Istanbul Agop Mel Lewis 18" 1982 Crash Ride 1490 g

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 18" 1982 Crash Ride

• The perfect balance of ride and crash qualities.
• Boasts smooth overtones and a strong stick attack, making it ideal for riding. Additionally, it offers plenty of clarity for a well-rounded sound.
• Used as a crash, it produces a warm attack and quick, expansive response. It also has a dark swell underneath the initial crash sound and is subtle without any irritating high frequencies.

• Reviews

  "I don't know of too many cymbals that fulfill the promise of being both crash and ride. I always believed that in order to keep a proper balance, a crash/ride had to mute its ride elements and beef up its crash characteristics. That could be a recipe for disaster. The 18" Mel Lewis 1982 crash/ride is a different case. As a crash it's larger and louder than I'm used to. Along with a light gonginess, the cymbal chimed with a piercing, high pitched ring. Used as a ride, the 18" crash/ride generated vibrant tones on the high and low ends of the spectrum. I played it with mallets, achieving a waves crashing in the distance feel that rolled in and out very quickly. As a rock cymbal, this model wouldn't cut it. But we're talking jazz here. It;s certainly strong enough to be a ride in the traditional sense for a big band setting. Additionally, the pleasing color of its overtones make it perfect for being creative on a hard bop gig." - Will Romano

• 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.