All companies have their history, the Zildjian history starts in 1623
Avedis Zildjian I (the first) was an Armenian alchemist in the city of Constantinople in the early seventeenth century. While attempting to create gold by combining base metals, he discovered an alloy of copper, tin, and traces of silver with unique sound qualities. In 1618, Avedis used his secret alloy to create cymbals of spectacular clarity and power. The sound of the instruments was so extraordinary that the Sultan invited Avedis to live at court (Topkapi Palace) to make cymbals for the Sultan's elite Janissary Bands. As Avedis' reputation grew, the Sultan gave him the name ""Zildjian"" in Armenian (Zilciyan in Turkish), a word meaning ""son of cymbal maker.""
In 1623, Avedis was granted permission to leave the palace in order to start his own business in a suburb of Constantinople named Psamatia. That same business is now nearly four centuries old and has been passed down to Zildjian heirs for fifteen generations. Relocating to America in 1929, Avedis III moved the Zildjian factory to Quincy, MA and then to its current location in Norwell, MA for Zildjian's 350th Anniversary. The business passed to Avedis' son, Armand in 1977 and then to Armand's daughter, Craigie, in 1999. Currently, Craigie and her sister Debbie continue the family tradition in what is recognized as the oldest family-owned business in America.
Brand families from Zildjian
All products from Zildjian
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Article number 1811420
Zildjian 18" K Custom Special Dry Trash China
Extra Thin to Thin in weight. Quick fast attack, lots of dirt in the sound and shuts down quickly. New hole...
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Article number 1810953
Zildjian 18" K Custom Dark Crash
Spectacularly clean clear and articulate. Unique crash with dry, trashy overtones.
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Article number 1810984
Zildjian 18" K Custom Fast Crash
Spectacularly clean clear and articulate. K Custom Crash with new bell design.
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Article number 1811218
Zildjian 18" K Custom Hybrid Crash
Designed with Akira Jimbo to combine darkness and brilliance. The new 18" Crash offers a more complete and...
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Article number 1810991
Zildjian 18" K Custom Session Crash
Spectacularly clean clear and articulate. Designed with Steve Gadd.
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Article number 1811422
Zildjian 19" K Custom Special Dry Crash
Extra Thin to Thin in weight. Quick fast attack with lots of dirt in the sound and shuts down quickly.
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Article number 1811423
Zildjian 19" K Custom Special Dry Trash Crash
Extra Thin to Thin in weight. Quick fast attack, lots of dirt in the sound and shuts down quickly. New hole...
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Article number 1810978
Zildjian 19" K Custom Dark Crash
Spectacularly clean clear and articulate. Unique crash with dry, trashy overtones.
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Article number 1810979
Zildjian 20" K Custom Dark Crash
Spectacularly clean clear and articulate. Unique crash with dry, trashy overtones.
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Article number 1810965
Zildjian 20" K Custom Dark Ride
Spectacularly clean clear and articulate. Excellent stick definition with dry, full-bodied stick sound.
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Article number 1810998
Zildjian 20" K Custom Hybrid Ride
Designed with Akira Jimbo to combine darkness and brilliance.
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Article number 1810854
Zildjian 20" K Custom Medium Ride
Spectacularly clean clear and articulate. Versatile all-around Ride with good stick definition, clear bell and...
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Article number 1810997
Zildjian 20" K Custom Session Ride
Spectacularly clean clear and articulate. With longer sustain and a lower pitch than its 18" counterpart, the...
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Article number 1810999
Zildjian 21" K Custom Hybrid Ride
Designed with Akira Jimbo to combine darkness and brilliance. 21" Ride provides more projection and overtones...
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Article number 1811426
Zildjian 21" K Custom Special Dry Ride
Nice solid stick sound, but crashable. Good wash under the stick with dark funky undertones. Integrated bell...
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Article number 1811427
Zildjian 21" K Custom Special Trash Crash
Extra Thin to Thin in weight. Quick fast attack, lots of dirt in the sound and shuts down quickly. New hole...
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Article number 1810971
Zildjian 21" K Custom Organic Ride
Spectacularly clean clear and articulate. Absolutely Fantastic!
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Article number 1810967
Zildjian 22" K Custom Dark Ride
Spectacularly clean clear and articulate. Excellent stick definition with dry, full-bodied stick sound.
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Article number 1810856
Zildjian 22" K Custom Medium Ride
Spectacularly clean clear and articulate. Versatile all-around Ride with good stick definition, clear bell and...
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Article number 1810930
Zildjian 8" K Custom Dark Splash
Spectacularly clean clear and articulate.
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Article number 1811209
Zildjian 9" K Custom Hybrid Splash
Designed with Akira Jimbo to combine darkness and brilliance.
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Article number 1811290
Zildjian KCH390 K Custom Hybrid Promo Pack
Value Pack. Incl 14" Hybrid Hi-Hat, 21" Hybrid Ride, and 17" Crash F.O.C. Designed with Akira Jimbo to combine...
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Article number 1811490
Zildjian KCSP4681 K Custom Special Dry Promo Set
Value Pack. Ideal for drummers who are looking for a pre-set configuration to complement their preferred music...
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Article number 1850010
Zildjian 10" Low Volume Splash
It is ideal for practice rooms, drum lesson rooms, low volume gigs, or use as a stacker cymbal.