modifying cymbals

[Andy C]

I've got some cheap pearl cymbals (hi-hat, crash, ride) that I don't have a
lot of use for any more... they kind of sound like ass. Is there anything
cool and easy I can do as an experiment to make them sound better? I know
people drill rivets, but I'm looking for other suggestions as well. Can I
hammer them and change the pitch or anything like that?

thanks,
Andy

[Ross Vandegrift]

On 2003-08-30, Andy C <ayc8NOSPAM@cornell.edu> wrote:
> I've got some cheap pearl cymbals (hi-hat, crash, ride) that I don't have a
> lot of use for any more... they kind of sound like ass. Is there anything
> cool and easy I can do as an experiment to make them sound better? I know
> people drill rivets, but I'm looking for other suggestions as well. Can I
> hammer them and change the pitch or anything like that?

Google for a thread I started on rec.audio.pro last summer titled
"Cymbal hacks/modifications". Lots of cool ideas there.

I can report that, since that thread, I've attempted to recast the
cymbal in question once, but the bonfire we used was not hot enough to
seriously heat that sucker up. Interesting things happened, but I want
to go again, and try it a second time.


--
Ross Vandegrift
ross@willow.seitz.com

A Pope has a Water Cannon. It is a Water Cannon.
He fires Holy-Water from it. It is a Holy-Water Cannon.
He Blesses it. It is a Holy Holy-Water Cannon.
He Blesses the Hell out of it. It is a Wholly Holy Holy-Water Cannon.
He has it pierced. It is a Holey Wholly Holy Holy-Water Cannon.
He makes it official. It is a Canon Holey Wholly Holy Holy-Water Cannon.
Batman and Robin arrive. He shoots them.

[bjacoby@users.iwaynet.net]

Andy C <ayc8NOSPAM@cornell.edu> wrote:
> I've got some cheap pearl cymbals (hi-hat, crash, ride) that I don't have a
> lot of use for any more... they kind of sound like ass. Is there anything
> cool and easy I can do as an experiment to make them sound better? I know
> people drill rivets, but I'm looking for other suggestions as well. Can I
> hammer them and change the pitch or anything like that?

Give it a try! Hammering might be interesting. OF course it takes
a skilled hammerer to really make one sound great, but still
might be an interesting experiment.

I had an old cymbal I took a Bernzomatic torch to. (sort of
looked like Giraffe when I was done). REALLY changed the
sound!!! Made it all loud and harsh sounding. Very nasty.
But I used it for a while as a special effect and kinda
grew to like it! I figured, hey, a china is all loud and
nasty sounding too. Eventually the the cymbal cracked and
died.

Benj
--
SPAM-Guard! Remove .users (if present) to email me!

[creux]

you might also want to try them as 'auxiliary' efx cymbals on top of each
other
either resting loosely or with variable tightenings. my first experiment
with this sort
of thing was when my paiste 2000 crash died. it had a 3" crack from the edge
towards the hole. i put a 16" invader (yup the name says it all...) china on
top of it loosely and this provided me with a fast decaying, very explosive
efx cymbal combination - ive used a similar combination in my setup ever
since.

[Paul]

"creux" <creux@****youifyoumailmethat****.suomi24.fi> wrote in message
news:7L54b.227$tF5.46@read3.inet.fi...
> you might also want to try them as 'auxiliary' efx cymbals on top of each
> other
> either resting loosely or with variable tightenings. my first experiment
> with this sort
> of thing was when my paiste 2000 crash died. it had a 3" crack from the
edge
> towards the hole. i put a 16" invader (yup the name says it all...) china
on
> top of it loosely and this provided me with a fast decaying, very
explosive
> efx cymbal combination - ive used a similar combination in my setup ever
> since.

I have a split and shrinking ZBT+ 16" crash with a 10" Wuhan China on top-
sounds like the china I've always wanted now (ish) and at fraction of the
price!

Talk about cheap trash :)

Paul

[TJ Hertz]

Andy C wrote:
> I've got some cheap pearl cymbals (hi-hat, crash, ride) that I don't
> have a lot of use for any more... they kind of sound like ass. Is
> there anything cool and easy I can do as an experiment to make them
> sound better? I know people drill rivets, but I'm looking for other
> suggestions as well. Can I hammer them and change the pitch or
> anything like that?
>
> thanks,
> Andy

www.cymbalholic.com

--
TJ Hertz
http://www.whatyourenot.com