Turkish Cymbals Ad Astra Ride – Controlled Mastery

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.

Sound Character: Clear, Controlled and Expressive

The Ad Astra Ride in 22" is the centrepiece of the series – a ride cymbal that Özgür Can Öney has refined over 20 years of stage and studio work. It offers flawless articulation with just the right amount of expressive yet controlled wash. No uncontrolled flooding of the mix, no meaningless dryness – just a distinctive ride sound that works equally well in the studio and live. The large 6-inch bell delivers a crisp, clear and assertive ping sound that provides orientation in any musical style. The natural, unlathed surface produces an organic stick sound that responds with nuance to different playing techniques.

Applications: Hard Rock, Funk, Jazz and Studio Production

The Ad Astra Ride is an all-rounder with strong character. In Hard Rock it delivers assertiveness and volume. In Funk the precise bell excels with clear, rhythmic accents. In Jazz the cymbal surprises with an organic, open tonal quality arising from its natural surface. In studio work producers appreciate the nuanced response to different sticks and playing techniques. Depending on stick choice and strike position the cymbal changes its character markedly – from driving Hard Rock to articulate Funk and nuanced Jazz. In combination with the 20" Ad Astra Crash-Ride and the 18" Ad Astra Crash it forms a homogeneous, harmonically matched cymbal system.

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.