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Featured Reviews

Fixing a Cracked Cymbal

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.

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Cymbals for Metal Music

January 2nd, 2010
striker
   by striker

Cymbals good for metal can be discussed with a lot of variables, but there are some things you’ll need to be mindful of. In metal music you have to compete with loud distorted guitars, therefore you need big cymbals. Bigger cymbals equal more volume. Even a 15” crash cymbal or smaller ones don’t cut through the mix and end up sounding like a big splash cymbals.

Many metal drummers prefer bright sounding cymbals that can sit on top of everything sonically. But bright sounding cymbals can feature harsh sounds that can work for you or against you, depends on the situation.

Thickness of the cymbal plays a role as well as thin cymbals can crack easily, because the just don’t take the punishment of the hard hitting involved with metal drumming. Thin cymbals also don’t project very well, especially through all the other loud instruments in metal music. Real thick cymbals (commonly designated as “rock” weight) tend to sound hollow and gongy. Many metal drummers use medium thin cymbals that project well.

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Cymbals for Metal Music

January 2nd, 2010

   by admin

Cymbals good for metal can be discussed with a lot of variables, but there are some things you’ll need to be mindful of. In metal music you have to compete with loud distorted guitars, therefore you need big cymbals. Bigger cymbals equal more volume. Even a 15” crash cymbal or smaller ones don’t cut through the mix and end up sounding like a big splash cymbals.

Many metal drummers prefer bright sounding cymbals that can sit on top of everything sonically. But bright sounding cymbals can feature harsh sounds that can work for you or against you, depends on the situation.

Thickness of the cymbal plays a role as well as thin cymbals can crack easily, because the just don’t take the punishment of the hard hitting involved with metal drumming. Thin cymbals also don’t project very well, especially through all the other loud instruments in metal music. Real thick cymbals (commonly designated as “rock” weight) tend to sound hollow and gongy. Many metal drummers use medium thin cymbals that project well.

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Rides in Acoustic Jazz

December 29th, 2009

   by admin

A high or low sounding washy ride in an acoustic jazz context would create a big difference. Thin rides with a higher pitched stick and with a higher shimmer, but with darkness underneath would be good definition to look for.

A dark ride is more laid back and supporting the music, while a high ride is more dominant and pushes the music. Ride can be with a nice dark cushion that sits below a more audible stick sound. These rides would also feature a nice low pitch with a stick definition or a low wash and little high pitched with a nice audible tick.

There are excellent choices suitable for acoustic jazz within Xilxo Selection Jazz Master Series.

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Heavy Cymbals

December 29th, 2009

   by admin

A heavy cymbal is typically louder with slow response, long sustain, more volume and bright. They are usually low pitched with a clear “ping” and tight stick definition.

Heavy cymbals require more time and energy to get them to resonate and crash. It all depends on the playing situation. If you use heavy sticks and the louder/heavier you play the heavier a ride should be, because the sustain and wash never overpowers the stick and ping. A heavy cymbal will cut well at loud volumes but might work well at low volumes also with the stick sound.

If you are playing in large venue gigs, a heavy cymbal can keep your sound from getting lost but it can often overpower the band in a small room.

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Bigger Crashes

December 21st, 2009

   by admin

When I found that even my 16″ crashes are too small and splashy sounding, I started thinking about bigger crashes.

Bigger crashes in general fill out the mix a bit better, give more fullness and project the lower to mid range tones. You need also to figure out if you need a long-sustaining crash as on bigger crashes instead of a short accent small crash.

Use a small crash at the same time unless you want necessarily to choke the bigger crashes.

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