The Zultan brand was established in spring 2000 by Martin Hofmann, who at that time owned a music shop in Germany called “Musik-Service Aschaffenburg”, with his brother Johannes. Martin wanted to present an alternative to the established manufacturers, whose prices had risen sharply, and was confident that he could offer high quality cymbals at much lower prices.
Martin began a search for artisans producing cymbals using traditional techniques. He soon found what he was looking for in Turkey, and ultimately established a new brand of cymbals under the name Zultan. The goal was to import high-quality cymbals directly from manufacturers that were relatively unknown in Europe and offer traditional craftsmanship and high-grade materials at a fair price.
Zultan’s first “Rock Beat” series, which is hand-crafted in Turkey, rapidly became an insider’s tip and enjoys great popularity to this day. Meanwhile, Zultan has grown into a brand offering ten series of cymbals and more than 150 products, becoming a Thomann GmbH store brand in 2011. Zultan has firmly established itself in the market and is aimed at beginners and amateurs as well as professional touring and studio drummers.
The selection is geared towards the demands of the modern drummer and comprises an immense variety of cymbals for every style and personal taste—ranging from single cymbals in many different sizes through complete sets to various effect cymbals. All cymbals are carefully tuned to avoid discrepancies in sound, appearance and weight, and are distributed exclusively by Musikhaus Thomann.
From the blazing furnaces of Istanbul to the world’s biggest music stages:
Watch step by step how our cymbals are made.
Casting
After melting the copper and tin, the “lava” is filled into small pots.
Rolling / Heating
Blanks are repeatedly rolled and heated until they are the right size and thickness.
Bell Press
The press shapes the cymbal and presses the bell shape into its centre.
Drilling
The hole for the cymbal stand is drilled.
Hammering
This is the most critical part of creating a cymbal. Depending on the size of the hammer, the number of hammer marks and the position the hammer hits the surface, the cymbal achieves its unique character and sound.
Milling
The milling process gives the cymbal its shape and surface look; it also allows for adjustments in thickness.
Polishing
The polishing protects the cymbal’s surface from dust and dirt and provides a longer life.
Logo Printing
The Logo is printed by hand on each cymbal.
All Zultan cymbals are crafted according to three clear, simple
principles that apply equally to an inexpensive beginners’s set
and a classy premium ride: Zultan stands for hand-hammered
cymbals made of premium bronze alloy at an attractive price.
Zultan cymbals are made from high-quality bell bronze with an alloy ratio of 80% copper and 20% tin. The only exception is the CS series, which contains 25% tin and possesses its own distinct sonic characteristics. The sonic variance within any one series is very small.
Zultan cymbal series in chronological order:
