online xcerpts
The lines can be roughly and somewhat arbitrarily divided into three categories:
Most suitable for Jazz : Nostalgia, MC Jazz, Mehmet Legend, Turk, Vezir, the Tribute and Anniversary Rides, Origin Dark *** Most suitable for Rock: Radiant, Murathan, Funky Rock, Session *** For All Genres: Traditional, Sultan, Onurhan and Emirhan, Origin, Vezir, Mehmet Legend, Legend Dark, Session. The Xperience series conveniently designates Jazz, Metal, and Effect models.
Traditional
Fully lathed, the classic Turkish cymbals, the "Avedis" of IM, with the widest variety of models and sizes: crashes from "paper-thin" to "heavy" weights, 6 different rides, 4 kinds of hats, splashes, bells, Chinas, Pangs, the works...
Sultan
Stripes of lathed and unlathed on top, unlathed bell, lathed on bottom. Among my personal favourites. Great balance of energy and dryness, like good champagne. The crashes tend to be medium-thin to thin, feel light and airy, and have relatively little tonal body with perfect hissssssss ! Terrific in the studio, but loud enough for most un-miked gigs (except Heavy Metal and the like).
Onurhan and Emirhan
Wider stripes of lathed/unlathed than Sultan, more heft , volume and tonal body; nicely "explosive" without being overpowering. Two separate lines w/ different lathing patterns: the warmer, drier Onurhan, and the brighter, more cutting/piercing Emirhan. Crashes tend to be medium-ish: weight- and sound-wise right between Sultan and Murathan. Great all-rounder series .
Radiant and Murathan
The Rock series, highly polished , mostly heavier, with more tonal body, and louder than other lines , cymbals of choice for rockers all over Europe. Radiant have the classic lathing pattern and are lighter, Murathan models (raw/polished) are designated specifically for Hard Rock and Metal (ala "Rude"), can take hard hitting and can be very loud, but -being handmade Turkish cymbals- they also respond to a softer touch, and easily shine in other genres. The crashes- medium to full- tend to have a full-bodied "explosion" with a clean finish, sound and feel nothing like the clang-y "rock crashes" of the Mac-(dj)ians. "...Heavy metal thunder.."
Nostalgia
See independent review at
http://www.drumdojo.com/istanbul_nostalga_2.htm . As of 2010 the Nostalgia series has been reworked: a slightly changed
profile with a more gradual transition from bell to bow, and a small traditional logo- all done by Mehmet's "Special Production Team", headed by the man himself, which now handles all the high-end lines. New: now available in Nostalgia 70s Rides (smooth bell bridge) and Nostalgia 50s Rides ("umbrella" profile). These new models are turning out to be very popular (and much more affordable) Old K substitutes .
Mehmet Legend/Legend Dark
See independent glowing review at
http://jazztimes.com/articles/14202-istanbul-mehmet-legend-cymbals . "..perfect traditional jazz cymbals.." ( the Mehmet equivalent of Agop's Mel Lewis series), but I happily use the 19" C/R in a rock band setting, and love the precise stick definition over the controlled silvery wash. I also really like the new Legend Dark (2009) series. The rides are sort of "a less wealthy man's" versions of the MT Anniversary Ride (similar lathing pattern, but raw bell, and heavier) .
X-perience
Haven't seen or heard them in person. Pricey. The X-Jazz Mehmet Sign. Dark Series (20" Ride, 14" Sizzle Hats) are a limited edition w/ only 250 pieces per model made.
Origin/Origin Dark A more recent series, the medium weight, fully lathed Origin, and the lighter , jazz-weight, unlathed, heavily
hammered Origin Dark. Beautiful high-end cymbals w/ rich musical sounds. Rides, crashes, and hats available.
Legend Dark Ride
MC Jazz
Yet another gorgeous jazz series, introduced at NAMM 2010. Raw smooth bell, deep dark lathe pattern top and bottom, described as a dark version of the Mikael Z Ride -same profile. Dry, dark. "washy", vintage. 20", 22" Rides, 18" Crash, 14",15" hats. Pricey!
