Modding Cymbals

[mightyboy88]

Hi , i saw some old threads on cymbals being modded by drilling and adding nuts and bolts.

May i know if it is easy , what equipment is necessary and how will it affect the sound ?

I have a Pearl CX200 crash/ride which i am using as a crash which doesnt really sound ideal as it is too loud and low pitched . Is there a way to zeng the 18" crash/ride sound into a 16" crash sound ?

 

[Composer of Requiems]

Well, first up I've gotta say that whatever work you do on that CX200, it's like polishing a turd. You can't really get a 16" crash sound out of it- well, that is, if what you have in mind is the sound from a good 16" cymbal made by one of those big brands out there. Even if you cut down your 18" to 16", it'll still sound quite similar.

That aside, you can still get pretty decent effects out of it. You'll need a metal drill. Do you have a power drill at home? Check if you have a metal-drilling bit for it, if you don't, then go get one from homefix DIY or something like that. Secure the cymbal tightly, then slowly and carefully make a small hole in it. After that, then you add in a nut or bolt.

You can ask Myner about hammering. Hahahaha I tried that on one of my cheap brass crashes (the CX200 is an example, but I used a Tama cymbal) and it kinda screwed up, but the sound really dried up as expected. So I guess it IS possible to change the sound significantly.