There are several methods to fix a cymbal that is cracked. All these methods are useful, they depend on how wide the crack is and where it is located on the cymbal.
1- Force Epoxy into the crack. Strike the cymbal hard several times to vibrate glue deeper into the crack. Apply more Epoxy and strike several times again. Wipe away excess. Bake the cymbal in a 200 degree oven for about an hour. This hardens the Epoxy to a glassy consistency. Let the cymbal cool naturally. Let stand for at least 24 hrs before playing.
2- Drill a small hole at each end of the crack to prevent further spread, and then widen the crack. If the crack starts from the edge, drill the other end and then make a wide, V-shaped notch starting from the hole.
3- If the crack is on the outer edge and it’s not too deep (towards the center), you can cut the cymbal smaller in the diameter.
All these methods will change the sound characteristics of the cymbal. You may get totally new, exciting, nice sounding special effects out of it.
There are several methods to fix a cymbal that is cracked. All these methods are useful, they depend on how wide the crack is and where it is located on the cymbal.
1- Force Epoxy into the crack. Strike the cymbal hard several times to vibrate glue deeper into the crack. Apply more Epoxy and strike several times again. Wipe away excess. Bake the cymbal in a 200 degree oven for about an hour. This hardens the Epoxy to a glassy consistency. Let the cymbal cool naturally. Let stand for at least 24 hrs before playing.
2- Drill a small hole at each end of the crack to prevent further spread, and then widen the crack. If the crack starts from the edge, drill the other end and then make a wide, V-shaped notch starting from the hole.
3- If the crack is on the outer edge and it’s not too deep (towards the center), you can cut the cymbal smaller in the diameter.
All these methods will change the sound characteristics of the cymbal. You may get totally new, exciting, nice sounding special effects out of it.
The splash cymbal is typically placed on the right-hand side of a drum set (for a right-handed drummer). Splash cymbals may be mounted just above the tom for quick playing access.
There are several methods to mount a splash cymbal that is determined by the comfort of playing, and hardware.
Standard mounting: splash cymbals are mounted just like the other cymbals in a drum set on a strait cymbal stand or boom stand. Mounting splash cymbals directly on a tom drum is not recommended.
L arm: they are attached on normal cymbal stand with an extension arm that are L shaped. Splash cymbals can be mounted the bell side up or down.
Multi clamp: they provide a mounting system with clamps and joints to place a splash cymbal in several locations within a drum set.
Piggybacking: splash cymbal is mounted upside down on top of an already stand mounted cymbal that requires less mounting space, allows a more compact drum kit and to move between the top and bottom cymbals in a single motion. Additional felt between the bells of the two cymbals is recommended.
Stackers: they are used for multiple cymbals, best used for splashes and small crashes. Big cymbal is placed on the bottom of the cymbal stand and the stacker that will mount the second cymbal screws on where wing nut would normally placed. Stackers can be used on straight or boom cymbal stands.
It can be very tiresome and frustrating when choosing cymbals. In the process to make a decision, going through the range and number of cymbals can be overwhelming.
The starting point of this process is more based on personal ideas how someone feels about sound, musical perspective and style. More identifying these ideas will form a narrow frame to make a possible selection. Also matching sonically to the existing drum set should be another consideration for new cymbals.
Available literature, other people’s advice and guidance can certainly help, but the final decision is a self explored action where a drummer plays the cymbal and assures its function matches to his/her expectations.
There are two ways of mounting and playing china cymbals: bell and flange up or bell and flange down.
Mounting a china bell and flange up makes the cymbal to sit in near horizantal on the stand that gives a better sustain and ride sound, also gives access to the bell.
Bell and flange down mounted chinas are broken quite often because they are crashed on their ridges and not on the edges. This way chinas are crashed with a sweeping motion, holding the stick loosely.
