Bosphorus Cymbals
Encyclopedia
Bosphorus is a cymbal
manufacturer based in İstanbul
, Turkey
and Kennesaw, Georgia
, a suburb of Atlanta
in the United States
. The foundry 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 U.S. operation is owned by a trio of drummers, including Jeff Hamilton
, Michael Vosbein, and Bill Norman, with Vosbein serving as President.
Unlike most modern cymbal manufacturers, Bosphorus continues to produce its cymbals using centuries old traditions. It is a labor intensive process involving casting, shaping, hammering and lathing each cymbal completely by hand. This process is said to render different tonal characteristics than machine made cymbals, producing a vowel-like stick articulation with dark and complex overtones.
, 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 a lathed strip running from the middle to the edge. The flat ride is heavier than most with a pronounced ping.
, the Hammer Series is similar to the Master Series, with a small bell and thin edge, but has more bow in the profile, resulting in a higher fundamental pitch. Hammer Series includes 14" Hi-Hats, 19" 20" 22" and 24" Rides, and 20" or 22" China.
, these cymbals are traditionally lathed on the top with wide lathing on the bottom side. The Wide Ride is available in 20" and 22" sizes. The Pang Thang is somewhat trashy but can be used as a crash or ride. The Trash Crash is loud and raw but can be used as a ride, sounding like rain hitting a tin roof. In 2009, 16" and 18" Smash Crashes were added to the series.
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 is designed for heavily amplified settings with enhanced stick definition, a larger bell and less overtones than the Gold Series rides.
Cymbal
Cymbals are a common percussion instrument. Cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys; see cymbal making for a discussion of their manufacture. The greater majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a...
manufacturer based in İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Kennesaw, Georgia
Kennesaw, Georgia
Kennesaw is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. It had a population of 29,783 according to the 2010 census. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Founded in 1887, Kennesaw has a past surrounded with railroad history...
, a suburb of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The foundry 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
Istanbul cymbals
Istanbul is the name of two brands of cymbals, Istanbul Agop and Istanbul Mehmet, made in Istanbul using traditional cymbal making methods...
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 U.S. operation is owned by a trio of drummers, including Jeff Hamilton
Jeff Hamilton (drummer)
Jeff Hamilton is an American jazz drummer. He is co-director of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and leader of his own trio.-Career:...
, Michael Vosbein, and Bill Norman, with Vosbein serving as President.
Unlike most modern cymbal manufacturers, Bosphorus continues to produce its cymbals using centuries old traditions. It is a labor intensive process involving casting, shaping, hammering and lathing each cymbal completely by hand. This process is said to render different tonal characteristics than machine made cymbals, producing a vowel-like stick articulation with dark and complex overtones.
Turk Series
The unlathed Turk Series is dark, dry, and earthy, with enhanced stick definition. Available in Thin weight.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 overtones which vary according to weight. Available in Paper-Thin, Thin, Medium-Thin, and Medium weights.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. Available in Paper-Thin and Thin weights.Master Series
Developed by jazz great Neal Smith, the Master Series cymbals are very thin, designed in the style of Turkish cymbals from the 1940s through 1960's. They are so thin that the edge has a distinct wobble when played. Available in Thin weight only.Master Vintage Series
Introduced at the 2009 winter NAMM show, this series shares the same characteristics as the Master Series, except that each cymbal is unlathed. The effect is a more pronounced stick attack with a dark supporting resonance.Gold Series
Among the heaviest of Bosphorus' offerings, the Gold Series are buffed to provide the projection and power required for high volume settings.New Orleans Series
The New Orleans Series combine the 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 with ample stick definition, and controlled wash.Versa Series
Designed by Grammy award winning drummer Ignacio BerroaIgnacio Berroa
Ignacio Berroa is a jazz drummer.In 1980 Ignacio left his country during the Mariel Boatlift, moved to New York and joined Dizzy Gillespie’s quartet in 1981 becoming the drummer of all the important bands Gillespie formed until his death in 1993.Ignacio Berroa has been recognized by many as one of...
, 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 a lathed strip running from the middle to the edge. The flat ride is heavier than most with a pronounced ping.
Hammer Series
Designed by jazz drummer Jeff HamiltonJeff Hamilton (drummer)
Jeff Hamilton is an American jazz drummer. He is co-director of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and leader of his own trio.-Career:...
, the Hammer Series is similar to the Master Series, with a small bell and thin edge, but has more bow in the profile, resulting in a higher fundamental pitch. Hammer Series includes 14" Hi-Hats, 19" 20" 22" and 24" Rides, and 20" or 22" China.
Stanton Moore
Designed by New Orleans born Stanton MooreStanton Moore
Stanton Moore is a drummer raised in Metairie, Louisiana. Most widely known as a founding member of Galactic, Moore has also pursued a solo recording career and recorded with bands as diverse as jazz-funk keyboardist Robert Walter and heavy metal act Corrosion of Conformity...
, these cymbals are traditionally lathed on the top with wide lathing on the bottom side. The Wide Ride is available in 20" and 22" sizes. The Pang Thang is somewhat trashy but can be used as a crash or ride. The Trash Crash is loud and raw but can be used as a ride, sounding like rain hitting a tin roof. In 2009, 16" and 18" Smash Crashes were added to the series.
Rockett Ride
Designed by PoisonPoison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
drummer Rikki Rockett
Rikki Rockett
Richard Allan Ream , better known by the stage name Rikki Rockett, is an American drummer best known for his work with the glam metal band, Poison.-Biography:...
, 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 is designed for heavily amplified settings with enhanced stick definition, a larger bell and less overtones than the Gold Series rides.
Notable users
- Jeff HamiltonJeff Hamilton (drummer)Jeff Hamilton is an American jazz drummer. He is co-director of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and leader of his own trio.-Career:...
- Stanton MooreStanton MooreStanton Moore is a drummer raised in Metairie, Louisiana. Most widely known as a founding member of Galactic, Moore has also pursued a solo recording career and recorded with bands as diverse as jazz-funk keyboardist Robert Walter and heavy metal act Corrosion of Conformity...
- Ignacio BerroaIgnacio BerroaIgnacio Berroa is a jazz drummer.In 1980 Ignacio left his country during the Mariel Boatlift, moved to New York and joined Dizzy Gillespie’s quartet in 1981 becoming the drummer of all the important bands Gillespie formed until his death in 1993.Ignacio Berroa has been recognized by many as one of...
- Ralph Peterson, Jr
- Rikki RockettRikki RockettRichard Allan Ream , better known by the stage name Rikki Rockett, is an American drummer best known for his work with the glam metal band, Poison.-Biography:...
- Johnny VidacovichJohnny VidacovichJohnny Vidacovich is a contemporary jazz drummer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Playing since the early 1970s with the quartet Astral Project , he has become widely renowned as a prominent and sought after New Orleans musician as well as contributing to New Orleans cultural heritage...
- Ali JacksonAli Jackson (musician)Ali Jackson is a jazz drummer.His mother, a classical pianist, taught him piano at and how to read music at age 4. Jackson's father, a professional bass player, taught him music theory and gave him drums lesson from rudiment books. He attended Detroit's prestigious Cass Technical High School. He...
- Zach Velmer
- Jamey HaddadJamey HaddadJamey George Haddad is an American percussionist working primarily in the fields of jazz and world music, and specializing in hand drums.-Biography:...
- Neal Smith
- Jay LaneJay LaneJay Lane is an American drummer from the San Francisco Bay Area. He is currently a member of Primus, as well as Bob Weir's RatDog, Scaring the Children with Weir and Rob Wasserman, and the hip hop/jazz fusion group Alphabet Soup. In 2002, Lane was named "drummer of the year" by the California...
- Kurt Sodergren
- Roger HumphriesRoger HumphriesRoger Humphries is an American jazz drummer.Born into a family of ten children in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Humphries began playing drums at age four, and went professional at age 14. He led an ensemble at Carnegie Hall at age 16...
- Nate WoodNate WoodNate Wood is an American drummer. He has performed with such artists as Kneebody, and Tigran Hamasyan.- External links :* *...
- David KemperDavid KemperDavid Kemper is a drummer. He was a long-time member of both the Jerry Garcia Band and Bob Dylan's band . He was with the Jerry Garcia Band for the last eleven years of Garcia's life...
- Claude Coleman, Jr.