Renowned German drummer Wolfgang Haffner, who has worked on projects with many international jazz and pop stars, collaborated with Meinl craftspeople to create the Byzance Jazz series.

Drawing upon years of drumming and cymbal-making experience, their mutual goal was to create a collection of handcrafted cymbals that could eloquently express the distinct nuances and soothing, low pitch tones required of vintage jazz music. But they also envisioned a more versatile cymbal that could cut its chops on other styles of music such as soul, R&B, funk and fusion. That’s good news for budget-conscious drummers who like to get the most bang for their buck and for those who appreciate the value of a cymbal that crosses musical lines for maximum enjoyment.

The Byzance Jazz Extra Thin Ride is an authentic and extremely light jazz cymbal handcrafted in Turkey from a B20 bronze alloy and hand-hammered into shape. Strike it and release its dark, natural vintage sound and complex tonal structure. The super thin design boasts an engaging wide spread with a long sustain and a beautiful shimmer so it looks as good as it sounds. Suitable as a light ride and available in two distinct sizes, they feature a washy, dark attack with a full-bodied response that just begs for the rat-a-tat tapping of your sticks or the lingering soft strokes of your brush.