clean cymbals

[drummerboy60]

Hi drummers, I just bought a bottle of cymbal cleaner called groove jucie. After cleaning my cymbals not only do they shine and look brand new but also sound alot better. I didn't ever think that cleaning my cymbals would ever make them stand out and sound so good.

Keep drumming

Gregg

[SpecialAnthony]

Nice! I personally love the Buckaroo cleaner, haven't found anything that works as well with such little effort!

There's two schools of thought on cleaning- those like you and I that feel they sound better when sparkling clean, and those that think the added patina of age and oily fingerprints and stickmarks is what makes them sound better. I just can't get on board with that camp. As much as I like some vintage cymbal sounds, I much prefer the pristine sounds I personally feel come out after mine have been cleaned!!

[slinglander]

I'm not so sure it's not psychological! Lol

[wolvie56]

Well, I think it's a little bit psychological, but mostly scientific. Dirt, patina, and fingerprint oils get into all the tonal grooves over time and act as a muffling device. Toning down and softening up the sound. Blending the highs and lows. Creating a more classic, soft sound. Clean cymbals have nothing muffling them and therefore are able to sing unimpeded. Tending to sound sharper, brighter, and probably a little louder.

[slinglander]

Take a lot of dirt and patina to really change the sound, IMO!

[late8]

I got tired of trying to preserve my inked logos as I cleaned often. Finally got the nerve to wipe them totally clean since a majority of the older cymbals had no ink left on them. I don't miss the ink.

[jafo]

This topic seems to come up once or twice a year...... every year. Nothing wrong with that. I'm personaly in the "clean my cymbal" catagory.

But after trying both ways, I don't feel there's a right or wrong way. It's whatever makes you happy.

I look at this stuff like Slinglander, I think it's in our head. Much like some gimics thats suppose to give your engine more power and better gas mileage. If you stick it on there, it "feels" like it has more power, but does it really? There's no scientific proof without something to measure it with. So until this proof comes to light, I'll have to stay sceptical on whether it truly does change the sound clean to petina.

I have tried both ways. I let my cymbals get pretty grimmy, and at first I thought they did sounded alittle different until I just could'nt stand the fingerprints and dust and grime anymore and broke down and cleaned them up. When I did finally play again, I just really could'nt say they sounded any different grimmy to clean. I think you can train or convince yourself to hear things that may not be there or somthin like that.


Just my opinion guys.....

[drummer]

I heard that if you mix lipstick and vinegar and spread it onto your cymbals with a paint brush and leave it on for like an hour, it's supposed to make your cymbals sound like the mating call of a wild magpie.

I mean, I just heard that. I don't know if it's true or not.

[atomcorr2]

I got tired of trying to preserve my inked logos as I cleaned often. Finally got the nerve to wipe them totally clean since a majority of the older cymbals had no ink left on them. I don't miss the ink.

the set looks great ,

[late8]

@ Tom- Thanks!

[Kazaamski]

I'm diggin the striped vistalites.

[jumpwing]

The sound of a cymbal is undoubtedly changed by a thin layer of dirt, dust, grime, etc. However, I seriously doubt the human ear can distinguish the difference.

Personally I like the clean, shiny look on the cymbals I have; but some of the cymbals I've seen look great covered in patina. As for the logos, I don't really worry about them. I bought 'em, I remember what they are.

[Spiderjig]

I'm not so sure it's not psychological! Lol

Yeah, It's kind of like washing the car or changing the oil, all of a sudden it rides and runs like a new car.

[Russ]

I like the sound of dirtier aged cymbals over clean ones. Plus it would be hard to tell what's what if my logos are gone, so..

[kay-gee]

I heard that if you mix lipstick and vinegar and spread it onto your cymbals with a paint brush and leave it on for like an hour, it's supposed to make your cymbals sound like the mating call of a wild magpie.

I mean, I just heard that. I don't know if it's true or not.

OMG drummer! That's exactly the sound I've been trying for. Thanks for that tip.

all the best...

[wolvie56]

The sound of a cymbal is undoubtedly changed by a thin layer of dirt, dust, grime, etc. However, I seriously doubt the human ear can distinguish the difference.

Personally I like the clean, shiny look on the cymbals I have; but some of the cymbals I've seen look great covered in patina. As for the logos, I don't really worry about them. I bought 'em, I remember what they are.

This.

[Olimpass]

I only clean mine if I start seeing green on them.

[Drumbledore]

I heard that if you mix lipstick and vinegar and spread it onto your cymbals with a paint brush and leave it on for like an hour, it's supposed to make your cymbals sound like the mating call of a wild magpie.

I mean, I just heard that. I don't know if it's true or not.

Jeez, ya a funny bugger, Tom!

I only clean mine if I start seeing green on them.

Well, if I start to see green on mine......gotta dip less aggressively into the guacamole with my corn chips!