Avedis Zildjian Company
Encyclopedia
The Avedis Zildjian Company (icon) is a cymbal
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 founded in Istanbul
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...

 by Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....

 Avedis Zildjian in the 17th century during the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

. At nearly 400 years old, Zildjian is one of the oldest companies in the world. It also sells drum-related accessories, such as drum stick
Drum stick
A percussion mallet is an object used to beat drums and other percussion instruments. Some specialized mallets are called beaters, drumsticks.Note: See Rute .-Drum sticks:...

s and cymbal bags.

On December 20, 2010, it was announced that Avedis Zildjian Company had merged with Vic Firth, Inc
Vic Firth
Vic Firth is an American musician and is the founder of Vic Firth Company , a percussion stick and mallet manufacturing company that he started in 1963. The company bills itself as the world's largest manufacturer of drum sticks and mallets...

. According to the announcement, both companies will continue to run autonomously.

Beginnings

The first Zildjian cymbals were created in 1623 by Avedis Zildjian, an alchemist
Alchemist
An alchemist is a person who practices alchemy. Alchemist may also refer to:-People and groups:*The Alchemist , a hip hop music producer and rapper*Alchemist , an Australian progressive metal band...

 who was looking for a way to turn base metal into gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...

; he created an alloy combining tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...

, copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...

, and silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...

 into a sheet of metal that could make musical sounds without shattering. Avedis was given the name of Zildjian (Zilciyân) by the Sultan Osman II (from the Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...

 word zil – cymbal, dji – maker-seller, ian – a common suffix used in Armenian last names which means 'son of') and began an industry in 1623, the details of whose main product remained secret for generations. It became family tradition that only the company's heirs would know the manufacturing process.

The Zildjian Company moved from manufacturing noisemakers to frighten the enemies of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

 to manufacturing its cymbals as musical instruments in the 19th century.

1900s

Around 1928, Avedis III, his brother Puzant, and Aram Zildjian began manufacturing cymbals in Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...

, and the Avedis Zildjian Co. was formed in 1929, the year the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...

 began, in competition with the K. Zildjian company in Turkey. Avedis made many innovations in cymbals that are still around today; he was the first to develop drum-set cymbals and gave cymbals names such as ride, crash, splash, and hi-hat. Jazz drummers such as Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...

, Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...

, Louie Bellson
Louie Bellson
Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni , better known by the stage name Louie Bellson , was an Italian-American jazz drummer...

, Shelly Manne
Shelly Manne
Shelly Manne , born Sheldon Manne in New York City, was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, swing, bebop, avant-garde jazz and fusion, as well as contributing...

, Cozy Cole
Cozy Cole
Cozy Cole was an American jazz drummer who scored a #1 Cashbox magazine hit with the record "Topsy Part 2". "Topsy" peaked at number three on Billboard Hot 100, and at number one on the R&B chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The track peaked at #29 in the UK...

, and Papa Jo Jones
Jo Jones
Jo Jones was an American jazz drummer.Known as Papa Jo Jones in his later years, he was sometimes confused with another influential jazz drummer, Philly Joe Jones...

 all used Avedis Zildjian cymbals.

Avedis III's son Armand Zildjian
Armand Zildjian
Armand Zildjian was an American manufacturer of cymbals and the head of the Avedis Zildjian Company.Born in Quincy, Massachusetts, Armand Zildjian was the scion of a cymbals-making tradition that dated back to his ancestor Avedis, who began the company in 1623 in Istanbul...

, also known as the "Father of Artist Relations," also began hand-selecting cymbals for all the top drummers. It was his close personal relationships with the top drummers and percussionists of the day on which Zildjian still bases its Artist Relations Department. In 1968, the K. Zildjian Co. and all European trademarks were bought back on behalf of the Avedis Zildjian Co. Also in 1968, Avedis split production into two separate operations, opening the Azco factory in Meductic, New Brunswick, Canada.

From 1968 to 1970, the Azco factory produced Zilco cymbals. There were two types of Zilco: one was a thin rolling produced without any hammering, which cut costs. At about this time in the Azco factory, the modern process for pressing cymbals into shape came about. Before this it was done by bumping with the Quincy drop hammer.

In 1970, Zildjian needed all their production capabilities at Azco for their regular Zildjian line, so the factory in Quincy (the then location of Zildjian) would send up castings to be finished into cymbals at Azco.

In 1975, Zildjian began making K. Zildjian cymbals at the Azco plant. This was an interesting time for the Zildjian clan because it was the first time that K. Zildjian Istanbul and the Avedis Zildjian Company had worked together to make the same Zildjian cymbals after years of competing with each other. These were made until 1979.

In early 1977, Armand Zildjian was appointed President of the Avedis Zildjian Company by his father. Soon after, Robert Zildjian
Robert Zildjian
Robert Zildjian is founder of Sabian Cymbals, the 2nd largest manufacturer of cymbals in the world. Robert Zildjian belongs to the Zildjian family, which brought the technology of cymbal making from their ancestral homeland in Western Armenia to the United States by Avedis Zildjian and then was...

 split from the company amidst conflict with his brother, Armand. Shortly thereafter, in 1981, Robert started making Sabian
Sabian (company)
Sabian is a Canadian cymbal designer and manufacturer. It is a leading manufacturer of cymbals along with other top companies such as Zildjian, Paiste, and Meinl.-History:...

 cymbals in the Meductic Azco factory.

After taking over in 1981, Armand was awarded a number of honors from his 65-year career.
  • In 1988, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music
    Berklee College of Music
    Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...

    .
  • In 1994, he was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society
    Percussive Arts Society
    The Percussive Arts Society is an international music service organization promoting percussion education, research,performance and appreciation.Established in 1961 as a non-profit, music service organization,...

     Hall of Fame.
  • He was one of the few manufacturers to be honored at the "Rock Walk" on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.
  • In 2002, he was presented with the Modern Drummer
    Modern Drummer
    Modern Drummer is a monthly publication targeting the interests of on drummers and percussionists. The magazine features interviews, equipment reviews, and columns offering advice on technique, as well as information for the general public...

    Editor's Achievement Award.

Recent history

In keeping with tradition, Armand passed the Zildjian Secret Alloy to his daughters, Craigie and Debbie (14th generation), both of whom continue to run the family business from the current factory in Norwell, Massachusetts
Norwell, Massachusetts
Norwell is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population is currently 10,506 at the 2010 Census.Norwell was first settled in 1634 as a part of the settlement of Satuit , which encompasses present day Scituate and Norwell. It was officially created, in 1849 and soon became...

.

Other than cymbals, the Avedis Zildjian Company produces products such as drum stick
Drum stick
A percussion mallet is an object used to beat drums and other percussion instruments. Some specialized mallets are called beaters, drumsticks.Note: See Rute .-Drum sticks:...

s and other drum accessories. The Artist Series drum sticks allow these endorsers to personalize their drum sticks, and these sticks are sold to the public.

Sheet bronze cymbal lines

Zildjian's sheet bronze cymbals are made out of identical bronze discs, which are shaped, hammered, and lathed to their direct specifications. These cymbals have a higher pitch than their cast bronze counterparts and produce a more consistent sound.
  • Planet Z – The least expensive line of cymbals made by Zildjian made for beginners and practicing. These cymbals are made of copper and zinc and only comes in a brilliant finish.
  • ZBT ("Crisp, Clean, and Defined") – Zildjian's low-end line of sheet bronze cymbals. The ZBT alloy contains 92% Copper
    Copper
    Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...

     and 8% Tin
    Tin
    Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...

     and comes in a brilliant finish.
  • ZXT ("Clear, Musical, and Powerful") – Zildjian's mid-level line sheet bronze cymbals. Like the ZBT alloy, the ZXT alloy contains 92% Copper
    Copper
    Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...

     and 8% Tin
    Tin
    Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...

     and comes in a brilliant finish.
  • ZHT ("Bold, Bright, and Melodic") – Zildjian's high-end line of sheet bronze cymbals. The ZHT alloy contains 88% Copper
    Copper
    Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...

     and 12% Tin
    Tin
    Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...

     and comes in a traditional finish.

Cast bronze cymbal lines

All of Zildjian's cast bronze cymbals contains 80% copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...

 and 20% tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...

 with traces of silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...

 in its alloy.

  • FX ("Ethereal, Atmospheric, and Creative") – Special effects cymbals that include the Oriental and Azuka lines (designed by Alex Acuna
    Alex Acuña
    Alejandro Neciosup Acuña aka Alex Acuña is a Peruvian drummer and percussionist, in the Afro-Cuban jazz style.Born in Pativilca, Peru, Acuña played in local bands from the age of ten, and moved to Lima as a teenager. At the age of eighteen he joined the band of Perez Prado, and in 1967 he moved...

    ), the spiral trash cymbal, and sound effects such as China cymbal
    China cymbal
    thumb|right|China type cymbals from three continentsIn western music, china type cymbals are cymbals manufactured to produce a dark, crisp, trashy, and explosive tone...

    s, Zil-Bels, finger cymbals, and others. The FX series comes in both traditional and brilliant finishes.
  • Z3 – Cast bronze cymbals made specifically for louder music. Z3s have a particularly heavy weight, which make them very loud and bright. They were introduced to replace the Z-Custom Series. The Z3 name originates from this new series being the third range of Zs introduced by Zildjian. They were also named after their motto "Power, Projection, and Playability".
  • Avedis Zildjian (A Zildjian) ("Bright, Full-bodied, and Natural") – The original line of Avedis Zildjian cast bronze cymbals. These cymbals comes in both traditional and brilliant finishes.
  • Armand Zildjian – A sub-series of the A Zildjian line introduced in 2007. They are similar to the A Zildjian line but they are made with a slightly lower profile to approximate the classic cymbal sounds of the late 1960s. The Armand Zildjian cymbal line only comes in a traditional finish.
  • A Custom ("Fast, Modern, and Shimmering") – Cast bronze cymbals developed with Vinnie Colaiuta
    Vinnie Colaiuta
    Vincent Colaiuta is an American drummer based in Los Angeles. Originally from Republic, Pennsylvania, he began playing drums as a child and received his first full drum kit from his parents at the age of 14...

    . Based on the original A Zildjians, A Customs have a particularly medium-thin to thin weight, making them very responsive and bright. These cymbals comes in a brilliant finish.
  • K Zildjian ("Dark, Warm, and Expressive") – Cast bronze cymbals that stem from Kerope Zildjian's original hand-hammered line. The machine hammering on the K Zildjians makes them dark and dry. These cymbals come in both traditional and brilliant finishes.
  • K Zildjian Constantinople Made in order to duplicate the looks and sound of Zildjian cymbals made in the early to mid 1900s.
  • K Custom ("Rich, Dry, and Complex") – Cast bronze cymbals based on the original K Zildjians but are made with very complex machine hammering techniques. K Customs are dry and complex, making them popular among jazz drummers. These cymbals come in both traditional and brilliant finishes.
  • K Custom Hybrid – A subseries of the K Custom line developed with Akira Jimbo
    Akira Jimbo
    is a Japanese freelance jazz fusion drummer who is famous for his drumming independence and fusion of electronic drum technology and acoustic drums. Aside from his solo work, he is also the drummer in the Japanese jazz fusion band Casiopea and has participated in various side projects with other...

    . K Custom Hybrids come in a traditional/brilliant finish, with the outer edge in a natural finish and the inner part and bell in a brilliant finish.

Sheet bronze cymbal lines

  • Amir/Amir II (mid 1980s): Moderate/higher-end sheet bronze cymbals when compared to Zildjian's present-day lines. Amirs were released alongside the Impulse line.
  • Impulse (1982–1986): Non-Cast bronze cymbals designed for hard rock. The Impulse line were replaced by the original Z Zildjian line several years later.
  • Scimitar/Scimitar Bronze (late 1980s/early 1990s): Scimitars replaced Amir line.
  • Edge/Edge Plus (1990s): Higher-end sheet bronze cymbals; preceded ZXTs.
  • ZBT Plus (early 2000s): Released alongside ZBT, ZBTs, and ZBT Pluses, which replaced the Scimitar line. ZBT Pluses were discontinued shortly after Edge was replaced by ZXT.
  • ZXT Titanium (2003–2006): Silver-colored cymbals made without any titanium in the alloy, rather there was titanium plating. ZXT Titaniums were discontinued shortly before ZHTs entered production.
  • Pitch Black (2008) – Sheet bronze cymbals covered with a black proprietary coating process. The Pitch Black alloy contains the same alloy as the ZHT line (88% copper
    Copper
    Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...

     and 12% tin
    Tin
    Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...

    ) and comes in an all-black coated finish. The cymbals were entirely coated, except for the high hats which were uncoated on the bottom. They are the first cymbals from Zildjian that are color coated, and were, for the most part, poorly received by the drumming community.

Cast bronze cymbal lines

  • Z Zildjian (1986–1994): Heavy, unlathed cymbals designed for heavy metal and punk. Replaced in 1994 by the Z Custom series.
  • Avedis Platinum (1980s and 1990s): A Zildjians with a silver-colored coating and a blue or black logo.
  • Z Custom (1994–2009): Cast bronze cymbals made specifically for louder music. Z Customs had a particularly heavy weight, which made them very loud and bright. Replaced in 2009 by the Z3 series.
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