well.
Most examples are thin to medium-thin in weight. Pashas were composed of B20 alloy, cast bronze, and machine and hand hammered. They tend to produce a warm tone with nice, wide but controlled wash ( as opposed to a very prominent stick/ping sound) which make them appropriate jazz cymbals.
They are sometimes mistaken for the more contemporary Istanbul cymbals "Pasha" line of cymbals...although they bear no resemblance to the latter.
[edit] Roberto Spizzichino
Roberto Spizzichino is an Italian Jazz drummer and renowned master cymbalsmith. Spizzichino personally lathes and hand hammers cymbals in his workshop in San Quirico, Tuscany in the tradition of the K Zildjian cymbal makers from Istanbul. The first Spizzichinos were made from inexpensive, heavy B20 blanks imported from China. By heating, hand hammering and lathing the material, Spizzichino sought to bring out desirable sound characteristics often lacking in machine-made modern cymbals. Spizzichino became unsatisfied with the purity of the Chinese material after a couple years, and found a different supplier. All Spizzichino brand cymbals are now crafted from high quality B20 bell bronze discs sourced from Turkey.
Early in his career, Spizzichino worked for the Italian cymbal company UFIP, doing cymbal development and research. It was after leaving UFIP when Spizzichino started experimenting with his own "Spizz" brand cymbals in 1986. Spizzichino also worked for Bespeco, an Italian musical equipment manufacturer. Bespeco still offers a line of machine-made B8 "Spizz" brand cymbals produced according to a process developed by Spizzichino. In addition, the Chinese cymbal manufacturer, Wuhan, produced a limited number of its own "Spizz" brand cymbals during a brief collaboration in 1989 when Spizzichino visited the factory. He was in China to find a source for B20 blanks. Spizzichino was involved in the Wuhan/Spizz cymbals' design but was not involved with the cymbal production and distribution. He was not satisfied with the product and did not wish to be associated with it. Neither the Bespeco "Spizz" or the Wuhan/Spizz cymbals are currently endorsed by Spizzichino.
Nowadays, Roberto Spizzichino focuses primarily on creating premium jazz cymbals. These cymbals are coveted by jazz drummers seeking the 'old K sound.'
[edit] Symrna Cymbals
This newly founded cymbal company situated in Istanbul produces hand hammered Turkish cymbals. This company is fairly new and claims to create "Unique custom cymbals to fit each player, while keeping cymbal consistency." The staff is all new, due to a falling-out that resulted in a premature end to the just-started business.
[edit] Saluda cymbals
Saluda Cymbals is a relatively new manufacturer of high-quality percussion instruments, particularly drum kits and pre made hand crafted cymbals.
Their cymbals are created from finished Stagg cymbals, which are modified to become Saludas.
[edit] UFIP
UFIP is an Italian cymbal manufacturer, producing mainly high-quality bell bronze cymbals using rotocasting. They are the only major cymbal manufacturer to use "rotocasting" (spin-casting).
The hand-made and "Ear-Created" Ufip cymbals are the Class, Natural, Bionic, Brilliant, Rough, Extatic and Experience series, this last consisting of a range of prototypes from the other series and limited/custom production cymbals.
The company's signature series cymbals, Firma, were made from enriched B22 spin-cast bronze and hand-hammered by company owner and senior cymbalsmith Damiano Tronci. As of late 2007 they'll no longer be made.
The company's offer includes intermediate (Tiger) and student (M8) cymbals, not made from the spin-cast technique. Tigers are rolled and stamped bronze, and M8 are stamped bronze sheets.
Ufip also made cymbals which were sold under the Atlas, Kashian and CB-700 labels.
Ufip cymbals are known for their extraordinarily rich timbre and for their great adaptability to all musical genres and styles, but also for their higher than usual prices for professional cymbals.
[edit] Wuhan cymbals
Wuhan is a brand of cymbal, specialising in mid-range B20 cymbals and china type cymbals of all alloys and types.
Their headquarters and manufacturing facilities are in Wuhan, China.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Pinksterboer, Hugo: The Cymbal Book. Hal Leonard Publishers. 1992
- ^ Salgado, J. "Vintage Cymbals, an Identification Guide", "Not So Modern Drummer", vol. 12, #6
- ^ Rogers Drum Co., Catalog 60R, 1960, Cleveland OH
