We are proud to welcome Justin Ottaviano and Ottaviano Custom Cymbals to the lineup here at the Drum Center of Portsmouth. Below you will find some information about Ottaviano’s history as well as a list of our current cymbal inventory.

About Ottaviano Custom Cymbals

Justin Ottaviano is a professional jazz drummer. He started playing drums when he was eight years old. His father gave him his first drum set and introduced him to famous recordings with drummers like Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Roy Haynes and Jack Dejohnette. As a performer, Justin has shared the stage with artists such as Christian McBride, Jimmy Greene, and Ralph Lalama. Besides being an active jazz drummer, Justin makes his own cymbals. He uses the best quality Turkish blanks. The alloy is cast bronze B20, which is 80% copper and 20% tin. He makes all of the cymbals from the shaping process to the finishing of the logos. He shapes the cymbals profile, using a special technique that was shown to him by his family. He has developed the technique and feels that it gives the cymbals their unique sound. Through the process, he plays the drums to hear how the cymbals’ sound blends with frequencies of the drums.

After the shaping is done, he works on the weight and the finish of the cymbal. This process is achieved by lathing. Using special tools, he gets the desired look and weight that compliments the shaping process. Once again the cymbals are played on the drums for further sound modifying if needed.Once the sound and the feel of the cymbal are to his expectations, the metal logo is added to the edge of the cymbal, making it an Ottaviano Custom Cymbal.

Current Ottaviano Custom Cymbals Inventory

Ottaviano 22″ Wide Ban Ride Cymbal – 2480 grams

Ottaviano 22″ Lathed Ride Cymbal – 2430 grams

Ottaviano 22″ Lathed Ride Cymbal – 2495 grams

Ottaviano 24″ Lathed Ride Cymbal – 3005 grams