The Avedis Zildjian cymbals of the 1960s represent a high point in American cymbal making — cast from Zildjian's proprietary secret alloy in Quincy and later Norwell, Massachusetts, hand-hammered and lathed by craftsmen who were doing this work every day, and finished without the uniformity pressures that modern production demands. No two are exactly alike, which is precisely why players and collectors keep hunting them down. The 1960s stamp — bold Zildjian Co with three dots in the Arabic lettering — is one of the most recognizable and desirable markers in the vintage cymbal world.
This 16" crash carries the 1960s stamp with no model ink, which is consistent with the era — Zildjian did not systematically ink model names onto cymbals until later production periods. The A series lineage is evident in the casting and finish. At 1700 grams this is a heavy cymbal for a 16" — heavier than a typical thin or medium crash, which means it behaves more like a crash-ride than a pure crash. It will take a firm stroke to open up fully, reward players who dig in, and produce a full, dark, complex wash with plenty of body and sustain. For a player who wants a versatile cymbal that can crash and ride, or who needs a crash that cuts in a loud setting without washing out, this is worth serious consideration.
Condition is very good. Typical tarnish and patina consistent with a cymbal of this age. No keyholing, no chips, no dents, no cracks. Please refer to the photos for a close look at the stamp and overall condition.
- Make: Avedis Zildjian
- Model: A series crash, no model ink stamp
- Size: 16"
- Era: 1960s (confirmed by bold Zildjian Co stamp with three-dot Arabic lettering)
- Country of origin: USA
- Alloy: cast B20-style Zildjian proprietary alloy
- Weight: 1700g
- Character: heavy for size; crash-ride weight; full, dark, complex wash; firm stroke recommended
- Condition: very good — natural vintage patina, no keyholing, chips, dents, or cracks
- Modifications: none
- Includes: cymbal only, no hardware
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value.
International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
