NOT YOUR DAD's Turkish Cymbals

TRX Young Turks Not Your Dad’s Turkish Cymbals

By David E. Libman

ntil the last decade or so, ten requires drummers to play at ceived are cast from B20 bronze be young, but I’m not inexperi- I always viewed Turk- a volume level and with a degree (80 percent copper/20 percent enced.” The BRT, MDM, and LTD ish cymbals as sort of a of physicality that can over- tin) and completely handmade. logos — also in all-caps, in what Holy Grail of jazz cymbals whelm the dynamic capabilities From there, manufacturing tech- appears to be a bold Times New forU older professional players of the thinner, more delicate jazz niques differ slightly. The ICONs Roman font — are a nod to the or younger jazz nerds. Times, cymbals that we used to associ- and the MDM crash/ride utilize acronym obsession that seems however, are changing. Today, ate with Turkish manufacturers. traditional lathing on top and to pervade everything modern. drummers both young and old and Here’s where the TRX Young Turks bottom. The ICONs have a brilliant (Does anyone remember when from every genre are incorporat- cymbals enter the mix. finish that comes from buffing KFC actually used to be called ing Turkish cymbals into their TRX has been around for six (no lacquers or other finishes), Kentucky Fried Chicken?) setups, and with good reason. years or so, with its international whereas the MDM has a non- The only aesthetic remnant of There’s a certain expressiveness headquarters in Studio City, Cali- brilliant (i.e., classic, or less shiny) old fogy Turkish cymbals that the and musicality that emanates fornia. TRX cymbals are made at surface. TRX perforates the 16" TRXs retain is their black stamped from a handmade cast plate of already-existing Turkish cymbal ICON crash with six large holes for size indicators. For example, the B20 bronze that’s hard to deny. manufacturing facilities that also air venting, each approximately underside of the 22" ICON heavy Still, modern amplified music of- make cymbals for other brands. 2" in diameter. The surface area of ride has a not-very-stylish bold TRX differentiates itself by de- the 19" LTD China receives micro- black stamp that says, “22" 55 veloping specific, unique designs lathing top and bottom with a cm.” I’ve come to expect these Models/Sizes list Price with specifications geared toward raw (unlathed) bell, brilliant edges stamps on most Turkish hand- 11" ICON Splash $240 younger and/or modern players. (from where the cymbal inverts), made cymbals, but I’ve rarely 12" ICON China $300 As a consumer, this means you and a remaining non-brilliant/ seen this sort of size indicator on 15" BRT/DRK Hi Hats $575 get a cymbal made by someone classic surface area. a Western or Euro-style major- 16" ICON Stacker Crash $375 who already knows what he or The BRT 22" crash/ride has label brand. Those brands use cool 19" LTD China $450 an unlathed top and bottom with fonts and paint applications for 21" MDM Crash/ride $500 she is doing, but with a sound 22" BRT Crash/ride $525 that, at least in theory, has a more myriad scattered hammer marks size indicators. TRX should do the 22" ICON Heavy Ride $700 modern sensibility. and one of the most gorgeous same (or otherwise, include no The TRX set I received con- brilliant finishes I’ve seen on a size indications at all). Aside from Features Cast B20 bronze sisted of a smattering of new cymbal. The 15" BRT hi-hat top has that small nit, I found all the TRX cymbals handmade in Turkey cymbals TRX has released over the same gorgeous brilliant finish. cymbals to be visually impressive to specifications designed the last year: (1) from the ICON The 15" DRK hi-hat bottom has and professional on every level. for younger/more modern series, an 11" splash, a 12" China, a an earthy, non-brilliant look that applications. ICONs and MDMs 16" Stacker crash, and a 22" heavy comes from virtually no lathing Roar Of The Young Turks are lathed on top and bottom, — except for a series of approxi- The ICON 11" splash, 12" China, and but ICONs have a brilliant finish ride; and (2) from the other series, whereas MDMs do not. LTDs have 15" BRT/DRK hi-hats, a 19" LTD mately eight spaced lathed stripes 16" Stacker crash can obviously be micro-lathed tops and bottoms China, a 21" MDM crash/ride, and near the cymbal’s edge. played separately, but they are also with raw bells, brilliant edges and a 22" BRT crash/ride. Although All of the TRXs I received have designed to stack atop one another. non-brilliant other surfaces. BRTs not necessarily designed to go to- expertly applied black logos with I stacked them, at least initially. As have unlathed tops and bottoms gether, I tested these cymbals as eye-catching, modern bold fonts. expected, as a stack, these three with brilliant finishes. a set and found that they blended The all-caps large “ICON” black cymbals produce the sort of shrill, together exceptionally well — logos that adorn the cymbal play- short, glass-shattering sound Contact both sonically and visually. ing surfaces have some purpose- that everyone seems to love from TRX Cymbal Co. fully missing paint on some of the stacked cymbals — except for me. trxcymbals.com Old Soul With A New Face letters ­— giving them an already- Honestly, I think the stacked cym- All the TRX cymbal series I re- worn jeans look that says, “I may bal concept is an acquired taste that

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D187_80_84_Soundlab.indd 83 11/11/11 11:17:09 AM has yet to catch my fancy. It’s not that cymbals as an aggressive and clean rock-oriented sound bad stacked, it’s just that they usually sound with a few more overtones than you sound better by themselves. might expect from your typical rock ride. On its own, the 11" splash explodes in- When played with stick tips, this cymbal cuts stantly with mostly highs, enough supporting through with mostly mids accompanied by a undertone to keep the splash sounding full, well-balanced second set of highs and lows and a lovely overall pitch that makes this cym- with some shimmer (but not much). The bell bal exceptional. The 12" China has the same is clear and open, but nothing spectacular. quickness and explosiveness, but instead of This ride always sounds big and sometimes a splash sound, it barks with an endearing borders on being indelicate, but it manages to pitchy, quirky kang. This 12" China also has remain musical. surprising expressiveness for its small size. The 16" crash is relatively thin, which, in combina- At The Gig tion with its six perforated holes, gives it a I played the TRX Young Turks at home (a lot) trashy, almost instantaneous burst of white and on two very different gigs. The first gig noise. The 16" model is a one-note cymbal in was a Vegas-style show with lots of am- the sense that you can’t ride it or get much plification, horns, and a singer. The second from it other than the crash sound. gig was an intimate jazz-trio session with The 15" BRT top/DRK bottom hi-hats ac- no amplification, an acoustic piano, and an complish a well-matched blending of two TRX acoustic bass in someone’s living room. At lines. The BRT top, with its brilliant finish and my Vegas-style gig, these cymbals blended lack of lathing, allows these hats to produce well with each other, crossed musical styles crystal-like stick definition. The foot chick effortlessly, and were generally fun to play. from these hats is crisp and pleasant, although The same qualities that made me love I did have some problems with air pockets TRXs on the Vegas-style gig made me ner- unless I got the angle just right. Wide-open vous to take then to the jazz-trio session. I splash and half-open spizzy sounds from these worried they would be too loud and gener- hats are stellar, making this a versatile hi-hat ally overwhelm the room. To my pleasant pair that sounds both modern and nuanced. surprise, this was not the case at all. In the The 19" LTD China does everything you want acoustic setting, I found myself gravitating from a China cymbal of this size without being toward the 22" BRT crash/ride and 21" MDM overly abrasive or harsh. It has lots of low-end crash/ride because of their expressiveness roar, a hint of trashiness, and a nice quality hi- and their ability remain delicate. With brush- pitched kang at the top end. Beyond that, this es, hot rods, and even sticks, these cymbals China blends well on a dynamic level with the allowed me a sensitivity that was refreshing. other TRX cymbals I tried, since it is neither too They have the shimmer and breathiness that I soft nor too loud. would expect from Turkish cymbals, but with With its medium weight, the 21" MDM crash/ a brightness and clarity that’s more mod- ride has enough heft to make it an excellent ern. The selling point here, for me at least, is jazzy-sounding ride cymbal that retains stick that I could buy this set of cymbals and use articulation even at fast tempos. As a crash, this them for most styles of music, regardless of cymbal’s weight requires you to whack it with whether it is old-school, new school, ampli- some force before it fully explodes. The bell cuts fied or acoustic. through clearly and distinctly while still bring- ing with it the sound of the rest of the cymbal. This 21" MDM crash/ride would be better named TRX is but one of many companies in an a “ride/crash”; it works well for both applica- already crowded field of handmade Turkish tions but slightly better as a ride. cymbal makers vying for a highly competi- On the other hand, TRX named the 22" tive market share. Yet the TRX cymbals man- BRT crash/ride just right. This cymbal has an age to differentiate themselves from some incredible, large crash sound that opens up with of their competitors by offering a different very little effort from the stick. Miraculously, take on what we generally expect from this 22" plate still manages to produce allur- traditional Turkish handmade cymbal fare. ing glass-like stick articulation when played The sound that comes from the Young Turks as a ride at slow through medium tempos. is bigger, louder, more modern, and brighter At faster tempos, the wash from this cymbal than many of the other Turkish cymbals starts to overwhelm stick definition. Overall, currently available. Are they as nuanced as this 22" crash/ride has a versatility that allows jazz cymbals? No. Are they as musical? Yes. it to cross the line between musical styles in a I would definitely recommend that you give surprisingly agile way. these TRX models a try — especially if you The 22" ICON heavy ride feels and plays like to play loud. heavy. It has what can be best described

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