K Zildjian
K Zildjian
Introduction: Canadian made 1978, American made 1982
Background: The Avedis Zildjian company took over the Turkish K Zildjian trademarks, and began producing K Zildian cymbals in Canada late in the 1970s. These were not produced exactly the same way the Turkish K Zildjians were, but they are still quite different in terms of hammering from the A Zildjian family. When production moved to the USA the trademark die stamp changed, the ink changed, and so did the lathing and some other production details. There isn't a single consensus year for the move to the USA, but it is most likely 1981±1 for development and mid 1982 for production and retail sales. The usual uncertainty applies because personal recollections, advertising material, catalogs, etc. don't all line up perfectly.
Alloy: B20
Quality: Professional
Production: Varies over the years
Company Description: K Zildjian cymbals continue to inspire drummers today with their deep, warm, and expressive sounds developed by Kerope Zildjian in 19th Century Turkey. Elaborate hammering and lathing techniques work the Zildjian alloy into versatile cymbals that are dark yet well suited for a wide variety of musical genres from jazz to rock.
Timeline: Refer to the excellent A Brief History of North American Ks for detailed explanations of Canadian-made K cymbals, "EAK", "IAK", "Regular", and "Laser" / "Serial Numbered" K. Zildjians.
Rides
- Dark Thin Ride - 22"
- Jazz Ride - 18" 20" 22"
- Crash Ride - 18" 20" 21" 22"
- Sweet Ride - 21" 23"
- Ride - 18" 20" 22"
- Heavy Ride - 18" 20" 21" 22"
- Flat Top Ride - 18" 20" 22"
- Light Flat Ride - 20"
- Light Ride - 20" 22" 24"
- Custom - 16" 18" 20" 22"
- Custom Dry 20"
- Pre-Aged Dry Light Ride 18" 20" 22"
Crashes
- Paper Thin Crash - 18" 19" 20" 21" 22"
- Cluster Crash - 16" 18" 20"
- Dark Crash - 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20"
- Dark Crash Thin - 14" 15" 16" 17" 18" 19" 20"
- Dark Crash Medium Thin - 16" 17" 18" 19"
- Sweet Crash - 16" 17" 18" 19" 20"
Hi-Hats
- Light Hi-Hat - 14" 15" 16"
- Zildjian Custom Hi-Hat - 13"
- Hi-Hat - 13" 14" 15"
- Fat Hats - 14" 15"
- Mastersound Hi-Hat - 13" 14"
- K/Z Hi-Hat - 13" 14"
- Sweet Hi-Hat - 14" 15" 16"
Splash
Chinas
- China - 17" 19"
- Mini China - 14" (name changed from Swish in 1991)
Orchestra
- Suspended Orchestra 18", 20"
- Orchestra Pair 18", 20", 22"
Multi Application
Effects
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