Bosphorus Cymbals: Choosing Your Series

 

Walk into the Bosphorus catalog without knowing the series names and it's easy to get lost — Traditional, Master, Gold, Turk, Antique, Jazz Master — all hand-hammered, all Turkish, but each one built to sound genuinely different. Here's what actually separates them, straight from how Bosphorus describes its own craft.

The Brand: Centuries-Old Craft, Still Hand-Hammered

Bosphorus was founded in Istanbul, drawing directly on the centuries-old Turkish cymbal-making tradition centered on that region. Every cymbal is still "meticulously crafted and hand hammered by skilled artisans who have inherited the secrets of their trade through generations" — no part of the process, from casting through final hammering, is handed off to a machine on the brand's higher-end lines. The result, according to Bosphorus, sits closer in character to early Constantinople-era cymbals than most modern recreations — which is exactly why so many players seeking a genuinely vintage-style sound land on this brand specifically.

For a look at the actual hammering process: A Look Inside The Bosphorus Cymbals Factory

Traditional Series — The All-Rounder

Bosphorus calls this its "most diverse family of cymbals" and describes it as "classic Turkish cymbal making at its finest." The range inside Traditional is genuinely wide — sounds go from dark and delicate to bright and penetrating depending on weight, with heavier rides giving higher pitch and more stick definition, and heavier crashes giving more volume at the cost of a slower, more deliberate opening. In your catalog this covers everything from the 8"–12" Splash cymbals and 16"–20" China cymbals up through the 20" Ride and 13"–15" Hi-Hats — the broadest, most flexible starting point in the lineup.

Master Series — The Vintage Specialist

Master cymbals are built from "an ancient formula passed down by many generations of cymbal smiths," entirely hand-formed with no machine steps at all. They run notably thinner than modern cymbals, giving them a soft, "played-in" feel and a visible wobble at the edge when struck. Sonically, Bosphorus describes them with a "woody stick sound," a "deep mysterious tone," and a "dark warm spread" — the kind of vintage character jazz and low-volume players specifically seek out. Your lineup carries the Master Crash in 16"–19" and the Master Ride up to a flagship 22".

Jazz Master Ride — Master Series, Built for Ride Work

The 22" Jazz Master Ride shares the Master series' hand-formed, thin-bodied construction, but it's cut specifically for ride work — the cymbal a jazz drummer rides on through an entire set, where stick definition and a controlled, musical wash matter more than raw volume. It's the single cymbal in this lineup built around one job rather than a full range of sizes.

Gold Series — Bright, Cutting, and Built for Modern Settings

Where Master leans vintage and dark, Gold is the opposite deliberately: hand hammered, then buffed to a brilliant finish, aiming for "bright, crisp and clean without sounding harsh or brittle." Bosphorus positions it as blending old-world handmade warmth with the cutting power and projection modern, louder settings actually need — rides built for "maximum response with plenty of projection," crashes that are "explosive and cutting, yet warm and musical," and hi-hats with a "clear powerful chick sound with a bright splash." In stock: the Gold Crash (16"–18"), Gold Hi-Hat (14"), and Gold Ride (20").

Turk Series — Dark, Raw, and Completely Unlathed

Turk cymbals skip lathing entirely, left with a completely unlathed, hand-hammered finish that Bosphorus describes as giving "a dark raw voice" and an "exotic stick sound." These are built for players who want an effects cymbal — or even a primary ride — with heightened responsiveness and a genuinely different character from a standard lathed cymbal. Your catalog carries the Turk Crash (16", 18"), Turk Hi-Hat (14"), and Turk Ride (20").

Antique Series — Both Finishes on One Cymbal

Antique splits the difference between Traditional's lathed surface and Turk's raw, unlathed one — combining both finishes on the same cymbal. That gives it "strong definition and ample but controlled overtones" on rides, with a tonal blend that pulls brightness from the lathed portion and darker, complex overtones from the raw metal. It's a genuinely distinct middle ground rather than a compromise between the two. In stock: the Antique Crash in 17" and 18".

Who Plays Bosphorus

Bosphorus counts touring professionals among its endorsed artists — including Claude Coleman, drummer for the band Ween, who plays Bosphorus cymbals exclusively.

Why It Matters

If you're after one flexible set, Traditional covers the widest range. If you want vintage, dark, and thin, Master (or the Jazz Master Ride specifically) is built for that. If you need something that cuts through a loud modern mix, Gold is the one. And if you want a genuinely different, rawer voice — Turk for fully unlathed, Antique for a blend of both finishes.

Musical Buddies is an authorized Bosphorus dealer in Lebanon.