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Istanbul Agop
Istanbul Agop's founder, Agop Tomurcuk, was born in Istanbul-Turkey in 1941. Growing up in the Samatya neighborhood of Istanbul, he followed in the footsteps of his older brothers Oksant and Garbis, by beginning work as an apprentice cymbal-smith at the age of 9 at the only cymbal factory in Turkey. Here, Agop learned, and later helped to refine every aspect of the cymbal making process, becoming a master at every process and eventually becoming the chief cymbal-smith, until that company ceased production of their cymbals in Turkey in 1977.
Feeling “like a fish out of water,” after a little over a year spent working various odd jobs, Agop became to determined to continue the Turkish tradition of handmade cymbals on his own. With a little bit of asking around, he was able to locate and buy up much of the equipment and tools he used at his previous company. He rented a small workshop in the Bakırköy-Kartaltepe area of Istanbul, and began to experiment and produce some cymbals with the help of his dear wife, Uskui Tomurcuk. But the limited resources and manpower made things very difficult.
“At the end of the day, my father’s cousin once brought him home by carrying him on his back” explains Agop’s son and now company Co-President, Arman Tomurcuk. Eventually, he was able to set up a small, but functional factory and his older brother, Oksant joined the company as chief cymbalsmith. They began by selling cymbals locally to some music stores in Istanbul’s Tünel area, but the prospects of this were limited.
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Istanbul Agop 14" Xist Hi-Hats
Xist Hi-Hats are crisp and focused with tight sticking and are medium in weight. Learn More -
Istanbul Agop 15" Xist Hi-Hats
Xist Hi-Hats are crisp and focused with tight sticking and are medium in weight. Learn More -
Istanbul Agop 14" Signature Agop Hi-Hats
Extremely dry and dark, crisp chick sound. Learn More -
Istanbul Agop 21" Xist Ride
A more modern take on traditional Turkish cymbalmaking, the XIST ride offers a clear, focused attack with a dark, warm sustain. Moderate overtones. Learn More -
Istanbul Agop 10'' Xist Dry Dark Hi Hats
- 10"
- Dark/Trashy Attack
- Fast Decay
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Istanbul Agop 17'' Xist Dry Dark Hi Hats
Dark and trashy attack. Washy, yet with a quick decay. Insert an additional 17” Dry Dark Crash resting in the bottom cymbal for a focused attack on top and a fat, crunchy attack on the side as well as a more prominent chick sound. Paired with the 17” Dry Dark Crash as an alternate bottom, they’re dark, and trashy but with moderate volume.
When not used as a Hi Hat Pair, the top cymbal makes an explosive full bodied crash, and the bottom can be used as a small light ride or bell effect.
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Istanbul Agop 21" Xist ION Dark Ride
A darker, drier take on the Xist Ion Series, the Ion Dark ride has extremely articulate sticking with a subtle crash and strong bell. Learn More -
Istanbul Agop 19" Xist ION Dark Trash
A darker, drier take on the Xist Ion Series, the Ion Dark Trash is an even more dynamic and complex take on the series. Fast response with a very quick decay. Learn More -
Istanbul Agop 8'' Xist ION Splash
Istanbul Agop 8'' Xist ION Splash Learn More -
Istanbul Agop 10'' Xist ION Splash
Istanbul Agop 10'' Xist ION Splash Learn More
