breaking cymbals.

[Nubus]

Not too long ago I bought the Neil Peart Paragon hi hats. I love em to death, they record so well. I don't even need to mike them and they'll pick up clear as day if I am stepping on them even during a crash ride beat.

Thing is I don't want to break em.

I always warm up by starting light, I don't just sit down and bash first thing. I think this may help. I seem to be pretty under control when I play. Are there any anti-breakage tips I can tell other drummers who play on them?

[dagosto]

Originally Posted by Nubus

Are there any anti-breakage tips I can tell other drummers who play on them?

You break it you buy it.

But seriously. The angle of the crash/ride cymbal stroke should be more parallel to the cymbal. This give a cleaner attack and will reduce the force that can break the cymbals.

[Nubus]

Originally Posted by dagosto

You break it you buy it.

This I will use, seriously. For the mics too I suppose. Some drummers seem anxious to hit them. I show them how it sounds dumb, and then next take they hit them again.

[smopo24]

i tried looking up tips on some search engines.....no luck. i always thought that playing with lighter sticks, or nylon tip would not wear on the cymbals?

[Whoopysnorp]

It's more related to the angle of the attack and how freely you allow the cymbal to vibrate. You should normally not have to worry about breaking hi-hats unless you are really whaling on them. Since under normal playing conditions you aren't really pulling your arm back and hitting hard, even with loud half-open rhythms, you're in little danger there. Plus, it's awkward to hit a hi-hat with the sticks too far off from parallel to the cymbal's axis, and that helps too. Now, if you clamp down your clutch so the top cymbal isn't able to swing around, then you're going to have problems later. The same goes for the felts on your crash cymbals--those should be clamped down as little as possible (ideally not at all). You want those things to swing back and forth when you hit them rather than be forced to resist the natural impulse to swing because you have them clamped down so they can't move. Also, if you have your stands set pretty high you'll be less liable to use an excessive amount of force on the cymbal. Drummers who keep them set low and clamp down those felts are asking for breakage, especially if they play hard.

I don't know why you would want to do that anyway, considering you WANT your cymbals to vibrate or they won't make any sound.

[Nubus]

Originally Posted by Whoopysnorp

It's more related to the angle of the attack and how freely you allow the cymbal to vibrate. You should normally not have to worry about breaking hi-hats unless you are really whaling on them. Since under normal playing conditions you aren't really pulling your arm back and hitting hard, even with loud half-open rhythms, you're in little danger there. Plus, it's awkward to hit a hi-hat with the sticks too far off from parallel to the cymbal's axis, and that helps too. Now, if you clamp down your clutch so the top cymbal isn't able to swing around, then you're going to have problems later. The same goes for the felts on your crash cymbals--those should be clamped down as little as possible (ideally not at all). You want those things to swing back and forth when you hit them rather than be forced to resist the natural impulse to swing because you have them clamped down so they can't move. Also, if you have your stands set pretty high you'll be less liable to use an excessive amount of force on the cymbal. Drummers who keep them set low and clamp down those felts are asking for breakage, especially if they play hard.

I don't know why you would want to do that anyway, considering you WANT your cymbals to vibrate or they won't make any sound.

I agree with keeping the felts loose and letting the cymbals move as much as possible. I don't even have tops, never needed them.
Although I'd think if they're up too high in the air you'd tend to come at the cymbal side too much.
I had never thought about stepping on the hats too hard, but I bet that was why I broke some in the past. Good tips.

[Whoopysnorp]

Hmm, I actually didn't mean stepping on the hats too hard. I have a hard time thinking that would be a problem. That's only like 3/4 of an inch of travel at the most; I can't imagine that would allow much force to build up.

By the way, good plan on the mics. One time my drummer lifted up his arm and stabbed one of my MXL603s right in its diaphragm. You can hear it die on the recording. He said he would help pay for another but it never happened. Grrr.

[smopo24]

Originally Posted by Whoopysnorp

Also, if you have your stands set pretty high you'll be less liable to use an excessive amount of force on the cymbal.

i've seen a few drummers setting them high; but for entirely different reasons.....vanity and endorsements. one wanted his kit to "frame his face better" and set them high enough so he could be seen. the other put them up so when he hits the cymballs, the company name shows on t.v.

[Nubus]

Originally Posted by Whoopysnorp

Hmm, I actually didn't mean stepping on the hats too hard. I have a hard time thinking that would be a problem. That's only like 3/4 of an inch of travel at the most; I can't imagine that would allow much force to build up.

By the way, good plan on the mics. One time my drummer lifted up his arm and stabbed one of my MXL603s right in its diaphragm. You can hear it die on the recording. He said he would help pay for another but it never happened. Grrr.

Danggit, me neither. I meant keeping them clamped down super tight (with your foot) and wailing on their side (with your stick).

[Whoopysnorp]

Originally Posted by Nubus

Danggit, me neither. I meant keeping them clamped down super tight (with your foot) and wailing on their side (with your stick).

Oh, that's true. I was more talking about keeping the clutch clamped down super tight, though. My friend closes his clutch as tight as he can so when he's playing half-open stuff, the top cymbal can't move around at all. It's murder on the top cymbal.