Turkish Cymbals Ad Astra Series

The Ad Astra series by Turkish Cymbals carries the Latin motto “Ad astra per aspera” – “Through hardship to the stars”. It was developed by Turkish drummer and cymbal designer Özgür Can Öney together with the master craftsmen of Turkish Cymbals in Istanbul, drawing on more than 20 years of stage, touring and studio experience. Every cymbal is cast and hammered by hand from B20 bronze. Visually, the cymbals recall an Ottoman shield: a dark furnace finish, a natural, unlathed surface and a strikingly large bell. Only the bell is lathed; the rest is deliberately left raw.

Dark, controlled sound with plenty of texture

The raw surface gives the cymbals a warm, dark fundamental tone with organic texture. On most models the sustain stays controlled and the articulation clear. The crash, splashes and stack respond even to light strokes. The large, lathed bells deliver a crisp, clearly defined ping that stands out distinctly from the dark surface. If you’re looking for similarly dark, complex sounds, you’ll also find them in the Prestige-TR series and the Raw Dark series.

Musical styles and cymbals in the series

Whether it’s powerful rock grooves, finely articulated funk and fusion or studio recordings, the Ad Astra series delivers texture without burying the mix. At its centre is the Ride with its large 6" bell. Alongside it come the warm Crash, the versatile Crash-Ride and the Hi-Hat, which sounds like a full crash when played open. Extra colour comes from the China-Ride with its flat edge and long, dark sustain, the Stack of 14" Holey Crash and 16" Holey China with its extremely short note, and the thin Splashes and heavy Bells. That lets you build a complete, sonically consistent setup from a single series.

As the official Turkish Cymbals dealer in Germany, we have been advising you personally since 2015 – with genuine expertise and shipping directly from Berlin. Discover the Ad Astra series in hand-hammered B20 bronze.