A collection of Zultan cymbals, a snare drum, a drumstick bag, and drumsticks arranged on a dark mat against a textured gray wall.

History

The Zultan Story

The Zultan Story A Cymbal is born Product Timeline

It all started without a name

Introducing any new product is a special event and we gave our first Zultan cymbals a special launch at the beginning of the third millennium. Naked, you could say. Still without a brand or product name, we presented our first cymbals in Frankfurt, Germany, at the world’s largest trade fair for musical instruments at that time.

To ensuring that nothing would prejudice the drummers who gave their opinions on sound and quality, we decided to keep the origin and maker of our cymbals a secret.

The open doors of a weathered industrial building reveal a workshop interior with machinery and ventilation ducts.

The interior of a workshop with tools, machinery, and materials scattered throughout the dimly lit space.

Thankfully, the response was positive across the board. Even disregarding their price point, these cymbals held their own in terms of finishing, quality and sound when compared to cymbals by renowned makers.

That was the first chapter of the Zultan story, written before our cymbals even had a brand name.

Pioneering the Online Path

When planning the market debut and distribution strategy for our cymbals, we chose to forge our own, less worn path. When we decided 20 years ago to offer our cymbals only online, many thought the internet was a poor sales medium for cymbals. It was no surprise that many drummers were sceptical. But that spurred us on towards an approach that was radically new at the time: make cymbals audible on the internet.

Close-up shot of two golden Zultan Heritage Series cymbals

Detail-shot of a Zultan Raw Series Cymbal

Detail-shot of a Zultan Impulz Series Set

Zultan’s Legacy

Zultan was the first brand in Germany (and probably worldwide) to offer audio files of its cymbals as part of the product description content. This was before YouTube even existed. From that point on, we have continually extended our cymbal range. Currently this encompasses 12 different cymbal series as well as attractive accessories, with each and every product displaying consistently high level of product quality despite the exceedingly attractive pricing.

The cymbal making process begins — A Cymbal is born: from Istanbul to the stages of the World.

After melting the copper and tin, the “hot lava” will be filled into small pots for our Zultan Cymbals. — After melting the copper and tin, the “hot lava” will be filled into small pots.

The blanks will be squeezed and heated repeatedly to get the right size and thickness.

The press shapes the cymbal and presses the bell into to center of the cymbal.

The hole for the cymbal stand is drilled.

The number of hammer marks and the position the hammer hits the surface, the cymbal achieves its unique character and sound.

In the milling process the cymbal will be given its shape and look of the surface and it can also be made thinner.

The polishing protects the cymbal’s surface from dust and dirt and provides a longer life.

The Logo is printed by hand on each cymbal

A Cymbal is born

Casting

Squeezing
/ Heating

Bell Press

Drilling

Hammering

Milling

Polishing

Logo Printing

A Cymbal is born

A Cymbal is born: from Istanbul to the stages of the World.

Casting

After melting the copper and tin, the “hot lava” will be filled into small pots.

Squeezing
/ Heating

The blanks will be squeezed and heated repeatedly to get the right size and thickness.

Bell Press

The press shapes the cymbal and presses the bell into to center of the cymbal.

Drilling

The hole for the cymbal stand is drilled.

Hammering

The number of hammer marks and the position the hammer hits the surface, the cymbal achieves its unique character and sound.

Milling

In the milling process the cymbal will be given its shape and look of the surface and it can also be made thinner.

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

The first series was christened the Rock Beat series. As is typical for a debut release, the range was limited in terms of the breadth of its appeal. Consequently, the new cymbals weren’t able to satisfy all tastes.

Louder cymbals such as the Q and F5 were added to the portfolio, named after nature’s fiercest storms. Over time, we extended our Rock Beat and CS series, incidentally one of the world’s only cymbals made using B25 bronze.

The know-how and expertise of local artisans and their experience with traditional manufacturing enables us to offer an enticingly diverse range of cymbals delivering sonic and aesthetic variety thanks to a multitude of different processing techniques and tools.

Our passion for making great cymbals drove our product portfolio forward – as did our curiosity and sense of adventure! We expanded our portfolio with top quality series like the dry, open feel of our Dune cymbals or the refined overtones of the Orchestral series

Three Zultan Dune cymbals, mounted on stands against a dark, smoky background.

Black Zultan cymbal case with a brown leather drumstick holder and several drumsticks scattered on the floor.

Driven by Passion

In 2020, we celebrated our 20th year making quality cymbals available to players on any budget with a special, handmade Anniversary set that showed our ongoing commitment to the traditions of artisanal workmanship. Needless to say, this limited-edition set sold out very quickly.

Now, in 2025, we proudly celebrate 25 years of Zultan Cymbals under the new motto: “Crafted from Heritage – Tuned for Tomorrow.” For a quarter of a century, we have remained dedicated to the passion and precision of cymbal-making. Our legacy of first-class craftsmanship, uncompromising quality, and signature soundscapes continues to define us today.

To mark this milestone, we are introducing the exclusive “25” series—a collection of 16 meticulously hand-hammered cymbals crafted to meet the highest musical standards and suitable for a wide range of genres. This series embodies the spirit of our heritage while looking boldly toward the future of sound.

Our Series

Close-up of 25 anniversary series drums with moody lighting.

We are celebrating our 25th Anniversary with the new ’25’ Cymbal Series. This premium collection offers dark, washy tones and a finely defined stick attack.

A collection of Zultan Mellow Series cymbals of varying sizes leaning against a brick wall.

Due to the special perforation, the Mellow series is up to 30% quieter than conventional cymbals.

A collection of Zultan Aeon Series cymbals of varying sizes leaning against a brick wall.

Our Aeon series is the perfect combination of bright, voluminous sound and earthy character.

A collection of Zultan 20th Anniversary cymbals of varying sizes leaning against a industrial wall.

Our 20th anniversary special cymbals series in limited quantity.

A collection of Zultan Dune Series cymbals of varying sizes leaning against a industrial wall.

The Dune Series cymbals are hand hammered and made of B20 bronze alloy.

A collection of Zultan Heritage Series cymbals of varying sizes leaning against a industrial wall.

The Heritage series was created to honour the legacy of genius cymbal makers of the past. Each cymbal is meticulously hand-crafted according to ancient traditions and meets the highest standards.

A collection of Zultan Raw Series cymbals of varying sizes leaning against a industrial wall.

The RAW series was introduced in 2016. Instead of being milled, these cymbals are left in their raw state after an elaborate hammering process, resulting in their extraordinary look.

A collection of Zultan Dark Matter Series cymbals of varying sizes leaning against a industrial wall.

The Zultan Dark Matter series was introduced in the autumn of 2013. The cymbals receive their extraordinary, dark look from submerging them in a special liquid, before the resulting layer is polished with bronze fragments.

A collection of Zultan Caz Series cymbals of varying sizes leaning against a industrial wall.

The Caz cymbals are somewhat thinner and lighter than traditional Turkish cymbals. They offer a rapid response and rich harmonic content yet their volume range is not overpowering.

A collection of Zultan CS Series cymbals of varying sizes leaning against a industrial wall.

There are only a few cymbal makers who possess the ability to process B25 bronze in a way that results in cymbals equally as durable as B20 cymbals.

A collection of Zultan F5 Series cymbals of varying sizes leaning against a industrial wall.

The F5 series was named after the classification system for the wind speed and destructive force of tornadoes. This series contains Zultan’s loudest cymbals, perfect for drummers who love to let it rip.