About Us

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About Us

About Us

Founded in the beginning of 1900’s, our company; “Zeynel Abidin Cümbüş” has been a leading manufacturer of musical instruments in Turkey. Being a manufacturer since its foundation, our mission is to offer superior quality, long lasting products and fulfill the needs of musicians without labeling professional or amateur.

Our Founder, Zeynel Abidin Bey; invented the instrument “Cümbüş” at the beginning of the 20th century. Blend of eastern “Oud” and western “ Banjo”, this instrument can be used in several genres. In addition to Its high powered and distinctive sound; different body and necks are available, creating a rich soundpool and offering musicians a lot of alternatives to be used for their music all around the world.

Production line is not limited with our trademark “Cümbüş” only; Oud, Mandolin, Bağlama, Darbukas, Doumbeks, Frame drums and Percussion instruments are some of the other goods produced.

We take a rightful pride in our instruments, finding their way to musicians all around the world; from famous Rio Carnival to Olympics and even high steppes of Russia.

Cümbüş Family

History

A Turkish Instrument and Creator

A young officer of the Ottoman Empire, Zeynel Abidin Bey was a weapons manufacturer for the army when he migrated to Istanbul from Skopje. While only being a swordsmith at the beginning of his worklife, he also produced small arms and machine guns; in addition to this, he had creative grenade designs revealing his creative point of view. Fought in the Dardanelles War of the First World War, experiencing the ferocity and destruction, Zeynel Abidin Bey swore off not to produce any more weapons; shifting his creativity to musical instruments…

He had multiple creations but his most important invention is the “Cümbüş”. It has been said that Cümbüş has a “melancholic mother and cheerful dad” due to its distinctive sound. This distinguished sound comes out of the combination of metallic body and a wooden neck. Variations of the body or the neck enables the instrument to be used by several musicians all around the world, regardless of the genre played.

The instrument is not named by Zeynel Abidin Bey. Out of the two sons of the family, Cemal Bey played the instrument at Marmara Mansion in the presence of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The founding father of the Republic of Turkey said “It has a joyful sound, shall bring cheer to wherever it goes” hence naming it “Cümbüş”; literal translation meaning; merrymaking, revel, jollity, etc.

As surname law is put into act in 1934, Zeynel Abidin Bey took “Cümbüş” as the family surname.

After gaining its name, Cümbüş, has been examined by the conductor of the presidential orchestra and the composer of the national anthem, Chief Zeki Üngör; and concluded as compatible with both eastern and western music. From that point on, approved by the authorities, production has become standart and Cümbüş has started its journey as a Turkish Instrument.

With more than hundred years of experience, “Zeynel Abidin Cümbüş Musical Instruments” is currently continues its operations based in Istanbul, under the leadership of 4th generation of the family.

Emirhan N. Cümbüş