Mel Lewis was known for his fiery drumming that could lead both big bands and small groups. Being the first endorser for Istanbul Agop, his chosen cymbals were brought back to the factory after his passing in 1990, with his family's blessing. The skilled cymbal-smiths at Istanbul Agop meticulously recreated each detail, paying tribute to Mel's legacy in the best way possible. Originally designed for his live performances, these tribute cymbals offer a versatile range from intimate jazz settings to nostalgic big band sounds.
Mel Lewis Ride
- Produces dark wash of subtle overtones and offers a precise stick definition for a sharp, distinct sound.
- A versatile range of tones providing both powerful driving ride qualities and smooth, warm crash accents with minimal overtone build up.
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Reviews
"I played the Mel Lewis 20" 1982 ride in a few different settings, including blues, light rock, and folky-jazz. The cymbal hold its own under all circumstances. It is pingy, with clear stick definition. But it also produce multilayered overtones that ranged from very light to very dark. When I laid into the ride to play a traditional swing beat, my attack chatters away clearly. However, to my surprise the cymbal also has incredible spread, almost like a current of wind swirling under my wood-tipped sticks. (It would probably generate even more color with nylon-tipped sticks.) It is able to keep time and add surging hisses to communicate with the band in dynamic ways. Next I use brushes to generate a sonic mist. And when I take mallets to the cymbal, a pleasing cloud of dark noise hover over the music like a warm blanket. The ride also records well. Though a simple ADAT and two-mic' setup was all we used, the ride simply shimmers. On playback, my patterns were clear and well defined. The only drawback was the virtually nonexistent bell sound. Nonetheless, this is a great cymbal that would work not only for straight-ahead jazz, but also for big band and soft jazz." - Will Romano
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Warranty
Istanbul Agop has ONE year warranty against manufacturing flaws, starting from date of the purchase.
We ship in-stock orders within the same or next business day.
