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The cymbals on your drum kit are a big part of your sound and musical taste as a drummer. The further you go in your drumming, the more likely you will be to want additional cymbals or to upgrade your existing ones. You can of course, walk into your local music store and choose any number of cymbals on the rack to try out. There are a few things you want to look for to make sure any used cymbals are a worthy buy. That’s what this article is all about. To read more about buying a used drum kit, check out my guide to buying used drums.
When you purchase a new cymbal, you’re seeing cymbals that were made recently. But what about all the cymbals made 10, 20, 30 years ago? They are mostly still around, either being played or lying around waiting to be sold. Most music stores sell new cymbals, with the exception of the “used” rack where a small selection of random cymbals might be waiting.) Just search cymbal in any buy and sell however, and you will find a ton of results in your area.
Searching for cymbals is fun and you can sometimes find some good deals on great used cymbals. So without further ado, here are some of the things to keep in mind when you’re on the hunt for the next cymbal in your collection.
Used Cymbals Age Like Wine
For the most part, cymbals sound better the older they are. Oils from our fingers and hands, dirt, grime, dents, scratches and all the stuff that discolours a cymbal, actually affects its tone. In most cases, these things contribute to a cymbals unique sound, which can be either nasty or very desirable. For example, you could line-up 3 of the same cymbal in a store, play them and they pretty much all sound the same.
Take 3 cymbals all the same make and model that are at least 20 years old. They will all have a different age, history of being played (or not) and varying levels of environmental factors (oil, grime, etc). Play them side by side and you will see how different they will sound. One might sound like a trash can. Another might have an annoying overtone. Then suddenly, the last one has that perfect sound you’ve been looking for.
So how do you weed out the cymbals that aren’t worth your time and find the ones that might be gems? Here are a few tips to help you make a well informed decision about buying a used cymbal.
Say No To Cracks!
While some small cracks can be repaired, unless it is a showpiece, you should avoid cracks at all costs. The reason: cracks negatively affect the sound and they spread and get worse. Once a cymbal has a crack, there’s no going back to it’s solid state. This means that when you play it, the vibrations will no longer travel evenly and balanced. The crack immediately changes the sound of the cymbal and shortens its sustain and shimmer. A crack will almost always make the cymbal sound worse and shorten its lifespan.
When looking at a cymbal, check for cracks in the following places: along the edge, around the centre hole (when you check for keyholing) and at the base of the bell. There is a way of fixing cracks in a cymbal by drilling two small holes on either end of the crack. This usually stop the crack from spreading and getting worse. Because it’s been weakened in that spot however, it’s only a matter of time before the crack begins anew. Unless you are looking at a vintage cymbal with serious collector value, I would recommend steering clear of cymbals with any cracks in them.
What Is Keyholing?
The word keyhole is self-explanatory as it is a hole shaped for a key. For drummers, it refers to the shape of the hole in the cymbal bell. It can form if a cymbal has been played for a long time without being correctly mounted. Why is this something you should avoid when purchasing a used cymbal?
For one thing, keyholing will negatively affect the sound (although it’s usually marginal). But the main reason is that it keeps the cymbal from freely rotating in the cymbal stand. This forces the place you hit the cymbal to only be the bottom half of the cymbal instead of all around the cymbal. This generates wear at one specific place at the hole in the cymbal bell and this is where the keyhole appears. The cymbal stand “eats” away at the cymbal and slowly creates a new hole next to the original one. The shape of the old hole with the new one forming resembles a keyhole, and therefore the name keyholing.
A sure-fire sign of a cymbal being in great condition is the absence of any keyholing. While it’s not a dealbreaker, it’s probably best to avoid purchasing a used cymbal with any keyholing unless you really, really want that particular cymbal.
Use A Table To Check For Warping
The overall structural integrity of a cymbal is important. Especially the edge. It wasn’t until I purchased a pair of vintage hi-hats that I noticed the side-effect of warping. It happened when I brought them home and placed them on a table. I then noticed that only about 75% of the cymbals edge was making contact with the table. There was a large area on the cymbal where the edge was 4-5mm away, leaving a gap. This was a sign that the top cymbal was warped. I found out then that if a cymbal is warped, it isn’t always visible to the naked eye.
So what’s the big deal you ask? Well I do like the way they sound, but if I want them to sound nice and crisp when closed, I have to press down harder on the pedal. In addition to that, the top cymbal doesn’t freely turn around. It leans slightly towards the same side. As a result, when I close the hi-hats with my foot pedal repeatedly, they tend to lose their snappy “chick” sound after a few minutes. A simple “grab and spin” of the Hi-Hats solves the problem temporarily, but it’s so inconvenient that I now tend to avoid playing these hats that way.
When I’m in the market to buy a cymbal in a store or online, I always check for the cymbal to be free of significant warping. Place the cymbal on a table that is truly flat and look at the edge all the way around the cymbal, or have the seller do that for you. It should touch the table top 99-100% of the way around. That’s how to know it is structurally in great condition.
How Important Is Brand Name?
There are many outstanding cymbal makers that produce good quality cymbals at virtually every price range. The bigger, more notable brands are:
There isn’t anything that makes one brand better than another. They all have good craftsmanship and a wide enough variety in their products. It’s more about finding the individual cymbal that sounds good to you. Do you have to stick to one brand? The answer is no. I myself as well as many other drummers I know have an assortment of cymbals rather than sticking to one brand name.
How Old Is The Cymbal? Is It Vintage?
Vintage cymbals are a highly sought-after item. There are models from certain eras that, if well taken care of, are worth quite a lot of money. This is because their sound captures a very unique characteristic or because they have collector value. To know how old your cymbal is, you must know who the manufacturer is and model (if possible). This can be found by locating the badge. On older cymbals the badge is an engraving. On cymbals from the 1980 and younger, the badge is often shown using ink. Do a little research and you’ll quickly find out if a cymbal is considered to have vintage value.
See this article about paiste cymbal stamps.
See this article about zildjian cymbal stamps.
How Does It Sound?
Ultimately the most important factor when purchasing a used cymbal is the sound it produces. You have to like the sound. That’s what really matters.
Make sure you spend time playing the cymbal before you buy it. Listen to how it sounds when you play it with the tip. Listen to the bell sound. Crash it gently and then a little harder. Take a little time to explore the cymbal’s various sounds.
When you go to a seller to potentially buy a cymbal, bring some of your own with you. This may sound strange, but a cymbal can sound great on its own and then sound out of place when combined with the rest of your setup. If you’re checking out a pair of Hi-Hats, then bring along your Crash and a Ride cymbal. It will help you make a clear decision when you can hear how it sounds with what you’ve got already.
Conclusion
Searching for and buying a used cymbal can be a really fun experience. It’s a good idea to have a checklist of the things I mentioned above. Many things like dents, cracks, keyholing and warped edges will affect the sound and even more-so, the lifespan of the cymbal. It’s worth it to take the time to search for a cymbal that sounds good, is in good condition and fits in well with thee rest of your kit. If it has some vintage appeal, even better. You might sell it in future and make your money back if you take good care of it while you own it.
