Istanbul Mehmet

Bulent Akbay was born in Istanbul and was interested in playing the drums at an early age.  He played throughout school and like other drummers in the area he was always looking for a place to play.  This need led Bulent to form his own drum studio and school, which later included a retail element of the business.  His connections within the percussion world afforded him the chance to meet and get to know the cymbal master Mehmet Tamdeger, who later hired Bulent as a product tester.

Mehmet Tamdeger’s mentor was Mikkail Zilcan, who taught him everything the master craftsmen knew about cymbal making. Mehmet was born in the same small village outside Istanbul, Turkey where cymbal making is thought to have been developed in 1623. Zilcan taught Mehmet’s best childhood friend, Agop Tomarcuk, the same trade. After Mr. Zilcan’s passing, Mehmet and Agop established their own company, Istanbul Cymbals. Both men took personal care over the company, hand making and signing each and every product.