The Avedis Zildjian Company is a cymbal and gong manufacturer founded in Istanbul, Turkey by an Armenian named Avedis Zildjian during the Ottoman Empire. It is the world's largest manufacturer of cymbals.At nearly 400 years old, Zildjian is the oldest family-run business in America and one of the 300 oldest companies in the world. They also sell drum-related accessories, such as drum sticks.
Avedis Zildjian Company
Type
Private
Founded
1623 (Present aged at 385 years)
Headquarters
Norwell, Massachusetts, United States
Key people
Avedis Zildjian, FounderArmand ZildjianCraigie Zildjian, Current CEODebbie Zildjian
Industry
Cymbal manufacturer
Website
Official website
Early history
The first Zildjian cymbals were created in 1623 in Istanbul by Avedis Zildjian who, while looking for a way to turn base metal into gold, created an alloy combining tin, copper, and silver into a sheet of metal that could make musical sounds without shattering. Avedis was given the name of Zildjian (Zilciyân) by The Sultan, from the Turkish (zil - cymbal, dji - maker-seller, ian - a common suffix used in Armenian last names) 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 to manufacturing its cymbals as musical instruments in the 19th century.
1900s
In 1908, Avedis Zildjian III migrated to Boston. In 1923, the Turkish Republic was established and the name of Constantinople was officially changed to Istanbul, resulting in the change of the company's name from K. Zildjian Constantinople to K. Zildjian Istanbul. In around 1926, Aram Zildjian signed an exclusive American distribution agreement for K. Zildjian cymbals with Gretsch.
Avedis Zildjian III in front of Zildjian Quincy Factory
Around 1928, Avedis III and Aram Zildjian began manufacturing cymbals in Quincy, Massachusetts, and the Avedis Zildjian Co. was formed in 1929, the year the Great Depression 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, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Shelly Manne, Cozy Cole, and Papa Jo Jones all used Avedis Zildjian cymbals.
Avedis III's son Armand Zildjian, 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 that Zildjian still bases its Artist Relations department on. 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 split from the company amidst conflict with his brother, Armand Zildjian. Shortly thereafter, in 1981, Robert started making Sabian 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.
In 1994, he was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society 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 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.
Craigie is the first female CEO in Zildjian's history and Debbie is the Vice President of Human Resources. They became the first women to fully understand the Zildjian Secret Alloy.
Both Craigie and Debbie's daughters (the 15th generation of Zildjian's) are an integral part of the family business. Debbie's daughter Cady Bickford Zildjian joined the company in 2007 and is currently the New Business Development Coordinator. (Cady also just welcomed the 16th generation of Zildjian's with the birth of her first daughter.) Her other daughter Emily completed a two-year cymbal apprenticeship where she followed in her grandfather's footsteps learning the delicate process of making Zildjian cymbals. While Craigie's daughter Samantha is finishing her Bachelors Degree, she interns at Zildjian assisting with New Business Development.
Other than cymbals, the Avedis Zildjian Company produces products such as drum sticks 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.
The Avedis Zildjian Company continues to produce cymbals today in Norwell, Massachusetts. In July 2008, the Avedis Zildjian Company released their Pitch Black line, cymbals with a black finish on the top.
Current cymbal products
Sheet bronze cymbal lines
Zildjian ZHT 20" Medium Ride
ZBT: The lowest-end of Zildjian sheet bronze cymbals. The ZBT alloy contains 92% Copper, 8% Tin and comes in a brilliant finish.
ZXT: Zildjian's mid-level sheet bronze cymbals. The ZXT alloy contains 92% Copper, 8% Tin and comes in a brilliant finish.
ZHT: The highest-end of Zildjian sheet bronze cymbals. The ZHT alloy contains 88% Copper, 12% Tin and comes in a traditional finish.
Pitch Black: Sheet bronze cymbals covered with a black proprietary coating process. It was introduced in 2008. The pitch black alloy contains the same ZHT alloy, 88% copper and 12% tin, and comes in an all-black coated finish. The 14" and 15" Mastersound HiHats are uncoated where there is metal to metal contact allowing for better sound and air flow. They are the first cymbals from Zildjian that are color coated.
Cast bronze cymbal lines
Zildjian K Custom 22" High Definition Ride
FX: Special effects cymbals that include the Oriental and Azuka lines, as well as sound effects such as Zil-Bels, finger cymbals, and others. The FX series comes in both traditional and brilliant finishes.
Z Custom: Cast bronze cymbals made specifically for louder music. Z Customs have a particularly heavy weight, which make them very loud and bright. The Z Custom alloy contains 80% copper, 20% tin, traces of silver and comes in a brilliant finish.
Avedis Zildjian: The original line of Avedis Zildjian cast bronze cymbals. The A Zildjian alloy contains 80% copper, 20% tin, and traces of silver and comes in traditional and brilliant finishes.
Armand Zildjian: In 2007, the "Armand Series" was introduced as a sub-series of the A Zildjian line. Armand Zildjian's alloy contains 80% copper, 20% tin, and traces of silver. This is the same as the Avedis Zildjian line but made with a slightly lower profile to approximate the classic cymbal sounds of the late 1960s. The Armand Zildjian cymbal line only comes in traditional lathing.
A Custom: Cast bronze cymbals developed with Vinnie Colaiuta. Based on the original A Zildjians, A Customs have a particularly medium-thin, thin weight making them very responsive and bright. The A Custom alloy contains 80% copper, 20% tin, traces of silver and comes in a brilliant finish.
K Zildjian: Cast bronze cymbals that stem from Kerope Zildjian's original hand-hammered line. The hammering on the K Zildjians make them dark and dry. The K Zildjian alloy contains 80% copper, 20% tin, traces of silver and comes in both traditional and brilliant finishes.
K Custom: Cast bronze cymbals based on the original K Zildjians but made with very complex hammering techniques. K Customs are dry and complex, making them popular among jazz drummers. The K Custom alloy contains 80% copper, 20% tin, traces of silver and comes in traditional and brilliant finishes.
Discontinued cymbal products
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.
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 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.
Cast bronze cymbal lines
Impulse (1982–1986): Cast bronze cymbals designed for hard rock. Impulses were replaced by the original Z Zildjian line, several years later.
Z Zildjian (1986–1994): Heavy, unlathed cymbals designed for heavy metal and punk. Replaced in 1994 by the current Z Custom series.
Avedis Platinum (1990s): A Zildjians with silver-colored coating and blue or black logo.
Re-Mix (late 1990s): Cast bronze cymbals developed with Zach Danziger. Re-Mixes were designed for live performing of jungle / drum and bass and other electronic styles. Only the Ride and Effects cymbals exist today as the A Zildjian Breakbeat Ride and the A Custom EFX, respectively.
Current drum stick products
Zildjian also manufactures a variety of drums sticks, mallets, and brushes. Zildjian offers the standard sizes of drum sticks: 7A, 5A, 5B, 2B, and Rock.
DIP: Drum sticks with a coating that makes them easier to grip.
Anti-Vibe: Drum sticks made with patented technology to reduce unwanted vibrations.
Hickory: Basic drum sticks made of 100% hickory.
Artist Series: Drum sticks designed by famous drummers; the artists place their signature on the sticks.
Maple Series: New to the Zildjian drum stick line. Maple is lighter than hickory and allows for a larger diameter stick without the weight of a hickory stick.
Brushes & Specialty Sticks: New and innovative elements to brushes and mallets.
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