Care of New Cymbals

The aim of this page is to give your cymbals a good start, help you keep them in tip-top working condition and prolong their working life.

Select image below to see anatomy of a cymbal.

Anatomy of a Cymbal (click image to enlarge)

Ensure that surfaces are free of corrosion and check the edges for signs of damage (bending, chips and cracks). Also check the bow of the cymbal and around the bell for cracks. Cracks can either 'radiate' across the cymbal from edge to centre, or along the 'grain' of the tone grooves i.e., parallel to the edge.

Check the upper and lower surfaces of the cymbal for scratches, dents or chips. In addition to visual checks, play the cymbal across the whole area, checking for 'dead spots' and listening for evidence of damage e.g., buzzing or rattling.

Please note that in some ethnic cymbals such as authentic chinas, the quality control across manufacturing is NOT as controlled as with the big companies. Therefore, small defects may be present. These should be checked and assessed to make sure that they will not get worse. In particular, the balance of metal across the cymbal can vary considerably, leading to it being heavier on one side than the other. Providing this does not adversely affect the sound of the cymbal, it can be used to create a wider range of sounds from the cymbal. Commercially- produced cymbals tend to be more consistent over the playing surface due to the high level of quality control. 
Always refer back to your point of purchase to follow-up queries or problems.

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