Good read and great pics. Thanks.

That was great. Thanks for the link!

Mike

Interesting read.

Sabian has the same 400 year history but is legally prevented from advertising that.

I thought 1623 was the starting year, not 1618. That's what they used to say in the ads.

I'd read the "Zildjian" article but had to search where it was to put up here. In that search were the following Zildjian pieces some might also find worthwhile; + one on Steve Maxwell :

Crash, Then Listen Carefully: Secrets of a Cymbal Master ...

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/02/jobs/crash-then-listen-carefully-secrets-of-a-cymbal-master.html

Paid Notice: Deaths ZILDJIAN, ARMAND

https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/31/classified/paid-notice-deaths-zildjian-armand.html

Boom Times for a Seller of Drums {On Steve Maxwell}

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/nyregion/boom-times-for-steve-maxwell-vintage-and-custom-drums-in-midtown.html

Great read! Thanks for posting!

-Mark

Thanks!. Good stuff...

I have about two dozen cymbals. Every one of them is an Avedas Zildjian. I am still using the A Zildjians that I bought as new cymbals in the years spanning 1955 through 1975. I have also acquired several more A Zildjians in recent years that range from the late 1930s/early 1940s period through the late 1960s. I have never felt a desire to own or play any other brand.

Years ago, I came to realize that at that point in time, Zildjian's quality had gone downhill as far as I was concerned. I had bought a 21" Sweet Ride off Ebay on the recommendation of a drummer friend, and it was the worst sounding cymbal I had ever heard. I wrote Craigie Zildjian a letter about it, and she called and invited me up the factory to exchange it for anything I wanted. I took her up on it a few months later, and was treated like a visiting potentate. She and the rest of her staff went out of their way to make things right. I was very grateful to them, but outside of the 14" Mastersound hi-hats I use regularly, I am more partial these days to Paiste and Meinl cymbals, along with various Turkish-made brands, although I have bought a few old Zildjians here and there. I just don't connect with new Zildjians anymore for some reason.

When I started playing in '64, you either had Zildjians or you had garbage. There really wasn't anything else at that point. Today, there are so many choices in cymbals. Zildjian is simply not my choice.

I did the factory tour of Sabian in '05 and was knocked out by the quality and the treatment we got as visitors. Half the fun was having dinner with Bob Zildjian and his wife Willie at their favorite German restaurant. The stories Bob told us were amazing.

Excellent article, thanks for sharing. Does anyone know if they do tours?

Michael