Paiste Stambul65
Stambul65
Contents
Introduction: 1965
Discontinued: 1974
Background: The Stambul65 was Paiste's first series entirely made of the B8 (2002 bronze) alloy.
Robert Paiste had started to experiment with B8 alloy as early as 1963, he was looking for a better sounding replacement for the then currently used NS12 (Nickel silver) alloy. B8 is an industrial alloy used in bearings bushes and sleeves, it is readily available from many manufactures.
He first produced the "Stambul 65" in 1965 as an an upper midline series that was originally intended to replace the Stambul series (it did not, both series ran concurrently).
This series was an important development that paved the way for the groundbreaking Giant Beat line and subsequently, the crowning achievement of Paiste’s use of B8: the legendary 2002.
Because of the name "Stambul", the ‘65s tend to get lumped in with the regular "Stambul NS12" line, they were two different lines sold concurrently by Paiste in the mid 60s through 1974. The lines had two completely different emboss logos and the weight/type designations for each series were also different, they did share some construction similarities such as the shape of the bell and style of lathing. The more expensive Stambul65 was considered an upper class, mid-level cymbal bordering on professional quality, while the Stambul NS12 was strictly a middle class offering as was the later B8 version.
Out of the two Stambul series, the 65 was discontinued first in '74, possibly made redundant by the release of the all conquering 2002 in 1971 (the Giant beat was also discontinued at the same time). The regular "B8" Stambul carried on for a longer period before eventually being replaced by the new 505 series in 1978.
Stambul65's were made in both Nottwil and Germany (especially the marching cymbals). In addition to the emboss logo, 65's made after 1971 will have a black ink Paiste logo and series name stamp at the 12 o’clock position above the bell and of course, the red ink type stamp at 3 o’clock should be on all well-preserved examples (no matter the year of the production) and the size in inches under the bell in red. Normally there wasn't the Paiste "outline" logo stamped on the bottom of the cymbal, but we have found one example (see pictures below).
- Serial numbers: Swiss cymbals got serials by 1972 (proof from Nils' database) and continued until '74 when they were discontinued. German 65's never got serial numbers.
- Cymbal weights: On the average, German 65's were slightly heavier than the Swiss versions (data from Nils' database, see link below)
- Nickel silver Stambul65? We have found one example of a German 20" thin crash made from Nickel silver (NS12) see below, it could be an early production version before the German plant got their supply of B8, or maybe they ran out of B8 and substituted NS12 to cover the demand?
- As with all of Paiste's mid and lower line cymbals: the weight classifications tend to be on the thin side, I.E the "medium ride" is closer in weight to a 2002 medium and can be used as a crash, the thin crashes are the same weight as 2002 thin crashes, bordering on "paper thin".
- Stambul65's are seriously overlooked these days, especially in the U.S (they were never sold here!), they tend to get overshadowed in the collectors world by its more popular and ballyhooed successors. These are high quality nice sounding B8 cymbals that are a nice alternative to vintage Giant beats and black label 2002's, they are a bargain and worth considering for your collection.
Innovation: Paiste's first line made solely from B8.
Alloy: CuSn8 (Also known as "2002 Bronze")
Quality: The Stambul65 was considered an upper class, upper mid-level cymbal bordering on professional quality.
Production: Cymbals were fully hammered into shape, the same exact production techniques were used as they were on the top line cymbals (Giant beats & 2002's).
Applications: All uses appropriate for this quality of cymbal.
Sound: Smoother and less aggressive than 2002's, similar to Giant beats and 505's: side by side comparison between a 2002 and a Stambul 65
Rides
- Medium Ride - 16" 18" 20" 22"
Crashes
- Thin Crash - 16" 18" 20" 22"
Hi-Hats
Other
Nils Lillig is the premier Stambul65 collector in Europe, he owns a vast assortment of cymbals from this line along other lines as well. Over the years he has compiled a weight chart of all the "65's" he has encountered, you can find his list here.
Paiste ~1965 catalog
Paiste Stambul65 1966 advert
Paiste Catalog 1970
English distributor: Dallas Arbiter catalog 1971-'72
Swiss 1973 serial # 18" thin crash
Swiss Post '71 (but no serial) with full ink stamps
18" preserial Thin crash with "special" printed @9:00
14" marching cymbals
Swiss 1974 14" hi hats with serial #'s
Swiss 14" Hi hats labeled as "med. ride"
Swiss early 70's 16" th. cr. with ink stamps top and bottom
Swiss early 70's 16" th. cr. with ink stamps top and bottom (65's did not normally have a bottom stamp)
side by side, early German and 70's Swiss 16" thin crash
notice difference in bell shape
New old stock German 16" thin crashes
location missing from stamp
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German 20" thin crash made from Nickel silver (NS12)
Information from: Paiste Advertising, Todd Little, Dan Garza, Nils Lillig
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