CymbalsOnly.com Comparison Chart

BOSPHORUS/AGOP Comparison Chart I try my best to keep this up to date, but alas, it is near impossible! Many Agop Endorser models not listed, as these change frequently. Direct questions my way.
Traditional	Hi-Hats		regular/dark	lathed	lathed	13, 14, (15)	Lighter and lower pitched than the light hi-hat, these cymbals are good for many different low volume applications. They combine an earthy, musical chick with a defined, tight stick sound. The open/closed sound speaks with minimal effort.
			light/crisp	lathed	lathed	13, 14, (15)	Full-bodied and strong, the regular hi hat is slightly heavier than the regular hi hat series. A heavier bottom cymbal makes the overall appearance brighter yet the open/closed sound is deep and raspy. These cymbals respond equally well in most all situations.
			medium/bright	lathed	lathed	13, 14, (15)	Clean, versatile hi-hats that allow the player to bend between acoustic and amplified situations. Being slightly heavier, the stick sound is bright and cutting and the half open sound projects with ease. When called upon they also respond quickly and articulately to intricate, light stick and foot patterns.
	Crash		paper-thin	lathed	lathed	(15), 16, 17, 18	A mellow, delicate instrument with a soft tone and immediate decay. Lively and quick to respond with a golden shimmer. An extremely controllable, musical crash that breathes when played.
			thin	lathed	lathed	(15), 16, 17, 18	Erupts quickly and sounds best when played with a light touch. A texture of smoky tones is emitted when the cymbal is "warmed up". Ideal for light players.
			med-thin	lathed	lathed	(15), 16, 17, 18	Brighter and stronger than the thin crash, the Medium-Thin Crash has longer, thicker sustain suitable for moderate volume situations. A flexible cymbal that lends itself to many different styles.
			medium	lathed	lathed	(15), 16, 17, 18	A quick, bright, crash with fast attack and short sustain. Full bodied with even pitch this cymbal responds nicely when played lightly or forcefully. A good all- around crash.
	Jazz Crash/Ride		medium-ish, but often lighter	lathed	lathed	18, 19	Pretty, light ride patterns and strong, heavy crashes are both possible from this cymbal. A smaller bell allows excellent stick definition without unwanted wash while retaining the characteristic properties of a crash. Extremely versatile.
	Ride		original/thin	lathed	lathed	19, 20, 21 22	A silvery, transparent cymbal laden with tradition. A smaller bell allows velvety wash while retaining smooth, articulate stick sounds. A cushion of sound emanates when crashed and decays quickly without losing focus. Very similar to sounds heard in the 60's and 70's.
			light/med-thin	lathed	lathed	19, 20, 21 22	A sharp, clean ride that spreads generously when played. Thinner and lower pitched than the ride, the light ride combines rich harmonics with precise ping and controllable crashes.
			medium	lathed	lathed	19, 20, 21 22	With fewer overtones, this cymbal's bright and lively ping shines even in the hands of heavy players. A large bell also provides sharp accents and funky ride patterns.
	Flat Ride		medium	lathed	lathed	19, 20, 21 22	Shimmery, silvery, sounding ride that produce a very mellow yet defined ping with minimal spread. Overall mid-range in sound, sticks speak with a tight, high pitched slap. A good choice for moderate volume work where precision and color are paramount.
	Splash		ex. thin	lathed	lathed	8, 9, 10, 11, 12	A very delicate cymbal that reaches it peak immediately and drops off with instant decay. An explosive, shimmery attack very reminiscent of shattering glass. Great for quick crashes and chokes.
	China		thin	lathed	lathed	18, 20, 22	A dark, exotic, dirty crash with explosive attack and quick decay. Also an excellent choice for trashy ride patterns. A rich ping is supported by rumbling, oriental undertones. Crashing and riding this cymbal produces a thick cloud of white noise.
Antique	Hi-Hats		regular/dark	partial-striped	lathed	12, 13, 14, (15)	Tight and dry when played with the foot, dark and earthy when played half open. The stick sound is warm and defined responding to the most sensitive touch. A great choice for studio work and live acoustic applications.
			light/crisp	partial-striped	lathed	12, 13, 14, (15)	Full-bodied and strong, these cymbals are slightly heavier than the regular hi hat series. Equally effective in soft and loud volume situations, the closed sound is very focused and penetrating while the half open sound is musical and cutting. A bright, clean, versatile pair of hi hats.
			medium/bright	partial-striped	lathed	12, 13, 14, (15)	A bright, pronounced pair of cymbals slightly higher in pitch than the regular hi hat. The chick sound is solid and penetrating while the half open sound produces a sheet of silvery wash. Perfect for loud situations where definition is not sacrificed for power.
	Crash		paper-thin	partial-striped	lathed	(15), 16, 17, 18	A very dark, mellow accent cymbal with an immediate "drop off". This crash combines the quick, short aspects of a splash cymbal and the power properties of a regular crash.
			thin	partial-striped	lathed	(15), 16, 17, 18	A thin, immediate crash which explodes quickly and has moderate sustain. The body is full and warm with equal balances of high and low frequencies. An excellent sound compliment to the traditional crashes.
			med-thin	partial-striped	lathed	(15), 16, 17, 18	Slightly heavier and higher pitched than the thin crash. Moderate sustain makes this cymbal a good choice for many different playing situations. Light ride possibilities exist if played delicately.
			medium	partial-striped	lathed	(15), 16, 17, 18	A little heavier than the medium-thin, this weight is great when higher volume is needed, or to be used as a ride when delicately played.
	Jazz Crash/Ride		medium-ish, but often lighter	partial-striped	partial-striped	18, 19	A great multi-purpose cymbal that can be used as a ride in low volume settings and as a powerful crash for louder applications. The ride sound produces a high pitched ping surrounded by warm, dark undertones. The crash explodes into a rich, complex array of sound decaying quickly afterward.
	Ride		original/thin	partial-striped	lathed	19, 20, 21 22, (24)	A dark and shimmery cymbal with plenty of overtones and warm, rich stick definition. It has dry, mellow qualities found mainly in older, already played cymbals. Shoulder crashes make the cymbal open up without being overpowering. A great choice for low volume, acoustic settings.
			light/med-thin	partial-striped	lathed	19, 20, 21 22, (24)	Thinner and lower pitched than the Medium ride, the light ride has a soft, bouncy feel. It has a woody, dark ping sound that is complimented by a generous amount of wash. A medium size bell helps control the overtones while allowing the player many crash possibilities.
			medium	partial-striped	lathed	19, 20, 21 22, (24)	The medium ride speaks with a bold, emphasized stick sound and a controlled amount of spread. Thick enough to be played forcefully yet it doesn't sound "gongy" when crashed. The bell sound is bright and clean.
	Flat Ride		med-thin	partial-striped	lathed	(19, 20, 21 22, 24)	A mellow, dry cymbal filled with character. Sharp, precise stick sound is accompanied by minimal dark overtones. A complex, musical instrument that is perfect for low volume applications.
	Splash		ex. thin	partial-striped	lathed	8, 9, 10, 11, 12	A very quick, short, dark splash. Rich harmonics explode when struck and then immediately decay. Interesting possibilities arise when played lightly with sticks and brushes.
	China		thin	partial-striped	partial-striped	(20, 22)
Turk	Hi-Hats		regular/dark	unlathed	unlathed	13, 14, 15, (16)	Light and warm hi-hats. Excellent for low volume situations, where delicate, beautiful response is required.
			light/crisp	unlathed	unlathed	13, 14, 15, (16)	Slightly brighter than the Regular hi-hat model, the light hi-hats produce a full-bodied chick and a lively, clean stick sound. Excellent for medium and low volume playing situations.
			medium/bright	unlathed	unlathed	13, 14, 15, (16)	A well rounded pair of hi-hats featuring a slightly heavier than normal bottom cymbal. More powerful than the Light hi-hat, these cymbals also produce a brighter tone when struck with a stick or played with the foot. A full, musical wash appears when the cymbals are played half open.
	Ride		original/thin	unlathed	unlathed	19, 20, 21, 22, 24	Unlike most unlathed cymbals, the original ride has a distinct shimmering quality. It has a slightly smaller bell than the other Turk rides and is somewhat higher in pitch than the Light ride. A wonderfully sweet sounding cymbal that would fit nicely in low volume, acoustic settings.
			light/med-thin	unlathed	unlathed	19, 20, 21, 22, 24	A lush ride with a deep, rich ping. Excellent definition yet flexible enough to be lightly crashed without overpowering an acoustic setting. A cushiony wash cradles the stick sound with mellow, breathy air.
			medium	unlathed	unlathed	19, 20, 21, 22, 24	A good all purpose dry ride. Lower pitched than the Ride, the medium produces a clean, silky ping sound than is centered among a rich underwash. The bell is earthy yet clear. Great for most any application.
	Flat Ride		medium	unlathed	unlathed	19, 20, 21, 22
New Orleans	Hi-Hats		med-thin	partially lathed	partially lathed	(13), 14, (15)	A very light weight hi-hat that plays very light, however, can open up when played aggressively. The hats have a natural dark sound and a crisp and dry "chick". A perfect jazz hi hat pair for the vintage crowd.
	Crash		med-thin	partially lathed	partially lathed	(15), 16, (17), 18	A thin, immediate crash which explodes quickly and has moderate sustain. The body is full and warm with equal balances of high and low frequencies. As with all the New Orleans line, the instrument has trashy undertones yes is still well behaved in a jazz playing situation. An excellent jazz, funk, and fusion crash.
	Ride		med-thin	partially lathed	partially lathed	20, 21, 22, (24)	A thin ride that is in between the "Traditional Original" weight and our "Masters" weight. The instrument is fundamentally low in pitch, dry yet open and provides excellent stick articulation. The 21" and 22" exaggerate the trashy undertones of this line. An excellent Ride for jazz, funk, or fusion and appealing to those who have a taste for vintage cymbals.
Masters	Hi-Hats		Ex. Thin	partially lathed	partially lathed	13, 14, (15, 16)	Luscious, warm and full-bodied the Master Hi-hats are the perfect companion to the Master rides. At moderate volumes these cymbals are crisp and tight with sticks and extremely articulate with brushes. When played half-opened the hi-hats breathe a thick blanket of sound. When closed the chick is warm and silvery. Half- lathed bell areas and unlathed bottoms (on both cymbals) give these hi-hats a striking appearance along with unparalleled musicality.
	Crash		Ex. Thin	lathed	lathed	18	Low pitched and warm, with a woody stick definition, these compliment the Masters series rides, by providing an unobtrusive, and warm crash, with light riding capability.
	Ride		Ex. Thin	lathed	lathed	19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28	A dark, warm, low-pitched cymbal that produces a generous cushion of sound. The ping is a mellow, woody, "slap" and the cymbal body has a soft, giving feel when played. A wash of smoky undertones support the stick definition even during up tempo passages. A characteristically small, shallow bell along with a slightly curved profile recreates the historic sound commonly found in jazz, blues, and big-band music from the 30's to the 60's.
	Flat Ride		Ex. Thin	lathed	lathed	19, 20, 21, 22, 24	A very unique cymbal that is much thinner and darker than today's traditional flat rides. Incredible stick definition along with musky, low undertones make this cymbal a natural choice for acoustic settings. Even without rivets a natural "sizzle" sound is present. Responding best to light stick work, it can also be controlled quite easily when lightly crashed.
Master Turk/Vintage	Hi-Hats		Ex. Thin	unlathed	unlathed	12, 13, 14, 15, 16	Drier version of the master hi-hats.
	Crash		Ex. Thin	unlathed	unlathed	16, 18	Drier version of the masters crashes.
	Ride		Ex. Thin	unlathed	unlathed	19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28	Drier version of the masters rides. They possess more sick definition, with a woody, clicky stick tic.
	Flat Ride		Ex. Thin	unlathed	unlathed	19, 20, 21, 22	Drier version of the masters flat rides. They possess more sick definition, with a woody, clicky stick tic. Low volume and unique.
Black Pearl	Hi-Hats		Ex. Thin	hammered, lathed, rehammered	hammered, lathed, rehammered	12, 13, 14, 15, 16	Drier version of the master hi-hats, but not as dry as the Master Vintage.
	Crash		Ex. Thin	hammered, lathed, rehammered	hammered, lathed, rehammered	16, 18	Drier version of the masters crashes, but not as dry as master vintage.
	Ride		Ex. Thin	hammered, lathed, rehammered	hammered, lathed, rehammered	19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28	Drier version of the masters rides, but not as dry as master vintage. They possess more sick definition, with a woody, clicky stick tic.
	Flat Ride		Ex. Thin	hammered, lathed, rehammered	hammered, lathed, rehammered	(19, 20, 21, 22, 24)	Drier version of the masters flat rides, but not as dry as master vintage. They possess more sick definition, with a woody, clicky stick tic. Low volume and unique.
Jazz Master - I do not stock these.	Hi-Hats		thin/med	lathed	lathed	14	A very light weight top cymbal paired with a medium heavy bottom cymbal give this set of hi-hats a beautifully delicate sound. They are dark and throaty when played in the open/closed fashion and when played closed they emit a crisp, tight stick sound. The chick responds with great presence at any volume and blends beautifully when played softly. They are also a natural match for brush players looking for a delicate, unobtrusive accompanying hi-hat
	Ride		thin	lathed	lathed	22	A dark, complex cymbal with great stick definition accompanied by warm, low undertones. The weight of the cymbal is just heavier than the Master's series rides and the bell is also a bit larger. It has a generously curved profile and the edge slightly flanges downward. This ride speaks clearly in large ensembles and allows the player to "dig in" without the fear of sacrificing definition. It opens easily for shoulder crashes and floats warmly when rolled upon with mallets.
	Ride/Crash		thin	lathed	lathed	20	Like the 22" Hammer ride (curved profile, larger bell) however it is lighter in weight to allow for crashing. It produces a silvery ping, which rides above a rich, warm bed of undertones. When crashing the cymbal produces a vast array of colors and disappears quickly allowing the player immediate accesses to controlled, delicate riding. An excellent choice for riding in soft accompaniment sections and in jazz trios.
	China		med-thin	partially lathed	partially lathed	22+	While riding, this cymbal supplies warm overtones to support ensemble playing while having enough "holler" to raise the roof on a shout chorus. When crashed it provides a "goosh" sound, similar to diving into a pool!
GROOVE	Hi-Hats		med-thin	lathed	partially lathed	14	Modified version of the New Orleans series. Underside is the same, top is completely lathed like a traditional. Offers a traditional-like tone, but with a little more dryness and control. Less wash, and slightly drier sticking.
	Trash Crash		med-thin	lathed	partially lathed	20	A uniquely made cymbal with larger hammered craters around the outside edge. Tonally is trashy, complex, controllable, and warm. Crashes well, rides well. It is a mellow china, effects cymbal, and trashy crash all in one.
	Pang Thang		med-thin	lathed	partially lathed	20	A china-like variant with a very shallow flange that's nearly flat. Gives a warmer tone than a typical china. Rides amazingly well, and crashes great also. Mellow, not penetrating and rich. Differs from the Trash Crash in that it's more Chinese sounding, and not so much as trashy as the trash crash.
	Wide Ride		med-thin	lathed	partially lathed	20, 22	Modified version of the New Orleans series. Underside is the same, top is completely lathed like a traditional. Offers a traditional-like tone, but with a little more dryness and control. Less wash, and slightly drier sticking.
Versa/LATIN	Hi-Hats		med-thin/med-heavy	partially lathed	lathed	14	One of, if not the most versatile hat ever made. Does everything well, with the exception of the quietest jazz.
	Crash		ex. thin	lathed - brilliant	lathed - brilliant	18	A highly hand-buffed crash that literally explodes upon impact with minimal effort. The crash has great cut and projection and features a quick decay. The cymbal could easily be defined as a "fast crash". This is the perfect cymbal for a Timbale setup, however, this cymbal is much more....it is also the perfect Rock crash.
	Ride		med-heavy	partially lathed	lathed	20	A ride cymbal that is as versatile as it is beautiful. The cymbal itself is a combination of an unlathed playing area and a lathed and polished outer edge. Unlike the Antique Series the lathing areas are separate and distinct. The bell is in the unlathed portion of the cymbal and provides a nice dry and definitive ping that is warm but not overpowering. The ride boasts clear ping with controlled wash. Mr. Berroa designed this cymbal to be played in a myriad of playing situations that include Rock, Jazz, Afro-Cuban, and World and the cymbal delivers BIG in all areas. A fantastic all-purpose ride.
	Flat Ride		med-heavy	lathed - brilliant	lathed - brilliant	20	Shimmery, silvery, sounding ride that produce a very mellow yet defined ping with minimal spread. A little higher-range in sound than our Traditional Flat, sticks speak with a tight, high pitched slap. A good choice for moderate to high-volume work.
Gold - no longer stocked	Splash		thin	lathed - brilliant	lathed - brilliant	8, 9, 10, 11, 12	brilliant finished version of traditionals
	Hi-Hats		medium	lathed - brilliant	lathed - brilliant	13, 14	brilliant finished version of traditionals
	Fast Crash		med-thin	lathed - brilliant	lathed - brilliant	16, 17, 18	brilliant finished version of traditionals
	Full Crash		medium	lathed - brilliant	lathed - brilliant	16, 17, 18	brilliant finished version of traditionals
	Power Crash		med-heavy	lathed - brilliant	lathed - brilliant	16, 17, 18	brilliant finished version of traditionals
	Ride		Heavy	lathed - brilliant	lathed - brilliant	20, 22	brilliant finished version of traditionals
Istanbul Agop Comparison Chart
Series	Type		Weight	Lathing Top	Lathing Underside	Available Sizes	Description
Traditional	Hi-Hat	Medium	m-mt	full	full	13, 14	"Full bodied sticking. Soft and warm quality for all around use."
		Regular	mh-m	full	full	13, 14, 15	"Well pronounced solid sticking, bright chick sound and versatility."
		Heavy	eh-h	full	full	13, 14	"High-pitched, bright and cutting sound with dry stick responses."
		Funk	h-mh	full	full	14	"Air vented holes at the bottom allows the air move quickly for tight sticking, sharp definition and a funky character."
		Mini	mh-m	full	full	10, 12	"Fast and cutting. Tight stick responses."
	Ride	Original	t	full	full	19, 20, 21, 22	"Dry and mellow. Good stick definition with low overtones."
		Jazz	mt	full	full	20, 21, 22	"Dark, warm and traditional."
		Dark	mt	full	full	20, 21, 22, 24	"Warm stick responses. Full-bodied, ultra dark and complex sound."
		Medium	m	full	full	20, 21, 22	"An all-purpose, full-bodied ride. Rich sounds, full stick definition and medium spread with a clear bell."
		Heavy	h	full	full	20, 21, 22	"Clean and definite stick response with a clear ping."
		Sizzle	mh	full	full	20	"Shimmering and clean. Soft sizzles produce different colors for playing."
		Mini Cup	mt	full	full	20, 21	"Warm and dry tones. Medium spreading with a clean small bell."
		Flat	mt	full	full	18, 19, 20, 21	"Excellent stick definition. Very tight responses with perfectly controlled overall sound."
	Crash	Paper Thin	pt	full	full	16	"Warm responses with a full sound and a short sustain."
		Thin	t	full	full	13, 14, 15, 16	"Responds quickly. Low and dark characteristics with a musical sound."
		Medium Thin	mt	full	full	15, 16, 17, 18	"Thin sensitivity, moderate sustain. Fast response and full sound."
		Medium	m	full	full	14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20	"Versatile, full-bodied. High-pitched crash. Direct responses."
		Dark	mt	full	full	14, 16, 17, 18	"Dark and punchy. Answers quick with complex overtones."
		Heavy	h	full	full	16, 17, 18	"Powerful and explosive. Solid responses with and added projection."
		Crash/Ride	mh	full	full	18, 19, 20	"Light crash qualities. Open and smooth ride responses."
	China	Mini	t	full	full	8, 10, 12	"Exotic, fast and bright with a quick response."
		China	t	full	full	14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24	"Dark and trashy. Answers quickly with an oriental character."
		China Pang	pt	full	full	*16, 18, 20	"Low pitched strong china sound. Full-bodied."
		Swish	t	full	full	20	"Dark and mellow. Slow decays with sizzles."
	Splash	Splash	pt	full	full	6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12	"Dark, tasty and warm with a papery attack."
		Heavy	t	full	full	6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12	"Bright and crisp with a fast attack."
	Bell	Bell	eh	full	full	6, 8, 10, 12	"Piercing and high-pitched for special accents."
Turk	Hi-Hat		h-mh	unlathed	unlathed	13, 14	"Powerful and dry. Dark tonal characteristics."
	Crash		m	unlathed	unlathed	16, 17, 18	"Dry and raw. Trashy responses."
	Ride		h	unlathed	unlathed	20, 21, 22	"Solid, dry sticking with raw bell. Minimum overtones."
	Jazz Ride		mt	unlathed	unlathed	20, 21, 22	"Dark characteristics with smooth, dry sound."
	Flat Ride		mt	unlathed	unlathed	18, 20	"Controlled spread. Dry stick responses."
	Splash		t	unlathed	unlathed	8, 10	"Dark, short and raw."
	Bell		eh	unlathed	unlathed	8, 10	"Tonally rich, bright and a pretty spreading sound for effects."
	China		t	unlathed	unlathed	16, 18, 20 , 22	"Dark, mysterious and low."
Sultan	Hi-Hat		mh-m	partial-striped	full	13, 14, 15	"Warm and focused sound with a clean stick definition."
	Crash		mt	partial-striped	full	14, 16, 17, 18	"Full, soft and colorful. Perfect combination of smoothness and sensitivity."
	Ride		mh	partial-striped	full	20, 21, 22	"Open and smooth. Full-bodied responses. Controlled spreading. Nice bell definition for all around use."
	Jazz Ride		mt	partial-striped	full	20, 21, 22	"Warm, dark and trashy with a changing complex sound caused by its unique design."
	Splash		t	partial-striped	full	8, 10, 12	"Quick and direct responses with a clear attack."
Vezir	Hi-Hat		mh-m	full	unlathed	13, 14	"Controlled sound and clean stick definition. Warm responses. Highly versatile."
	Ride		m	full	unlathed	20, 21, 22	"Medium weight ride. Controlled and musical."
	Jazz Ride		mt	full	unlathed	20, 21, 22	"Soft ping, mellow wash and a smoky sound. Easy to control due to unlathed bottom."
	Flat Ride		mt	full	unlathed	18, 19, 20	"Tight, dry and shimmering with minimum overtones."
Mel Lewis	Ride		t	full	full	20, 21-with rivets, (22)	"Dark, warm and trashy. Full-bodied stick definition. Comes with 2 original sizzle rivets."
	Crash/Ride		mt	full	full	18, 19	"Dry crash qualities. Clear stick definition with low overtones."
	Hi-Hat		m-mt	full	full	13, 14	"Warm, full bodied sound. Soft and washy stick responses."
Agop Signature	Ride		t	barely lathed	barely lathed	19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26	"Ultra dark sound, dry stick definition with warm undertones. Mellow crash ride capabilities."
	Crash		t	barely lathed	barely lathed	16, 17, 18 (19), (20)	Ultra dark, and warm. Mellow tone, soft volume, quick decay, dry overall tone.
	Hi-Hat		t	barely lathed	barely lathed	13, 14, 15, 16	Dry sticking and splash tone, nice chick with dark and drier presence. Thinner ones are softer, lower pitched, heavier ones are higher with more volume.
	Flat Ride		t	barely lathed	barely lathed	18, 19. 20. 21. 22, (24)	Dark, warm, with a low pitch. Woody stick definition and soft tone.
	China		t	barely lathed	barely lathed	18, 20, 22	Dry, short decay, but thin and quick opening. Trashy and warm, with a mildly aggressive bite that's musical - and not penetrating, like some chinas can be like.
*Denotes new size!