How often do you clean your cymbals?

[felty]

I have a set of K 's that are kinda filthy but, I like the logos. I am not sure if it really bothers me they have some hand/finger prints on them. What is your preference ?

[Jerzey Street Band (JSB)]

I clean every 4 or 5 times of using but I only do it with my crashes and splash as my ride and hats sound better with grime on them. I am not too bothered about the logos so I use some pretty strong stuff that doesn't take too much wiping/buffing, I'm sure with some proper cymbal cleaner though it shouldn't affect the logos too much should it?

[Greenmonster206]

No cleaning...the greener and grimier the better!

[Northern Redneck]

2 or 3 times a year.

[tadly]

Every 4-6 weeks, using Groove Juice or Sabian cymbal cleaner...quick & dirty, spray on & wipe off. Minimal fade, if any, to the logos.

[jafo]

When the urge hits me. I like to keep my equipment clean and cymbals are susceptible to corrosion. I bought a Sabian China that hadn't been cleaned. It was old. I could not get all the green finger prints off. It did not change the sound after I cleaned it. But opinions vary on cymbal cleaning and sound change. I try to keep finger prints off my cymbals. I also keep in mind resale. If I want to resale, cleaner cymbals in my mind may ne more apt to sell quicker than untouched cymbals.

[Texdrumr]

You're supposed to clean your cymbals? Wups.

-Randy

[jafo]

You're supposed to clean your cymbals? Wups.

-Randy

I think its a matter of opinion really.

[NPYYZ]

I've responded to this question before. Clean cymbals is a sickness for me. I can't stand to have a mark, spot, smudge, fingerprint or even dust on them. My cymbals always look like they did the day I bought them. I clean them at least twice a week, yes, I am nuts.

[Drumbledore]

If you only have one small set of cymbals to worry about and you don't gig often, clean them as often as possible. But if you have say, 40 or so cymbals ranging in size from 5.5" small effects cymbals to 20" chinas and rides....and a working player? Good luck. I'm lucky if I can keep some splashes shiny, let alone my bigger stuff. Think I might put that idea of owning a gong on the back burner, lol.

[marko138]

2 or 3 times a year.

Same here....usually when I notice they are getting particularly dirty. I like them nice and shiny.

[Redeye]

Once a year thoroughly with Groove Juice (50 or so gigs). At least once a month I inspect and spot clean as needed. I lost the labels on my shiny stuff long ago, but the dull lathed ones are still hanging around.

[jafo]

If you only have one small set of cymbals to worry about and you don't gig often, clean them as often as possible. But if you have say, 40 or so cymbals ranging in size from 5.5" small effects cymbals to 20" chinas and rides....and a working player? Good luck. I'm lucky if I can keep some splashes shiny, let alone my bigger stuff. Think I might put that idea of owning a gong on the back burner, lol.

Thats a very good point. I've never looked at it from a working drummers view. What you've stated makes sense. If you have a large collection or should I say if I had a large collection of cymbals, I would find it hard to keep them all clean. Of coarse I being the way I am, would make time to do this some how some way. I could employ my kids.

[drmn4life]

NEVER!!! not by choice, im just too lazy to do it lol

[Drumbledore]

Thats a very good point. I've never looked at it from a working drummers view. What you've stated makes sense. If you have a large collection or should I say if I had a large collection of cymbals, I would find it hard to keep them all clean. Of coarse I being the way I am, would make time to do this some how some way. I could employ my kids.

Or students, come to think of it.....lol.

Actually, there's a running gag myself and other drummers I know often share (it has an element of truth in it, I'd say).


Q: How can you tell how hard a drummer is working?

A: See if he or she has time to keep their car nice, clean and schmick. If you can see out their windscreen, they've got too much time on their hands. Or they make a mint to employ a car-care roadie. :P

[jafo]

Or students, come to think of it.....lol.

Actually, there's a running gag myself and other drummers I know often share (it has an element of truth in it, I'd say).


Q: How can you tell how hard a drummer is working?

A: See if he or she has time to keep their car nice, clean and schmick. If you can see out their windscreen, they've got too much time on their hands. Or they make a mint to employ a car-care roadie. :P

Exellent!

I think blackmailing my kids into cleaning my equipment would be easier, it's a simple fact of owing (room and board) and owning(they are "my" kids). Gotta get something out of this deal of being a parent beside debt, headaches and a few laughs.

[Exotic Matter]

No cleaning...the greener and grimier the better!

x1019284

[NPYYZ]

If you only have one small set of cymbals to worry about and you don't gig often, clean them as often as possible. But if you have say, 40 or so cymbals ranging in size from 5.5" small effects cymbals to 20" chinas and rides....and a working player? Good luck. I'm lucky if I can keep some splashes shiny, let alone my bigger stuff. Think I might put that idea of owning a gong on the back burner, lol.

Who has 40 or so cymbals? When I was gigging full time I played a minimum of 4 nights a week. I always had time to clean my cymbals during set up every week and I've always had large kits with many cymbals.

[Drumbledore]

Who has 40 or so cymbals? When I was gigging full time I played a minimum of 4 nights a week. I always had time to clean my cymbals during set up every week and I've always had large kits with many cymbals.

Lol, I don't set up that many....no, this is what I own in total. I usually have a set up with 2 crashes, one or two splashes, maybe a china and two sets of hi-hats. But I have all these different ones to draw on for different music sitautions, especially for recording.

[marko138]

I enjoy cleaning my stuff and making it look nice. I take pride in how my stuff looks...be it drums, cymbals, motorcycle, car, yard, etc.

[felty]

I just got a old ping ride(brilliant) that looks awful next to my K 's lol

[tselanne]

I just tried zildjian cymbal cleaner/polish for the first time on my K cd ride. First clean in like 15 years. It looks brand new, really quite impressive imo. Only thing is it removes logos, so you can tell where I went around them. I'm always rather be playing than cleaning, but it looks so nice now I feel like I have to clean all of them!

[Martinez12]

Well... define cleaning LOL

[Homeularis]

All my cymbals are new A Zildjians so I try to just do light cleaning with Pledge Multi Surface wipes to maintain their newness.
So far so good.

[Redeye]

All my cymbals are new A Zildjians so I try to just do light cleaning with Pledge Multi Surface wipes to maintain their newness.
So far so good.

Pledge multi-surface is a drummer's dream product. I've been cleaning full kits with it for a little while to great effect.