Istanbul Agop Mel Lewis 13" 1982 Hi-Hat

Mel Lewis could drive a big band, or a small group, with a fire that few drummers have been able to emulate. He was Istanbul Agop's first endorser. After his death in 1990 and with the blessing of his family, Mel’s chosen cymbals were flown back to Istanbul Agop factory. Every detail of every individual cymbal has been taken in with exacting detail and replicated by the hands of Istanbul Agop cymbal-smiths. These cymbals are Istanbul Agop's way of paying tribute to Mel’s legacy in the best way they know how. Originally created especially for his live performances, these tribute cymbals have highly versatile perspective ranging from small jazz settings to nostalgic big band sounds.

 Mel Lewis Hi-Hat

• Exhibits soft silvery tone.
• Has excellent clear stick definition.
• Plenty of tight to airy chick sound when played with the foot.
• Features warm wash when open.

• Reviews

  "The Mel Lewis 1982 13" hi-hats are bright and capable of holding their own within a musical context. While I generally don’t like the light wash that smaller hats produce, these cymbals produced a quick, penetrating sizzle. Their "chick" sound is clean and loud, clearly stating the time for the entire band. Even under the "swoosh" of the Lewis ride, it cut through. At one point I played the hi-hat alone in a practice session. A taut, quick response and a crisp "tsst" sound emanated when the hats were open and shut. I played single strokes and built up to doubles. I loosened up the hats, letting out some steam. In so doing, I discovered a monster tone that was containable but still capable of generating lots of power. That sound convinced me that these hats would be great not only for jazz, but also for funk and hip-hop. " - Will Romano

• Warranty

  Istanbul Agop has ONE year warranty against manufacturing flaws, starting from date of the purchase.

This is a pre-order which ships out from the supplier within 10 days.