I just got these today with a Ludwig kit and I'm not too familiar with the timeline of the stamp. Any info would be nice. Cool cymbals! Top and bottom are almost the same weights with the top being a bit lighter at around 1050 gram with the bottom being around 1150 grams. Is that normal?
They sound great all the same.
Thanks in advance.
...only joking, here's the actual trademark. ;)
Looks like a old stamp IVa according to this source - http://robscott.net/cymbals/k-istanbul/
Thanks for the reply. Are the weights a bit funny on these?
Lol on the "misdirect" pic! I'm jealous of your old K...
Mitch
NOT EVEN CLOSE....
[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/drumaholic/lizziesstuff/iiib.jpg[/img]
TYPE IIIb OLD STAMP | 1953-1956: In this type, the size of the letters in the 'Zildjian' are about 1mm larger than in the type IIIa, and are stamped in horizontally. In this example, each letter is readable, and although this is typical for most examples, it's not necessarily true in all cases. Strictly speaking, the larger letter height and the horizontal stamping of the word 'Zildjian' are the most reliable identifying features for this type.
....from the K. Timeline in the back pages of the Gretsch book.
NOT EVEN CLOSE....[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/drumaholic/lizziesstuff/iiib.jpg[/img]TYPE IIIb OLD STAMP | 1953-1956: In this type, the size of the letters in the 'Zildjian' are about 1mm larger than in the type IIIa, and are stamped in horizontally. In this example, each letter is readable, and although this is typical for most examples, it's not necessarily true in all cases. Strictly speaking, the larger letter height and the horizontal stamping of the word 'Zildjian' are the most reliable identifying features for this type.....from the K. Timeline in the back pages of the Gretsch book.
Thanks so much! It's good to know. I'm not sure if they're a matched pair or not, but apart from the odd weights I can see no reason why they wouldn't be a matched pair. The upper cymbal is about 1050 and the lower cymbal is around 1150 approximately. I'm guessing it was common in the 50's before the whole New Beat concept. I've had lots of 50's hats they were similar weights for top and bottom, but usual very light cymbals. These K's are similar weights for top and bottom, but they're heavy weights.
Thanks so much! It's good to know. I'm not sure if they're a matched pair or not, but apart from the odd weights I can see no reason why they wouldn't be a matched pair. The upper cymbal is about 1050 and the lower cymbal is around 1150 approximately. I'm guessing it was common in the 50's before the whole New Beat concept. I've had lots of 50's hats they were similar weights for top and bottom, but usual very light cymbals. These K's are similar weights for top and bottom, but they're heavy weights.
Matched by who? Well they are together now so at some point someone matched them. But that didn't happen at the factory.
Matched by who? Well they are together now so at some point someone matched them. But that didn't happen at the factory.
I had to ask. I'm not familiar enough with old Ks to say for sure. It's not like I've owned a bunch of them. They're a wee bit in the expensive side for me.They might have made heavy ones for marching / orchestral cymbals in the early to mid 50's for all I know. That's why I had to ask if these weights were normal or not. I might have to get another top cymbal around 700 grams to pair with one of these. The heavy top pie has a crack that was drill stopped. They did a terrible job finding the end of the crack. I'd be afraid to play this cymbal in case that crack spreads. I once had some New Beats with the tiniest of cracks in the edge. After one session the crack had spread about a centimeter. I just hate cracked cymbals. How do you crack a hi hat cymbal in the first place?
It takes a special talent.
But about the matching issue: they were usually matched at the Gretsch warehouse, but this only applying to the U.S. market:
[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/drumaholic/lizziesstuff/websize/PG%20logo.JPG[/img]
For the European market I would surmise that these cymbals may have come directly from the Istanbul foundry and never even saw the Gretsch warehouse. They probably just sent out a pair of cymbals and didn't bother to find the perfect match-up. And I'm also assuming that these cymbals were originally purchased in the U.K. seeing as how you're from Ireland.
In any event, if they sound good together that's all that counts.
