New Istanbul Mehmet Cymbals
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I switched to Istanbul Mehmet! Check out these amazing (and very different) cymbals!
I explain all the models but here they are for reference:
1st setup:
15″ Legend Dry Hi-Hats
21″ Mehmet Legend Ride
22″ Mehmet Legend Ride
20″ Mehmet Legend Ride
2nd setup:
22″ El Negro Light Ride
22″ El Negro Medium Ride
3rd Setup:
15″ Mehmet Legend Hi-Hats
20″ Nostalgia 70’s Ride
22″ Nostalgia 70s Ride
4th setup:
21″ 61st Anniversary Classic Ride
22″ Traditional Original Ride
5th Setup:
22″ Kirkor K Ride
22″ IMC Dark Ride
22″ Sahra Ride
Crashes:
20″ Traditional Paper Thin
19″ Traditional Paper Thin
18″ Traditional Thin
19″ Traditional Thin
Final setup:
15″ Mehmet Legend Hats
20″ Traditional Paper Thin Crash
22″ El Negro Medium Ride
21″ 61st Anniversary Ride
20″ IMC Dark Crash
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8 Comments. Leave new
So cool, man. And a really nice selection you chose at the end. Feel like you’re really building out ‘your sound’ over the past couple of years. Unique and really musical.
Thanks, Ferg!
Wow, man! They sound SO good. Great video too explaining your reasons for moving on and describing the Mehmet line.
Thanks, Peter! I love ‘em!
Thanks so much for the detail! It’s funny how we change taste over time and even between gigs!
I play in a big band and love the sound of my ride – but talking to section leaders over time – it literally wasn’t cutting it! They need some certainty as well as musicality. The wash thing is great for some of my other stuff…
Having said all that – Buddy and Mel etc could make a cast iron frypan sound good!
Thanks – love the way you approach it! Beautiful playing too!
Thanks Dean! Even this selection, although brighter than the Meinls, still needs some heavier, more cutting options. Lots of the Mehmet rides are in the 2300-2450g range…lovely & buttery with incredible wash, but I need some slightly heavier options. They’re going to make a couple prototypes!
I think it’s similar to how one needs to tune the drums higher than you think you do in order for them to cut. I think a cymbal that might sound too harsh or too bright on its own, can actually sound great in the band setting.
They sound great Louie! Thanks for the PBD specific video too. I’m half way through the Youtube one 😁.
I mainly play Sabian AAX and HH on my Rock/Blues kit and have 2 Agop’s on my Jazz set up – a 21″ Mel Lewis (took the rivets out) and a 22″ 30th Anniversary, which I got from my occasional teacher Joel Barford. They’re all great but I’ve always felt that I couldn’t go ‘all in’ with either of them as they maybe don’t have stuff in their line ups they would fit everything I need. I know Dave Weckl plays Sabian but am I the only one that doesn’t associate Sabian with Jazz cymbals?!
Maybe Mehmet’s line up would be the way to go?! Mind you I’ve not seen the RRP on them yet 😂.
Great to hear the Agop/Mehmet back story too, I also thought Mehmet were a “poor man’s” Agop… But what you’re saying is I’ve bought cymbals from an accountant not a cymbal maker 🥴😂
I’m going to dig into them now.. and yes they need to sort their marketing and strengthen people awareness of them. Maybe a clinic tour would help.. in the UK 😁.
With them being handmade, what’s the consistency between cymbals if ordering based on playing something in shop or hearing one online.. I doubt dealers would be able to keep a lot in stock with such a broad model range.
Sorry, long message but great video and cymbals and now excited to look into them.
Thanks Louie.
Yes, agree on Sabian. Originally that was the only place I was considering (I love the HHX Complex stuff) but they told me I couldn’t get any of the discontinued stuff made, and most of the hand hammering guys have retired. No custom shop basically. That meant pretty much zero jazz cymbals…except for the Jeff Hamilton stuff but I don’t think those are that great.
The Mehmet stuff is just spectacular. I saw Jimmy Branly just switched to Sabian and I thought his new stuff sounded…not good (his old Zildjians were better for his thing). I think having played these Mehmet’s for a couple of months now, it makes everything else seem like machine-made blandness.
UK clinic tour has been talked about. I think people need to hear them and dealers need to just buy a bunch because there’s no doubt they’ll stand out in the shop and sell immediately.