A drummer must take care of his/her drums in order to maintain the sound and resonance that comes with a new kit. But what about the cymbals? Taking care of your cymbals is just as important as taking care of the drums. To learn how to care for your cymbals is one of the first things you should do as an owner of a drum set. Simply wiping the dust off from time to time will not suffice. This article will show you a few simple rules to keeping your cymbals bright and strong. Before you go on and follow these steps, know that having some dirt on your cymbals can be a good thing. Again this is a personal preference, if you like the warmer sound you get from having some dirt on your cymbals, maybe you should leave some of these steps out!
How to Store your CymbalsSomething as simple as storing your cymbals can cause damage and unwanted stress. Make sure you are following these following steps if you are putting your cymbals away for a while. If you can afford one, go to your local music store and purchase a cymbal carrying case. These work perfectly for storing unwanted cymbals. If you cannot afford this, the best way to store your cymbals is flat on the ground. A lot of drummers will lean their cymbals up against a wall; this is very bad for the shape of the cymbal. The weight of the cymbal resting on itself will eventually warp the cymbal, changing its’ sound dramatically. So make sure you place them flat on the floor. Finally, make sure they are covered on the bottom and top with a towel or blanket. This will give it a cushion for where it is touching the ground.
How to Mount your CymbalsThe next step is mounting your cymbals. Most drummers ignore this step and just tighten their cymbals up as tight as they go. This is another thing to avoid. First thing, make sure you have felt on both sides of the cymbal – if you do not, go out and buy some extra felt rings immediately. Felt rings give the cymbal extra cushion which protects it from extra stress. Once you have both felts on the cymbal, tighten the wing nut only hand tight. The cymbal should be able to move freely, with enough tension to limit its movement. Too much tension will result in an excess of stress in the center of the cymbal – this can cause cracks. Too little tension and you may crack the outside of the cymbal. Make sure the wing nuts are on nice and snug.
Cleaning your cymbals is something you can choose to do whether you want a brighter sound or not. To clean your cymbals, there are many different products out there that work. In fact, there are even some house hold cleaners that can do the trick – just make sure you do some research before you dive into your cleaners. The product I would suggest is called Groove Juice. This comes in a spray container that you apply to your cymbal when it is off the stand. Use a clean towel in which you can throw out after words. Simply spray and wipe down. This will give your cymbals a nice shine to them. Because a cymbal is made with grooves, a lot of dirt and dust will get in those grooves. Cleaning your cymbals will take most of that dirt out, giving it a more bright sound to it.
You do not have to clean your cymbals every week. You can do this as often or as seldom as you like. It is totally up to you. However, make sure you take proper care for your cymbals so they will last a lifetime! Do not rest your cymbals on their side, and make sure you mount your cymbals properly. These couple of steps will save you time and money in the long run!
If you are looking for more drum accessories, you may want to check out drum muffling gear, drumsticks, double bass pedals, and cymbals. All are great additions to a drum set.