I was at practice last night and my buddy pointed out that I had a small crack in my 17 inch Zildjian A Custom Crash. The crack itself is about 1/4 inch, but still. I'm pissed! This happened to my 16 inch crash about 6 months ago, and now this!
Two questions:
1. Why does this happen?
2. What should I do with it?

1. I have my cymbals completely flat with alot of breathing room between two felts. Am I just seting myself up for a crack?
2. I sold my 16 inch that I cracked, but I want to keep this one. So my question is, is it worth it to fix the crack, and if so, how can I fix it? And, I want to know how much it would cost.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a ton guys!








_________________
LOOKING TO SELL MY ZILDJIANS I DON'T NEED:
17" A custom Crash (1/8" crack, sounds great)
18" A custom Crash (1/8" crack, sounds great)
8" A custom Splash
18" Scimitar China

I use:
Tempus Drums
Zildjian A Custom Cymbals

Completely flat means that you're hitting squarely on the edge. That may be your only problem but I suspect that you're also driving through the cymbals instead of using a swiping motion and releasing your grip on impact.








_________________

Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

I tried fixing a crack on my 16. I drilled a hole where the crack was and every time I played on it, it cracked again. I believe you can dremel the whole area where the crack is but I've never tried that. I have a 17" also but it isn't my "main" crash. If it is your main crash you should probably have an 18" or 19" as a main (just my opinion)








_________________

Angle the cymbals toward you. Completely flat crash cymbals are usually bad.

i play with my cymbals flat too, but mine also break sometimes. i wouldn't be able to stand them not flat though, so i guess it's just the price i pay.

what i do when i'm tour and i notice a baby crack starting is take some tin snips and cut as small a chunk out of the cymbal as possible while still removing the whole crack, then sanding down the edge where i cut it so it's not razor sharp.

each time you do it the overtones get a little grosser but it sounds better then a crack will eventually.


i've done that like 7 times on one cymbal i have. it looks like this now.





it still sounds okay, especially the initial crash sound. the overtones are just weird now.








_________________

Add my band!

take a small drill bit and drill a hole about a 1/8" from where the crack ends (or it will keep cracking) I did this to 2 of my a custom crashes and the sound fine and heavent cracked anymore in a few months of being played








_________________

The way you hit your cymbals maybe your biggest problem
and The A-custom cymbals are not made for taking really
heavy hits. Also try to get the warrenty on the cymbal for two
years Zildjian offers that it is only like 40$ extra.

SGarrett wrote:

Completely flat means that you're hitting squarely on the edge. That may be your only problem but I suspect that you're also driving through the cymbals instead of using a swiping motion and releasing your grip on impact.

That's most likely the case. I feel stupid not knowing that, but hey, I guess you learn something everyday.
Thanks alot for the advise everyone!








_________________
LOOKING TO SELL MY ZILDJIANS I DON'T NEED:
17" A custom Crash (1/8" crack, sounds great)
18" A custom Crash (1/8" crack, sounds great)
8" A custom Splash
18" Scimitar China

I use:
Tempus Drums
Zildjian A Custom Cymbals

u say u were playing "last night". how late and how cold. I had a A zildjian 16" Rock crash, and it had a crack, just like yours i presume, within 3 months TOPS. i think i deduced it down to the temperature of the cymbal when you hit it. if its cold, it will fracture easier. the Zildian hand book thing i got sometime, recomends to keep them out of 'low' temperatures. JMO. AND, i got it looked at, and thay said they'd replace it 4 me. COZ a 1 year warrantee, but they have 2 inspect in 'n' stuff. check it out...

Gd luck

Wow, your that good?

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

ive been lucky, ive yet to break a cymbal, my oldest cymbal is about 4yrs old, a 16" ZXT at that, but because i dont smash through them they seem to last alot longer and actually sound better.

xrftsx wrote:

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

Cymbal angle matters a great deal, actually. If you have them set flat for a showy appearance, expect to break you cymbals on a regular basis.








_________________

Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

SGarrett wrote:

xrftsx wrote:

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

Cymbal angle matters a great deal, actually. If you have them set flat for a showy appearance, expect to break you cymbals on a regular basis.

very, very true.








_________________

Add my band!

rundylanrunn wrote:

Boy, that thing died a long time ago! Bury it and let it R.I.P.!!!








_________________
http://www.myspace.com/dannydrumperc

haha. never!

i actually only use it for a practice cymabl, so i don't screw up my nice ones.








_________________

Add my band!

xrftsx wrote:

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

what do you mean by a "glancing blow"? Kinda pulling your arm away after you crash instead of driving through it?








_________________
LOOKING TO SELL MY ZILDJIANS I DON'T NEED:
17" A custom Crash (1/8" crack, sounds great)
18" A custom Crash (1/8" crack, sounds great)
8" A custom Splash
18" Scimitar China

I use:
Tempus Drums
Zildjian A Custom Cymbals

deluxe74 wrote:

xrftsx wrote:

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

what do you mean by a "glancing blow"? Kinda pulling your arm away after you crash instead of driving through it?

Hit it like you're trying to slice a deli thin piece off the top. You can't do that if you drive straight though it, can you? You have to "swipe" the cymbal instead of bashing it. It's also important to release your grip when you hit your cymbals. Don't hold the sticks really tightly.








_________________

Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

Spacifically, the andgle of the cymbal, doesnt matter, the angle of the hit however, Does. So just Be careful when u hit it.

Gabbo, Gabbo, Gabbo... wrote:

Spacifically, the andgle of the cymbal, doesnt matter, the angle of the hit however, Does. So just Be careful when u hit it.

The cymbal companies strongly disagree with that.








_________________

Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

SGarrett wrote:

Gabbo, Gabbo, Gabbo... wrote:

Spacifically, the andgle of the cymbal, doesnt matter, the angle of the hit however, Does. So just Be careful when u hit it.

The cymbal companies strongly disagree with that.

Besides, wouldn't the angle of the cymbal directly affect the angle you hit it at? Sheesh.








_________________
\m/ Grind On \m/,

Jim
www.cardiacarrest666.com.com
www.50caliberdrummer.com
Endorsed by: Axis Percussion & Grindstix

SGarrett wrote:

deluxe74 wrote:

xrftsx wrote:

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

what do you mean by a "glancing blow"? Kinda pulling your arm away after you crash instead of driving through it?

Hit it like you're trying to slice a deli thin piece off the top. You can't do that if you drive straight though it, can you? You have to "swipe" the cymbal instead of bashing it. It's also important to release your grip when you hit your cymbals. Don't hold the sticks really tightly.

Wow, well thanks alot for the tip... I NEVER knew that!! Do most pro drummers bash?








_________________
LOOKING TO SELL MY ZILDJIANS I DON'T NEED:
17" A custom Crash (1/8" crack, sounds great)
18" A custom Crash (1/8" crack, sounds great)
8" A custom Splash
18" Scimitar China

I use:
Tempus Drums
Zildjian A Custom Cymbals

deluxe74 wrote:

SGarrett wrote:

deluxe74 wrote:

xrftsx wrote:

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

what do you mean by a "glancing blow"? Kinda pulling your arm away after you crash instead of driving through it?

Hit it like you're trying to slice a deli thin piece off the top. You can't do that if you drive straight though it, can you? You have to "swipe" the cymbal instead of bashing it. It's also important to release your grip when you hit your cymbals. Don't hold the sticks really tightly.

Wow, well thanks alot for the tip... I NEVER knew that!! Do most pro drummers bash?

You're very welcome. Over-exaggerate the motion until you get used to it and then you can bring it down to a small motion.

It depends on the genre. A lot of metal drummers are bashers, but I wouldn't say most of them.








_________________

Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

I angled my cymbals when I was a kid, and ruined a bunch of them from thrashing too hard; turned 'em inside out, cracked em, etc...

These days I like them low and flat, but I haven't broken any. I believe it's more the way you strike them that matters than the way you angle them. I think if any cymbal companies say you HAVE to angle them, they're just covering their liabilities.

those are just my personal experiences; I use a flatter cymbal arrangement, mount them loose enough to swing freely, and try not to sledgehammer them.

I'm not recommending it, I'm just saying I haven't had any problems from this approach.








_________________
analog missionary
M=yspace

Overly angled isn't any better. That's why everyone says "slight angle". What that does is allow your stick to strike a larger surface of the cymbal which produces a better over-all tone and allows more of the metal to take the blow.








_________________

Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

maybe its just me, but the only cymbals ive broken was a 20" ZBT ride and a 18" zxt thin crash when i firsts started.








_________________
--wes the bear.

Pearl, Zildjian, Remo, Pro-Mark, Jones Custom Drums

Gabbo, Gabbo, Gabbo... wrote:

u say u were playing "last night". how late and how cold. I had a A zildjian 16" Rock crash, and it had a crack, just like yours i presume, within 3 months TOPS. i think i deduced it down to the temperature of the cymbal when you hit it. if its cold, it will fracture easier. the Zildian hand book thing i got sometime, recomends to keep them out of 'low' temperatures. JMO. AND, i got it looked at, and thay said they'd replace it 4 me. COZ a 1 year warrantee, but they have 2 inspect in 'n' stuff. check it out...

Gd luck

Ya cymbals get messed up if they are in the cold for a long time thats
why if my band plays outdoors at night i keep my cymbals in the car until
i have to set up.

PDP9000 wrote:

Gabbo, Gabbo, Gabbo... wrote:

u say u were playing "last night". how late and how cold. I had a A zildjian 16" Rock crash, and it had a crack, just like yours i presume, within 3 months TOPS. i think i deduced it down to the temperature of the cymbal when you hit it. if its cold, it will fracture easier. the Zildian hand book thing i got sometime, recomends to keep them out of 'low' temperatures. JMO. AND, i got it looked at, and thay said they'd replace it 4 me. COZ a 1 year warrantee, but they have 2 inspect in 'n' stuff. check it out...

Gd luck

Ya cymbals get messed up if they are in the cold for a long time thats
why if my band plays outdoors at night i keep my cymbals in the car until
i have to set up.

It was indoors, so they were room temp, good thing to know though!








_________________
LOOKING TO SELL MY ZILDJIANS I DON'T NEED:
17" A custom Crash (1/8" crack, sounds great)
18" A custom Crash (1/8" crack, sounds great)
8" A custom Splash
18" Scimitar China

I use:
Tempus Drums
Zildjian A Custom Cymbals

For the most part I've always setup my cymbals "flat"...or perpendicular to the floor. I've broken a cymbal or 2 over the years....but I write those off to just and odd hit or improper technique. I don't break cymbals as a rule....but I have friends who eat them up every few months or so. I'm convinced that it boils down to technique more than anything...inlcuding the angle of the cymbal. 2 things that I do notice a lot of drummers doing.....is tightening down the wingnuts so tight....that the cymbal cannot freely vibrate....which it is designed to do. If it's clamped down so tight that it can't freely move.....the impact of the stick has nowhere to go but "thru" the cymbal...which will take it's toll on it after constant "abuse". The other thing is the way you hit them. I agree with SGarrett on this completely. Your grip should "loosen" as you're completing your cymbal stroke. It goes the same for hitting the drums. I get just as much volume and power on my cymbals and drums...with a grip so loose that the sticks almost fall out of my hands!








_________________
www.squirrelmurphy.com
www.myspace.com/fleabear

SGarrett wrote:

xrftsx wrote:

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

Cymbal angle matters a great deal, actually. If you have them set flat for a showy appearance, expect to break you cymbals on a regular basis.

i completely disagree. the angle really doesnt matter, its the angle of you hitting the cymbal. you can have a cymbal at any angle as long as you still hit it at the right angle.








_________________
PDP, Tama, and Pearl Drums
DW, Pearl, and Gibraltar Hardware
Sabian, Zildjian, and Saluda Cymbals

www.myspace.com/EOTEband

EOTE_drummer wrote:

SGarrett wrote:

xrftsx wrote:

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

Cymbal angle matters a great deal, actually. If you have them set flat for a showy appearance, expect to break you cymbals on a regular basis.

i completely disagree. the angle really doesnt matter, its the angle of you hitting the cymbal. you can have a cymbal at any angle as long as you still hit it at the right angle.

Then we'll have to agree to disagree.








_________________

Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

deluxe74 wrote:

I was at practice last night and my buddy pointed out that I had a small crack in my 17 inch Zildjian A Custom Crash. The crack itself is about 1/4 inch, but still. I'm pissed! This happened to my 16 inch crash about 6 months ago, and now this!
Two questions:
1. Why does this happen?
2. What should I do with it?

1. I have my cymbals completely flat with alot of breathing room between two felts. Am I just seting myself up for a crack?
2. I sold my 16 inch that I cracked, but I want to keep this one. So my question is, is it worth it to fix the crack, and if so, how can I fix it? And, I want to know how much it would cost.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a ton guys!

Are you playing metal or really heavy music? Keep in mind those cymbols were not designed for that type of music, which might be the issue. I recently had this discussion with the head of percussion for guitar Center in New York.








_________________

rundylanrunn wrote:

i play with my cymbals flat too, but mine also break sometimes. i wouldn't be able to stand them not flat though, so i guess it's just the price i pay.

what i do when i'm tour and i notice a baby crack starting is take some tin snips and cut as small a chunk out of the cymbal as possible while still removing the whole crack, then sanding down the edge where i cut it so it's not razor sharp.

each time you do it the overtones get a little grosser but it sounds better then a crack will eventually.


i've done that like 7 times on one cymbal i have. it looks like this now.


that's interesting, maybe that way you prevented from cracking all the way through also. And potentially saving your symbol for longer.


it still sounds okay, especially the initial crash sound. the overtones are just weird now.

_________________

MarSin wrote:

deluxe74 wrote:

I was at practice last night and my buddy pointed out that I had a small crack in my 17 inch Zildjian A Custom Crash. The crack itself is about 1/4 inch, but still. I'm pissed! This happened to my 16 inch crash about 6 months ago, and now this!
Two questions:
1. Why does this happen?
2. What should I do with it?

1. I have my cymbals completely flat with alot of breathing room between two felts. Am I just seting myself up for a crack?
2. I sold my 16 inch that I cracked, but I want to keep this one. So my question is, is it worth it to fix the crack, and if so, how can I fix it? And, I want to know how much it would cost.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a ton guys!

Are you playing metal or really heavy music? Keep in mind those cymbols were not designed for that type of music, which might be the issue. I recently had this discussion with the head of percussion for guitar Center in New York.

Lars Ulrich uses A Customs.








_________________

Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

If you cant fix the crack try getting a Z Custom, they'r for Zildjians heavy hitters.

I've seen Tempesta use them before.








_________________
Hey My names Dave
Slingerland, Yamaha and sonor acoustic drums
Alesis Dm5Pro E-kit (recording kit)
Saluda Cymbals
I want a Medicine Man Snare
Iron Drake is my home boy

xrftsx wrote:

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

that warrenty ZIldjian offers is great.

I used to break cymbals alot when i first started playing, but as time has went on i havnt broke one in over year and a half, i think my problem was a combination of bad technique cause i used to hit really hard and straight on especially at practice and giging, and i use to use 2b sticks, i play with my cymbals almost flat now and it hasnt been a problem








_________________
http://www.myspace.com/socket2me

deluxe74 wrote:

I was at practice last night and my buddy pointed out that I had a small crack in my 17 inch Zildjian A Custom Crash. The crack itself is about 1/4 inch, but still. I'm pissed! This happened to my 16 inch crash about 6 months ago, and now this!
Two questions:
1. Why does this happen?
2. What should I do with it?

1. I have my cymbals completely flat with alot of breathing room between two felts. Am I just seting myself up for a crack?
2. I sold my 16 inch that I cracked, but I want to keep this one. So my question is, is it worth it to fix the crack, and if so, how can I fix it? And, I want to know how much it would cost.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a ton guys!

That exact same thing happened to me a few months ago. Since then i've just gone with heavier cymbals and havn't broken one since








_________________
www.myspace.com/libidobanshee

SGarrett wrote:

deluxe74 wrote:

xrftsx wrote:

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

what do you mean by a "glancing blow"? Kinda pulling your arm away after you crash instead of driving through it?

Hit it like you're trying to slice a deli thin piece off the top. You can't do that if you drive straight though it, can you? You have to "swipe" the cymbal instead of bashing it. It's also important to release your grip when you hit your cymbals. Don't hold the sticks really tightly.

How much do you exaggerate the motion? Should it be more of a ) or a V?

If someone could link/make a video on it, I think that would be great.

[quote="NG1284"]

SGarrett wrote:

deluxe74 wrote:

xrftsx wrote:

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

what do you mean by a "glancing blow"? Kinda pulling your arm away after you crash instead of driving through it?

Hit it like you're trying to slice a deli thin piece off the top. You can't do that if you drive straight though it, can you? You have to "swipe" the cymbal instead of bashing it. It's also important to release your grip when you hit your cymbals. Don't hold the sticks really tightly.

How much do you exaggerate the motion? Should it be more of a ) or a V?

If someone could link/make a video on it, I think that would be great.[/quote]
YES!








_________________
LOOKING TO SELL MY ZILDJIANS I DON'T NEED:
17" A custom Crash (1/8" crack, sounds great)
18" A custom Crash (1/8" crack, sounds great)
8" A custom Splash
18" Scimitar China

I use:
Tempus Drums
Zildjian A Custom Cymbals

SGarrett wrote:

Hit it like you're trying to slice a deli thin piece off the top.

I love it








_________________

I love Cheese and drums wrote:

If you cant fix the crack try getting a Z Custom, they'r for Zildjians heavy hitters.

I've seen Tempesta use them before.

i used to break the A Customs within the first month. i switched to Z Customs and i haven't gone back. they're thicker and they sound awesome. i would use A Customs for certain sounds but Z Customs for my main crashes now.

but, it is technique. you need to train yourself to do the sweeping motion.

Wow I started drumming at around 16yrs old and I am now 37. I have never broken a cymbal at all, regardless of what type of music I was playing. Lol (knock on wood) I have some brand new A Customs I am using now. I do agree with everyone that mentioned about proper technique. When I used to play metal, for some reason I thought I had to hold my sticks sooo tightly. I don't know if it was just the music or what. I found that ALL I was doing was wearing myself out, and that I could lay even better with a looser hold of the sticks.

I love Cheese and drums wrote:

If you cant fix the crack try getting a Z Custom, they'r for Zildjians heavy hitters.

I've seen Tempesta use them before.

Z customs are pretty thick. and they are definately the most likely to break out of any zildjian cast cymbal due to thiere thickness








_________________

SGarrett wrote:

xrftsx wrote:

the angle of the cymbal shouldn't matter.
but use glancing blows when you hit. like kinda in a swiping motion,
if you have had the cymbal with under a year and you have the reciept then you can send it to zildjian and they'll replace it cause zildjian has a one year warrenty

Cymbal angle matters a great deal, actually. If you have them set flat for a showy appearance, expect to break you cymbals on a regular basis.

True, but I for example, play they all flat but they are set very low. That way I can hit them at a proper angle. I broke my last cymbal about 6 years ago. I've broken about 4. But, they were very old. That was back when I had them set up at an angle. Nowadays, I'm not breaking any, but I also hit softer now. -D








_________________
http://www.sixstringsensei.com • Drummer • Guitarist • Lyricist • Graphic Designer • Jack of all trades, master of some!

Fleabear wrote:

For the most part I've always setup my cymbals "flat"...or perpendicular to the floor. I've broken a cymbal or 2 over the years....but I write those off to just and odd hit or improper technique. I don't break cymbals as a rule....but I have friends who eat them up every few months or so. I'm convinced that it boils down to technique more than anything...inlcuding the angle of the cymbal. 2 things that I do notice a lot of drummers doing.....is tightening down the wingnuts so tight....that the cymbal cannot freely vibrate....which it is designed to do. If it's clamped down so tight that it can't freely move.....the impact of the stick has nowhere to go but "thru" the cymbal...which will take it's toll on it after constant "abuse". The other thing is the way you hit them. I agree with SGarrett on this completely. Your grip should "loosen" as you're completing your cymbal stroke. It goes the same for hitting the drums. I get just as much volume and power on my cymbals and drums...with a grip so loose that the sticks almost fall out of my hands!