Who We Are
Agean Cymbals is not simply a manufacturer. It is the continuation of a life devoted entirely to metal, sound, and craftsmanship.
The foundation of the company begins with Halil Kırmızıgül.
From a very young age, Halil Kırmızıgül entered the world of metal shaping. He learned the discipline of metal spinning through years of hands on experience, patience, and relentless dedication. Long before building a brand, he built mastery. His hands were shaped by copper, aluminum, and bronze, transforming raw metal into musical instruments that required both strength and sensitivity.
He became a respected darbuka craftsman, producing copper, aluminum, and bronze darbukas recognized for their tonal clarity and structural precision. His understanding of metal was never theoretical. It was forged through decades spent inside workshops and factories. His life has been defined by furnaces, lathes, hammering benches, and an uncompromising commitment to quality.
In 1996, he founded Kırmızıgül Musical Instruments, establishing an independent company grounded in craftsmanship and integrity. With deep experience in percussion manufacturing and metal processing, the company gradually expanded into cymbal production, leading to the creation of Agean Cymbals as an official brand under Kırmızıgül Musical Instruments.
As the cymbal division developed, master cymbal craftsman Mustafa Er joined the company. Having refined his expertise at Istanbul Mehmet, he brought advanced knowledge of cymbal hammering and tonal shaping. Today, he serves as the production manager of the company’s facilities in Uzunköprü, Edirne, overseeing cymbal manufacturing with discipline, precision, and tonal sensitivity.
The second generation of this legacy is represented by Samet Kırmızıgül.
Raised within the workshop environment from early childhood, he grew up alongside production lines, artisans, and raw materials. After school hours were spent inside factories and at international trade exhibitions, assisting in every stage of manufacturing and operations. He was not positioned as an observer, but as an active participant in the daily realities of production. This upbringing ensured that his understanding of the business was built from experience rather than theory.
Following his university education, he assumed responsibility for international sales and global development. Under his leadership in foreign markets, Agean Cymbals expanded its export network and established long term partnerships across multiple countries. His role bridges traditional craftsmanship with modern global strategy.
Today, Agean Cymbals operates as a true family company built from the ground up. Both founder and second generation were shaped within the production environment and trained to understand every detail from raw alloy preparation to final tonal refinement. The company’s expertise spans percussion instruments, stringed instruments, and handcrafted cymbal manufacturing.
Every instrument is handmade. Every cymbal carries individual character. Every stage of production reflects decades of accumulated knowledge and discipline.
Agean Cymbals stands on heritage, continuity, and authenticity. What began as a young craftsman learning metal spinning has evolved into an internationally respected family manufacturer dedicated to expressive and enduring sound.
Agean Cymbals does not follow trends.
It builds legacy.
Halil first commenced his cymbal and darbukas crafting in 1978. During this time, he had studied under some of the world’s finest master percussion crafters. Only when he felt he was ready, he made the decision to set up Kirmizigul Darbukas in 1996.
Having proved himself with producing premium darbukas, Halil then bought the Agean brand and registered it under Kırmızıgül Company in 2007.
Halil Kırmızıgül
/ BOSS
Mustafa is the production manager at the factory and he had studied and mastered the art of cymbal making with a few cymbal companies for many years – becoming a master cymbal crafter himself in the process!
He was one of very few people with Halil when Agean was founded with the mission to create the world’s finest genuine handmade Turkish cymbals.
Mustafa Er
/ Production Manager
Samet is the son of the boss, Halil Kırmızıgül and Samet is currently the international sales director as well as managing the general business side of the company. He was a little boy and accompanying with his father at the biggest exhibitions. Just after his graduation from the university of English Language and Literature department; his only and all business was the cymbal making and marketing.
Samet Kırmızıgül
/ International Sales Manager
