Need advice on cleaning cymbals.

[PearlFender1]

I have a 22" Zildjian A Custom Ping Ride that I'd like to clean finger prints and stick marks off but I heard that cymbal cleaners "could" change the sound (the tone, clearity, etc.) I dont know. But could this or not be true? What I've been told is that, if I like the way my ride sounds now, then don't clean it. I'm afraid to use anything cause of that and plus, I don't want to damage the finish on the ride either. Any suggestions, ideas, or knowledge of the best way and what to use to clean my cymbals without sarcrifice or sound or looks? Thanks a lot for everything!

[revolution9]

it wont change sound, or at least it shouldnt, all it should do is just take off the brand mark. cymbal cleaners arent friendly to those. go ahead and buy a cymbal or brass cleaner. u r only at risk of the logo.

[Dman]

PearlFender, fear not. I've been using Zildjian's cleaners for over 20 years and never had any problems. For the Customs and brilliant finishes get/use the liquid cleaner (in the black bottle), for regular A's use the paste. People seem to be divided into two distinct groups. The ones who clean and the ones who don't. Dirty cymbals drive me crazy. I like how they sound when extremely clean. Nice crisp, cutting, etc. I'm sure that a purist or two might chime in on the "changing the sound". Technically, like when you wax your car, some of the material is removed every time you apply the cleaner. Now I know we don't "play" our paintjobs on our vehicles, but, that's what wax does. Cleaners take off just a microscopic layer of the cymbal. No biggie. Haven't worn any holes in my 80's Ping Ride yet. Now if you've got a cymbal that's covered with crap and the "green stuff", it's gonna sound one way. If you buff that bad boy (probably take a couple of days if it's that bad), and play it again, it will sound different than before.

Just be leary of any general metal cleaner/polish unless you've tried it before on the cymbal type you've got. Hear some stories about people swearing about this or that on their cymbals, then someone with different cymbals or finishes tries it and the cymbals turn orange.

Dman
:cool:

[drummers_4_life]

What is the green stuff?

[Beattimyer]

Copper turns green when in contact with the oxygen in the air, B20 cymbals are 80 percent copper, so over time depending how they are treated they may start to go green, if they are in moist areas, low altitudes, etc. I've had cymbals for 6 years that haven't gone green, and have friends with cymbals that are 20 or 30 years old that still aren't green, but some cymbals do go green, more quickly than others.

Besides this though, i clean my brilliant finish cymbals (a whole 2 of them) with groove juice, it works really well without a lot of work, but don't leave it on too long, or your logos will fade/peel. Sabian's logos seem to have more of a problem because groove juice really cleans up the organic material on your cymbals and Sabian uses Soy ink. However i don't clean my traditional finish cymbals, i think that kind of defeats the point and rawness to traditional finish. If you cymbal hasn't been cleaned in a while, you will notice a difference in tone after you clean it, sometimes its slight, sometimes you can really hear it, and sometimes peoples ears hear it differently too. You may or may not really notice the sound change, but they will become brighter, quicker, glassier, etc. after cleaning. I had never cleaned the brilliant finish on the bottom of my K Custom Medium ride for a year or so, and i definitly found a difference when i cleaned the bottom, it projected and cut better after that, now i clean it regularly to retain that sound and keep its tone from getting to close to the sound of another one of my ride cymbals which is darker and drier. You never know until you clean the thing really, just go ahead and clean it, the dirt will build up again and will sound similar eventually again anyway, then you will know which type you are, one who cleans, and one who doesn't.

[AppNothingPearl]

haha, this is funny. ok, well first of all, i just cleaned my friends A custom ping ride with my zildjian professional cymbal cleaning cream. went around the logos and then developed a special technique for cleaning on logos without taking them off. well to say the least, the look changed for the better, and also the TONE changed a lot. its so much better sounding, much more ping and glassyness to it. same with my A custom mastersound hats. they had been getting real dirty and i took them home from band practice one day to clean them with the cream. brought them back and as soon as i put my foot down and closed them i went "HOLY SH*@" cause they literally sounded so much crisper and glassier, i was in heaven. :)

[Rich]

I believe that if the cymbal co makes the cleaner also, they are not going to put anything in that stuuf that would harm their product. I to use Zildijan's and their cleaners and have had NO problems! Read the lable first however as they tell you that it will take off the logo in time. Rich.

[mittad]

I have Paiste cymbals and use their cleaner and have never had a problem, not even with the logos.

[vrod]

I guess most cleaners will eventually remove logos as would just rubbing with a duster. Just go steady around the logos.

[Erwt]

Well the logos isn't why you bought the cymbals in the first place, is it?

I clean all my Paiste cymbals twice a week (after band practise I use a clean, soft and dry cloth to wipe them clean). That takes care of fingerprints and dust. A few times a year I clean them with Paiste cleaner (I play Paiste)... That works great, keeps them clean and sounding great!!! (Did I say I play Paiste??? :D )

Erwt

[Shiman]

Yer ive never had a bad experience cleaning my cymbals, and nothing with the logos either, i cant even notice a sound change.

By the way Ewrt do u play paste by anychance? lol

[Erwt]

By the way Erwt do u play Paiste by anychance? lol

Nah, I hate those cymbals! :D :D :D

[Shiman]

lol!!! i know ay?