Cracked Cymbals

[muttley]

Last night I noticed my crash is cracked. It's fairly small right now, but I don't want it to get any worse. I'm out of warranties and cash! What's the best thing to do?

[patrickhowell]

Last night I noticed my crash is cracked. It's fairly small right now, but I don't want it to get any worse. I'm out of warranties and cash! What's the best thing to do?

It will last longer if you drill it, but it definitely will get worse eventually. Start saving up.

[Animalhill]

Last night I noticed my crash is cracked. It's fairly small right now, but I don't want it to get any worse. I'm out of warranties and cash! What's the best thing to do?
Yeah man, you're screwed. My drummer is encountering the same thing right now. Save up that cash money.

[muttley]

It will last longer if you drill it, but it definitely will get worse eventually. Start saving up.

Ah, this is such a drag. I have no idea how to go about drilling either.

[patrickhowell]

Sorry man, but that's how it is... Playing drums is an expensive hobby.

Get ahold of a drill and a new sharp drill bit. Put a piece of wood behind the cymbal and drill straight through at the very end of the crack. This will slow the crack temporarily, but won't make it sound any better than it did when it started to crack. That will buy you a little bit of time to save up for a new one...

[doppelganger]

sidenote: i always thought cracked sabian cymbals sound much better than cracked zildjian cymbals

[ShShShark]

Last night I noticed my crash is cracked. It's fairly small right now, but I don't want it to get any worse. I'm out of warranties and cash! What's the best thing to do?

Drill a hole at the end of the crack. Then take a hacksaw and cut in a "/\ " shape until each angle meets the hole you drilled.

Your cymbal won't sound great, and the crack will re-appear in time, but this is definitely a good way to salvage what you can. (i've done it a million times, you'll be alright). just ABSOLUTELY do NOT play the cymbal until you've done this. Once cracked, its going to exponentially grow every time you play it.

Also: If you have old cracked cymbals lying around, both Zildjian AND Sabian buy them back (they melt them back down and re-use them). You won't get alot of money from them, but at least its something useful to do with old cymbals.

[muttley]

Drill a hole at the end of the crack. Then take a hacksaw and cut in a "/\ " shape until each angle meets the hole you drilled.

Your cymbal won't sound great, and the crack will re-appear in time, but this is definitely a good way to salvage what you can. (i've done it a million times, you'll be alright). just ABSOLUTELY do NOT play the cymbal until you've done this. Once cracked, its going to exponentially grow every time you play it.

Also: If you have old cracked cymbals lying around, both Zildjian AND Sabian buy them back (they melt them back down and re-use them). You won't get alot of money from them, but at least its something useful to do with old cymbals.

I was just going to do the drilling... Don't think I have a hacksaw lying around haha.
I had no idea Zildjian did that. I'll have to check it out when I can afford to replace the cracked one.

[theMATEOlife]

Hacksaws are cheap and you should own one anyways, they're great tools.

Anyways, where on the cymbal is the crack? What kind of cymbal is it? This information will help, some alloys are more conducive to drilling or need specific types of bits to do the job correctly, and the position of the crack dictates how much you can do with it.

[patrickhowell]

Sawing the V will make it better because the broken edges of the cymbal won't be vibrating against each other.

[Musformation.co]

Here's an idea http://musformation.com/2009/06/a-quick-bandage-for-a-broken-cymbal.html

[muttley]

Hacksaws are cheap and you should own one anyways, they're great tools.

Anyways, where on the cymbal is the crack? What kind of cymbal is it? This information will help, some alloys are more conducive to drilling or need specific types of bits to do the job correctly, and the position of the crack dictates how much you can do with it.

18" Zildjian A Custom Fast Crash. The Crack is right on the edge and it goes straight in less than an inch... or maybe an inch.

Sawing the V will make it better because the broken edges of the cymbal won't be vibrating against each other.

That makes a lot of sense. I'll see what I can do.

[apsterling]

18" Zildjian A Custom Fast Crash.
Ouch. I'd kill myself if my A Custom Projection cracked, or my Mastersound hats. But alas, I don't think either will happen.

[patrickhowell]

Ouch. I'd kill myself if my A Custom Projection cracked, or my Mastersound hats. But alas, I don't think either will happen.

I cracked the top from my Mastersound hats.

[verity38]

our drummer has the same problem luckily he just got an endorsement with Zildjian, try to not hit it on that side? or cut it down and make it into another cymbal. The drill a hole in suggestion seems to be pretty sweet though.

[patrickhowell]

our drummer has the same problem luckily he just got an endorsement with Zildjian, try to not hit it on that side? or cut it down and make it into another cymbal. The drill a hole in suggestion seems to be pretty sweet though.

Endorsement deal sounds pretty nice.

This is off topic, but I'm desperately looking for a Mass (or anyplace in New England) date on 6/24. We had a show canceled, and we leave for tour on Friday. Have you got any ideas of what we could do to pull something together last minute up there?

[muttley]

I cracked the top from my Mastersound hats.

I would probably cry if this happened to me. Haha.

[patrickhowell]

I would probably cry if this happened to me. Haha.

Sucks, but it happens... Buying sticks, heads, and cymbals adds up. Haha switch to another instrument. Strings and tubes aren't nearly as bad.

[muttley]

Sucks, but it happens... Buying sticks, heads, and cymbals adds up. Haha switch to another instrument. Strings and tubes aren't nearly as bad.

I've broken countless sticks. Usually when I buy heads, it's for experimentation, and because you're supposed to do that every few months or so. I've never broken one...

I starting to realize that I'm probably not a hard hitter.

[ShShShark]

I've broken countless sticks. Usually when I buy heads, it's for experimentation, and because you're supposed to do that every few months or so. I've never broken one...

I starting to realize that I'm probably not a hard hitter.

believe it or not, whether you are hitting the cymbals hard is usually only 50% of why a cymbal cracks. usually its the combination of how hard you hit along with improper playing.

It seems to be "in" right now to put your cymbals up super high and not angled, sort of like a T. I can't tell you how many touring drummers have come through the venue i work at bitching about cracked cymbals. And then i look at how they are playing and they are hitting their cymbals with their sticks at like almost a 90 degree angle. Your sticks should be hitting DOWN on the cymbals. I know how ridiculously stupid it sounds because its the most basic thing ever, but SO SO SO SO many drummers are destroying their sticks and cymbals that way.

[muttley]

believe it or not, whether you are hitting the cymbals hard is usually only 50% of why a cymbal cracks. usually its the combination of how hard you hit along with improper playing.

It seems to be "in" right now to put your cymbals up super high and not angled, sort of like a T. I can't tell you how many touring drummers have come through the venue i work at bitching about cracked cymbals. And then i look at how they are playing and they are hitting their cymbals with their sticks at like almost a 90 degree angle. Your sticks should be hitting DOWN on the cymbals. I know how ridiculously stupid it sounds because its the most basic thing ever, but SO SO SO SO many drummers are destroying their sticks and cymbals that way.

That's very true. I can't stand when people have their cymbals that high for no reason (minus the drummer from Silversun Pickups. His is too funny to be annoying). Mine are pretty much at eye level. And this particular cymbal is tilting just a little bit, if any.

[ShShShark]

haha i'll have to check that out.

[patrickhowell]

Your sticks should be hitting DOWN on the cymbals.

Not only that, but you shouldn't be hitting straight down, your sticks should be sweeping off the side of the cymbal. Glancing blows.

[ShShShark]

Not only that, but you shouldn't be hitting straight down, your sticks should be sweeping off the side of the cymbal. Glancing blows.

exactly

[apsterling]

Not only that, but you shouldn't be hitting straight down, your sticks should be sweeping off the side of the cymbal. Glancing blows.

Hey, other drummers that KNOW what they're doing! Awesome.
We should start a drummer thread to talk and complain about shit, and offer advice.

I broke several cymbals in the past, though, but then learned what to do when playing cymbals and have yet to break a cymbal since (a year or so)

[muttley]

Ugh... So I did the drilling thing like everyone said, and the crack is still growing :[
And I just found a crack in my Projection Ride. It's like my baby is going to die. Luckily she's on warranty :-)

[Thursdaysox]

i'd cry SO much if i cracked my 18" fast. greatest cymbal ever.

[muttley]

I'm kind of shocked that my Projection Ride cracked. Especially after only a year and a couple months. It's pretty thick.

i'd cry SO much if i cracked my 18" fast. greatest cymbal ever.

Nice avatar. Haha.

[RecklessXRandy]

the same person quoting themselves?!

[apsterling]

I'm kind of shocked that my Projection Ride cracked. Especially after only a year and a couple months. It's pretty thick.



Nice avatar. Haha.

Which is part of why it would crack- if it has a hard time supporting its own weight, it'll crack easier- you have to play lighter on thicker cymbals, they'll make the sound anyway.

[muttley]

Which is part of why it would crack- if it has a hard time supporting its own weight, it'll crack easier

I never even thought of that...

[apsterling]

Aaaand, now I'm relevant. My top Mastersound hat is cracked. I need to save $160 to get a top from Amazon. At least I don't have to spend $300 for a full on set again. I dunno how this happened, but I need new hard cases badly for all my stuff.

[muttley]

Aaaand, now I'm relevant. My top Mastersound hat is cracked. I need to save $160 to get a top from Amazon. At least I don't have to spend $300 for a full on set again. I dunno how this happened, but I need new hard cases badly for all my stuff.

I never thought of it, but now I know why they sell them individually haha.

[apsterling]

I never thought of it, but now I know why they sell them individually haha.

Yeah, I'm so thankful, cause I would have to save double what I need and have two bottom hi-hats. I almost want to try the Z3 series, but I love the 13" Mastersounds so I dunno. I think my issue is I've been using my hats almost as a crash sometimes, and that's probably too much stress for em; so today I raised my stand a bit. I'm considering getting another Projection crash to alleviate that pressure (along with adjusting my playstyle) but that's far into the future, when I'm, y'know, not broke.

[muttley]

Yeah, I'm so thankful, cause I would have to save double what I need and have two bottom hi-hats. I almost want to try the Z3 series, but I love the 13" Mastersounds so I dunno. I think my issue is I've been using my hats almost as a crash sometimes, and that's probably too much stress for em; so today I raised my stand a bit. I'm considering getting another Projection crash to alleviate that pressure (along with adjusting my playstyle) but that's far into the future, when I'm, y'know, not broke.

I've read about the Z3 series, but I'm not that interested. It reminds me of the Z customs, and I never liked those. If you get some, make sure you come back here and let us know how they are.

[apsterling]

I've read about the Z3 series, but I'm not that interested. It reminds me of the Z customs, and I never liked those. If you get some, make sure you come back here and let us know how they are.

The crashes seem like they're damn near invincible, given what I'd read, but I dunno about the sound. The hats are okay, but I think I'm too attached to the sound of my Mastersounds.

[-the_chrEEp-]

I say its dead...watch for specials on Guitar Center where you can get them cheap....don't ever buy used, sometimes they polish them and they'll crack easily, Just buy new with guarantee, that way if it cracks, they give you another one!! :D

[apsterling]

I say its dead...watch for specials on Guitar Center where you can get them cheap....don't ever buy used, sometimes they polish them and they'll crack easily, Just buy new with guarantee, that way if it cracks, they give you another one!! :D

That's what I did with my crash. I bought my hats forever ago though.

[muttley]

Also: If you have old cracked cymbals lying around, both Zildjian AND Sabian buy them back (they melt them back down and re-use them). You won't get alot of money from them, but at least its something useful to do with old cymbals.

How do I go about this?

[foisol]

Go to Turkey, and pay the people making the best cymbals in village factories the bare minimum you can, and bring back as many cymbals as possible... :P

j/k of course..

[muttley]

That'll be plan B!

[Ava1anche]

As many others have said already, drill a hole at the end of the crack and cut a /\ . I did that and it didn't recrack for a decent amount of time.

[muttley]

As many others have said already, drill a hole at the end of the crack and cut a /\ . I did that and it didn't recrack for a decent amount of time.

Old thread, but when I did cut the /\ in it, it just kept running. I drilled it not too long ago without cutting and I think it's holding up, but I don't play much anymore so it's hard to tell.

[Ava1anche]

Old thread, but when I did cut the /\ in it, it just kept running. I drilled it not too long ago without cutting and I think it's holding up, but I don't play much anymore so it's hard to tell.

haha wow you're right, I didn't even realize when this was posted lol. Yea, bottom line is cracked cymbals suck and you just gotta try and preserve them as best as you can until you can buy a new one :(