Turkish Cymbals Ad Astra Stack – Dark Intense Sound

The Ad Astra series by Turkish Cymbals takes its name from the Latin motto "Ad astra per aspera" – "Through hardship to the stars." It is the result of over 20 years of stage, touring and studio experience of Turkish drummer and cymbal designer Özgür Can Öney, who worked alongside the master craftsmen of the Turkish Cymbals workshop in Istanbul to develop a series that combines large, dark sounds with controlled, texture-rich performance. Visually, these cymbals are reminiscent of an Ottoman shield – dark finish from the furnace process, natural unlathed surface, and a strikingly large bell.

The Set: 16" Holey China + 14" Holey Crash

The Ad Astra Stack is a carefully matched combination of a 16" Holey China and a 14" Holey Crash. The holes in both cymbals reduce sustain to an absolute minimum and produce an extremely short, intense sound moment – dark, compressed and instantly gone. This characteristic stack sound is ideal for modern productions where conventional cymbals would leave too much sound in the mix. Both cymbals can also be played individually as percussion instruments: they respond sensitively to light strokes and integrate easily into a hand percussion setup.

Sound Character: Compressed, Dark and Intense

The sound of the Ad Astra Stack is the opposite of expansive: dark, pinpoint and controlled. The initial attack is immediate and direct – the 14" Holey Crash delivers the first impulse while the 16" Holey China contributes colour and character. The result is a stack sound with considerably more depth and darkness than typical bright stack combinations. Ideal for drummers seeking a raw, unpolished sonic character in modern Rock, Metal, Funk and electronic-acoustic setups.

Craftsmanship from Istanbul – At the Best Price

Every Ad Astra cymbal is crafted at the Turkish Cymbals workshop in Istanbul following a tradition that reaches back centuries. The secret B20 bronze alloy – 80% copper, 20% tin – is hand-cast, heated in traditional furnaces, and hammered thousands of times by master craftsmen. Only the bell is lathed – the rest of the surface deliberately remains raw and untreated. This gives each cymbal its organic, natural character that cannot be replicated in any factory. We at Cymballand are proud, as the official partner of Turkish Cymbals, to bring this craftsmanship directly to you – without intermediaries, at the best price.