Customer Reviews

Zildjian: A History of the Legendary Cymbal Makers

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Let me start off by saying that I'm a drummer. Not only that, I'm a drummer who gets a bit obsessive about his equipment. Even so, when I first saw this book, I thought, "Who the heck would want a book about a cymbal company?". All I had to do was open this book in order to find my answer.

This book appeals on many levels. For one thing, it's a music fan's dream. Imagine what you would look for if you were let loose to find the "cool stuff" in Zildjian's archives - that's what you'll find here. Great drummers have been touring the Massachusetts factory for eighty years, and this book has the pictures to prove it. How about letters? They've reproduced one from Gene Krupa letting the Zildjian folks know how happy he is with his latest shipment, and one from the U.S. Government giving Zildjian permission to buy extra copper during World War II (and there are plenty of other letters and advertisements reproduced in the book). This book also tells a success story - how a company founded in 1623 is still going strong (perhaps stronger than ever). Finally, and maybe most importantly, it tells the story of a family. In that respect, the author and the Zildjian Company (and this book really is, in all practical terms, the story according to Zildjian) deserve a lot of credit for their willingness to "tell it like it is". Not only did they mention that after the death of Avedis Zildjian III in 1979, son Robert left the company to form a competing cymbal company, they pretty much said that they didn't blame him for doing it.

If you want to buy a book with loads of scholarly text and only handful of photo plates, this isn't the book for you. This is an EXCITING book (maybe even TOO exciting for some tastes). The layout varies from page to page, with plenty of pictures and lots of color. It is also a high quality book, with sturdy, fold-in covers and beautiful printing and illustrations. If you know a drummer who cares at all about his or her art, this book would make a great gift.

I have played Zildjians all my life but this author seems to be on the Zildjian company payroll. Some good pictures but the rest is a Zildjian 'brain wash'. The Zildjian history is confusing and the overall book is poorly layed-out. You have to skip over many pages of poor quality pictures to continue to read again. You know like magazines articles where they say 'contined on pp. xxx', that kind of stuff. Book reads like a Zildjian magazine ad. Buy 'The Cymbal Book' instead.