Turkish Cymbals John Blackwell Signature China – Short Explosion

The John Blackwell Signature Series by Turkish Cymbals is a tribute to one of the most expressive drummers in modern music history. John Blackwell Jr. (1973–2017) – known as Prince's drummer in the New Power Generation for over 12 years, and as a sideman for Justin Timberlake, Patti LaBelle, D'Angelo and Bootsy Collins – developed this series in close collaboration with Turkish Cymbals to embody his unmistakable style: funk precision, musical depth and flawless groove. Blackwell himself was enthusiastic: "I am happy to be part of Turkish Cymbals, the new best cymbal. You won't regret."

Construction: Unlathed, Polished and Deeply Hammered

The John Blackwell Signature China in 19" and 20" follows a unique construction principle: the surface is not lathed, but polished – the brilliance arises not through lathing, but through a manual polishing process that retains the organic, raw texture of the unlathed bronze while simultaneously producing a brilliant shimmer. The raw, unlathed bell and the intensive hammering of the entire surface deliberately reduce sustain: the china opens explosively and fades quickly – no excessive wash, just the necessary energy for precise Funk, R'n'B and Soul accents.

Sound Character: Trashy, Explosive and Controlled

The John Blackwell China is a specialist for short, powerful explosions. The attack is immediate and loud, the decay short and controlled – exactly what Funk, R'n'B and Soul demands. Despite its trashy character the china always remains musical through the deep hammering and unlathed surface: it does not dominate the mix but accents it with precision. In 19" and 20" it offers two dimensions – more direct and drier in the 19" model, with somewhat more body and volume in the 20" model.

Applications: Funk, R'n'B, Soul, Jazz-Fusion and Contemporary

The John Blackwell China is the perfect effect cymbal for drummers playing in groove-oriented styles. In Funk it sets explosive, short accents with high recognition value. In R'n'B and Soul it delivers powerful yet controlled crash moments. In Jazz-Fusion and Contemporary it is a creative tool for unconventional china accents with organic, polished character.

Craftsmanship from Istanbul – At the Best Price

Every cymbal in the John Blackwell Signature Series is crafted in the workshops of Turkish Cymbals in Istanbul from B20 bronze – 80% copper, 20% tin – hand-cast, heated and carefully hand-hammered by experienced master craftsmen. The characteristic combination of raw, unlathed bell and the individual surface treatment of each model creates a unique visual and acoustic identity. We at Cymballand are proud, as the official partner of Turkish Cymbals, to bring this legacy directly to you – without intermediaries, at the best price.