Rye Cymbals
My passion for drumming has been a lifelong journey. For most of my years, I couldn't afford to invest in new drum gear, which obviously led to frustration. I wasn't able to achieve the sound I desired. During my time at Pratt Institute, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I dedicated a year to the campus metal shop, immersing myself in study, design, and experimentation with various metals to craft the ideal cymbal.
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Despite limited resources, the shop offered an abundance of scrap metal, and tools which allowed me to hammer my way around the shop in search for what was most resonant. I wound up creating my own cymbal line and when my time in the shop came to an end, I decided to brand the work. Remarkably, I even managed to sell a few pieces to Sam Ash Music.
Cymbal lathing is the process by which a cymbal acquires its ability to resonate. The metal is gradually thinned from the center outward in a variety of different patterns to produce all manner of effects.
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Because the use of the metal lathe was only permitted by more senior students, I had to get crafty. The head of the shop had an old potter's wheel that we repurposed together to form a jig that could be used to tool cymbals.
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Once the designing, reclaiming, cutting, shaping, hammering, annealing, and lathe work were complete, the only thing left to do was create the brand. I felt like what I imagines a baker might feel like once they finally perfected their bread recipe. Rye sourdough is my favorite. Hence the name.
The primary focus, beyond the logo, was to create a more efficient online cymbal purchasing experience. While I didn't fully develop the website – in-person instrument purchasing offers a unique experiential aspect – I was pleased with its visual appeal.
