Turkey is famous for producing the best hand-hammered cymbals in the world. The knowledge required to produce these superior instruments comes from traditions that have been handed down for over hundreds of years. This process has created master cymbal smiths whose talent for cymbal making is proven by the unique musicality of each cymbal they create.

Amedia brings to you 100% handmade cymbals, made by hammer smiths and lathe men who are truly masters in their field. Through continuing the traditions of past masters, they create the perfect cymbals for today’s drummer. Each cymbal is handcrafted, and is as individual as the master himself, with every cymbal having the master’s mark and a touch of his spirit. This is ‘the spirit of Amedia’

Amedia Cymbals was establish as a family business in 2005 by Ahmet, Hamdusana and Saban Baykusak working alongside the late Eremya Arzat.

Mikael Zilcan Factory, Istanbul approx. 1965

Eremya Arzat learned the magical art of cymbal making from the famous Mikael Zilcan, who was the grandson of Kerope II Zildjian. According to a Modern Drummer article from 1983, around the start of the 20th century Kerope Zildjian remained in Istanbul whilst his brother set up the USA business Avedis Zildjian. Eventually Kerope’s grandson Mikael became the head of the company. Due to political reasons Mikael changed his surname to Zilcan and the factory remained in Istanbul hand making cymbals until Mikael’s death in 1979.

Eremya Arzat began his apprenticeship with Mikael at the age of 15, and learnt the intricacy of hand making cymbals. Such were Eremya’s skills that almost all of the cymbal smiths trained in Turkey over the past 38 years have learnt cymbal making from Eremya or one of his own apprentices. One of his apprentices being Ahmet Baykusak, who is the owner and chief hammer smith of Amedia Cymbals. For over 25 years Ahmet has created the beautiful range of Amedia Cymbals available today and each individual cymbal is checked to meet his exacting standards before they leave the factory. Working alongside Ahmet are his brother Hamdusana, who is a master lathes man and is responsible for stamping the cymbals prior to their final checks, and their cousin Saban who is also a master hammer smith.

Sadly Eremya passed away but his legacy lives on in the skills he passed on to the Amedia cymbalsmiths and in the Eremya and Arzat cymbals which bear his name.

The current cymbalsmiths are:

Ahmet Baykusak

Ahmet was one of the aforementioned apprentices of Eremya Arzat. He is one of the owners in the Amedia Cymbal and the chief hammer smith thanks to his over fifteen years experience. He has created new experiences for drummers with several popular cymbal series. For example Ahmet Legend, Eremya, Arzat, Komagene, Old School etc.

Because he has an innate feeling for cymbals, each cymbal is personally checked by him before leaving the factory.

Hamdusana Baykusak

Hamdusana is a master lathes man thanks to his many years experience along with his brother Ahmet Baykusak.

He also puts the final touches to each cymbal and applies the logos and stamps, once complete the cymbals are ready

for the last check to make sure they are looking and sounding beautiful before being dispatched.