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Avedis Zildjian Company

 
Wikipedia: Avedis Zildjian Company
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Avedis Zildjian Company
Type Private
Founded 1623 (Present aged at 386 years)
Headquarters Norwell, Massachusetts, United States
Key people Avedis Zildjian, Founder
Armand Zildjian
Craigie Zildjian, Current CEO
Debbie Zildjian
Industry Cymbal manufacturer
Website Official website

The Avedis Zildjian Company is a cymbal manufacturer founded in Istanbul, Turkey by an Armenian named Avedis Zildjian during the Ottoman Empire. Currently located in the United States, it is the world's largest manufacturer of cymbals.[1] At nearly 400 years old, Zildjian is the oldest family-run business in America[2] and one of the 320 oldest companies in the world. They also sell drum-related accessories, such as drum sticks.

Contents

History

Beginnings

The first Zildjian (pronounced /ˈzɪldʒ(ɪ)ən/)[3] cymbals were created in 1623 by Avedis Zildjian, an alchemist who was looking for a way to turn base metal into gold; he 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 Prince of Armenia (from the Turkish word 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.[citation needed]

1900s

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. 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

Armand Zildjian "Beautiful Baby" Ride Cymbal

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 Zildjians) 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. 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.

Current cymbal products

Sheet bronze cymbal lines

  • Planet Z The cheapest cymbals made from Zildjian, Made for beginners and practicing, these are copper and zinc, coming in a brilliant finish. Lower grade than ZBT's
  • 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.

Cast bronze cymbal lines

  • FX: Special effects cymbals that include the Oriental and Azuka lines, the spiral trash cymbal, as well as sound effects such as chinas, 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. The Z3 alloy contains 80% copper, 20% tin, traces of silver and comes in a brilliant finish. 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
  • 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 finish.
  • 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.
  • 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, and were, for the most part, poorly received by the drumming community.

Cast bronze cymbal lines

  • Impulse (1982–1986): Non-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 Z Custom series.
  • Avedis Platinum (1990s): A Zildjians with silver-colored coating and 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.

Current Endorsers

Past Endorsers

Jazz/big band era

1970s

1970s-80s-90s

1990s

2000s

  • Josh Eppard - Coheed and Cambria (before switiching to Sabian)

References

  1. ^ Sales figures from Music Trades Magazine 2007
  2. ^ Family Business Magazine Article
  3. ^ howjsay.com - A free online Talking Dictionary of English Pronunciation

External links

42°9′42.30″N 70°53′11.15″W / 42.16175°N 70.8864306°W / 42.16175; -70.8864306Coordinates: 42°9′42.30″N 70°53′11.15″W / 42.16175°N 70.8864306°W / 42.16175; -70.8864306


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