Joe Calabrese
Well-known member
First for the cymbals, what brand, series, and how bad are the marks? You are right about the sound being altered by using products. There are specially made cleaning products out there for cymbals. With you talking the cymbals being in the $300-$600 I'm assuming either hi-end Paistes, Zildjian Ks, Meinl MB20s or Sabian Vault Artisans.
If the marks are light, some warm water would work best, just remeber to dry them.
My suggestion is when sharing a kit, always, always, always, have other drummers bring their own snare, bass pedal, and cymbals.
Actually, Its a set of Zildjian A Custom cymbals: 18" A Custom Projection Crash, 19" A Custom Medium Crash, 20" A Custom Projection Ride, and 14" A Series New Beat Hi-hats.
The marks vary: my 19" crash is completely covered around the bell all the way to the edge, the ride is moderate, and the 18" crash and hi-hat are actually in decent condition. I already tried the water idea as soon as I was able to get them off stage, but he was really beating my equipment. Then once he was finished, and I had a chance to speak to him about the marks, he responded: "well, that's your **** set, so it's not that bad."
Didn´t know that.
So if someone else did it, just bring them to your trusted instruments dealer, let them clean it and let the "abuser" pay the bill...
Yeah, I'll probably do that, because then the new heads will be on the bill as well. My cymbals are at least 10 years old. While they were meant to be beaten by drum sticks, I doubt they were also designed to be cleaned with alcohol or Mr. Clean.