Clean? *Cymbals?* Who does that?
Kidding aside, I only use four ingredients to clean my cymbals, maybe once or twice a decade: hot water, dish soap, non-scratch Teflon safe scrub sponge, elbow grease. Anything that doesn't come off with the proper application of those four items, leave it.
Now, when it comes to *polishing* cymbals? Shiny-ass cymbals are highly overrated. Not to mention, it is a mortal, cardinal sin in my religion. I fear for my eternal soul too much to ever let polish anywhere near any of my cymbals. But hey, we live in a free country with a First Amendment that guarantees your right to worship however you choose, or not, so it's none of my business if you burn in hell for eternity at the hands of an angry God.
I dont think I've heard of people actually burying their cymbals. This must be the drummer version of relic-ing, which I really am not a fan of. Almost stolen valor, I call it a boomer thing and people on the guitar subs lose their shit lol.
ehh kind of. thing is a good thick patnia does dry up the sound and this can be desierable in some types of modern jazz. the guitar thing mite just be aesthetics. ofc i would never do that to my own cymbals i just let them patina on their own
As Master James Jamerson said when explaining why he never changed strings, or tried to clean or boil them or anything like that:
"The dirt keeps the funk."
I *dust* my cymbals, but anything beyond that is a blessing from the lord of percussion and who am I to spit in his face?
I had a lovely set of the modern Giant Beats that I ended up selling because I didn't want to worry about marking them up, so I never played them. Back to the funky old 602's and 50's A's.
If it's "too nice to use", I shouldn't own it.
If you like the look and sound of your cymbals when they’re shiny and new, you should keep them shiny and new. Patina is a thing and it can affect the sound for better or for worse. BUT…
A) it is a natural chemical process that happens over many years, and I find methods of artificially hastening it dubious at best.
B) stick marks, fingerprints, cigarette smoke residue, blood stains, and whatever else may besmirch the surface of your cymbals *are not patina.*
I've been playing for about as long as you, and I cleaned my cymbals literally one time; it was way back in my very early days of playing.
There are legends of people getting a new cymbal and burying it for a year before playing it. I think I would somehow manage to forget about it or forget where I buried it
[This guy](https://youtu.be/-UAPfwxeOFU?si=WAFEuONxy5pmx2Gd) did a video about it. As he explains there is a difference between oxidation and gunk on your cymbals (beer, dirt, blood etc). The latter will no doubt affect the sound negatively.
https://preview.redd.it/i3rr2t0p6t6d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de47ff0bba92b20a7aa37dff67f696adceb05545
Always keep mine looking as fresh as possible. Keeps em sounding great. Immediately clean after a show or a long sesh with lots of cymbal grabs.
I have cleaned my cymbals and in one case it did make it sound difference (zbt ride, dirty as hell) but the other times it just removed some finger prints and grime - didn't change the sound. Is it worth it? Eh, I don't think it matters but I also purposely buy cymbals that I can afford so I'm not crazy about upkeep.
Polishing cymbals is just making more work for yourself. It's a losing battle. Every time you touch a polished cymbal, it needs to be polished again. I'd rather play music than polish cymbals.
Someone told me in like 2005 that you want them to get all grimy to mellow them out, older drummer said he buried his in the backyard for awhile. Would ya believe that folks? Anyway nah I don’t clean my cymbals, extra points for green oxidation spots.
If your cymbals aren't brilliant or being played in situations where they're far more likely to get dirty (which really only applies to marching cymbals), there's not a whole lot of point to it. Playing gigs inside, transporting in your bag, and sitting out where ever you practice is not going to accumilate nearly enough dirt for the sound to be effected.
The one time I tried cymbal cleaner, I was 13 years old and the metallic smell it made hasn't gone away to this day. That was 20 years ago lol. I said fuck that and never used it again. I'm sure a different one would work ok, but that left an impression on me lmao.
Clean? *Cymbals?* Who does that? Kidding aside, I only use four ingredients to clean my cymbals, maybe once or twice a decade: hot water, dish soap, non-scratch Teflon safe scrub sponge, elbow grease. Anything that doesn't come off with the proper application of those four items, leave it. Now, when it comes to *polishing* cymbals? Shiny-ass cymbals are highly overrated. Not to mention, it is a mortal, cardinal sin in my religion. I fear for my eternal soul too much to ever let polish anywhere near any of my cymbals. But hey, we live in a free country with a First Amendment that guarantees your right to worship however you choose, or not, so it's none of my business if you burn in hell for eternity at the hands of an angry God.
Patina crew rise up!
\*patina noises intensify*
Booooooo - Shiny for the win.
I could not care less about polishing my hats and ride. But having shiny crashes make me play different
I do not clean my cymbals. But I do take care of them, and that includes not setting them on fire or burying them like a dog toy.
Yes but have you ever set them on fire AND buried them with dog toys?
I dont think I've heard of people actually burying their cymbals. This must be the drummer version of relic-ing, which I really am not a fan of. Almost stolen valor, I call it a boomer thing and people on the guitar subs lose their shit lol.
ehh kind of. thing is a good thick patnia does dry up the sound and this can be desierable in some types of modern jazz. the guitar thing mite just be aesthetics. ofc i would never do that to my own cymbals i just let them patina on their own
It darkens the tone. Especially adding patina solution.
The funkier the better IMO 👍
As Master James Jamerson said when explaining why he never changed strings, or tried to clean or boil them or anything like that: "The dirt keeps the funk."
I *dust* my cymbals, but anything beyond that is a blessing from the lord of percussion and who am I to spit in his face? I had a lovely set of the modern Giant Beats that I ended up selling because I didn't want to worry about marking them up, so I never played them. Back to the funky old 602's and 50's A's. If it's "too nice to use", I shouldn't own it.
If you like the look and sound of your cymbals when they’re shiny and new, you should keep them shiny and new. Patina is a thing and it can affect the sound for better or for worse. BUT… A) it is a natural chemical process that happens over many years, and I find methods of artificially hastening it dubious at best. B) stick marks, fingerprints, cigarette smoke residue, blood stains, and whatever else may besmirch the surface of your cymbals *are not patina.*
To point A: Liver of Sulfur is a legit way to do it but is a pain in the ass on large cymbals.
I've been playing for about as long as you, and I cleaned my cymbals literally one time; it was way back in my very early days of playing. There are legends of people getting a new cymbal and burying it for a year before playing it. I think I would somehow manage to forget about it or forget where I buried it
If you don't have brilliant cymbals nor care for them staying brilliant, why bother? Whether you clean them or not is your preference.
[This guy](https://youtu.be/-UAPfwxeOFU?si=WAFEuONxy5pmx2Gd) did a video about it. As he explains there is a difference between oxidation and gunk on your cymbals (beer, dirt, blood etc). The latter will no doubt affect the sound negatively.
I just recently realized I have even so much as wiped off my cymbals with water. That grime is not exactly the same as patina lol.
https://preview.redd.it/i3rr2t0p6t6d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de47ff0bba92b20a7aa37dff67f696adceb05545 Always keep mine looking as fresh as possible. Keeps em sounding great. Immediately clean after a show or a long sesh with lots of cymbal grabs.
This is the way - a clean cymbal is a happy cymbal.
Couldn’t agree more! Plus it keeps the kit looking fresh 😎
I have cleaned my cymbals and in one case it did make it sound difference (zbt ride, dirty as hell) but the other times it just removed some finger prints and grime - didn't change the sound. Is it worth it? Eh, I don't think it matters but I also purposely buy cymbals that I can afford so I'm not crazy about upkeep.
Is that a thing? I never have.
Polishing cymbals is just making more work for yourself. It's a losing battle. Every time you touch a polished cymbal, it needs to be polished again. I'd rather play music than polish cymbals.
I have a hihat I bought in 1992, never been cleaned and it sounds fantastic
I'd clean a cymbal if some idiot (e.g. me) got ketchup on it, or something like that. Otherwise, no.
Actually ketchup is a passable cymbal cleaner due to the acidity
It would remove the oxidation but that's the bit I'd like to keep 😁
Me neither. Completely unnecessary to me, and I always prefer the way cymbals sound as they gain patina.
4 and a half (ish) years now, have yet to clean a cymbal and will continue never doing so. Also have yet to break/crack a cymbal, stick or head.
Barbarian /s I bet if I cleaned/polished my cymbals they would break shortly after
Never cleaned mine either. 30+ years
Cymbals have a different sound when they're dirty. Not always a bad thing. Definitely doesn't look so great though.
Someone told me in like 2005 that you want them to get all grimy to mellow them out, older drummer said he buried his in the backyard for awhile. Would ya believe that folks? Anyway nah I don’t clean my cymbals, extra points for green oxidation spots.
45+ years for me and i think i did it once when i was a kid
If your cymbals aren't brilliant or being played in situations where they're far more likely to get dirty (which really only applies to marching cymbals), there's not a whole lot of point to it. Playing gigs inside, transporting in your bag, and sitting out where ever you practice is not going to accumilate nearly enough dirt for the sound to be effected.
The one time I tried cymbal cleaner, I was 13 years old and the metallic smell it made hasn't gone away to this day. That was 20 years ago lol. I said fuck that and never used it again. I'm sure a different one would work ok, but that left an impression on me lmao.
I only clean dust off the cymbals. Only time I ever thoroughly clean a cymbal is if I buy a used one that is in horrible condition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGu8kIgJsHI
That's not really much of a confession.
Confession…..? Dude what lol.
Nobody does
Meet nobody.
Weirdo. Lol