What you should know when buying second hand cymbals

There are 3 major manufacturers of cymbals but you don't have to follow the crowd. Zildjian, Sabian and Paiste may be the names you are familiar with but there are many other quality cymbals out there. Bosphorus, Istanbul and Meinl all make great cymbals and are well worth trying out too.

You should be careful when buying used cymbals as there are a few things you should look out for…

Make sure the centre hole is perfectly round; if it isn't then the cymbal has probably been mounted without a rubber sleeve on the stand. Over time the thread on the stand can act as a file, then as the cymbal moves up and down it causes the hole to become mis-shaped, this is called key holing.

Check the edges of a cymbal by running your finger and thumb around the cymbal to check for any nicks or dents. Any damage to the edge can, in some cases, lead to a crack developing and then the cymbal is virtually worthless. Cracks can also occur in the cymbal, usually running along the grooves, these can be very hard to spot. If you mount the cymbal and hit it gently you may hear a buzzing or distorted sound. This usually means there is a crack so my advice would be to leave well alone!

When you mount any cymbal you must ensure there is a rubber sleeve to stop any metal on metal contact. You should also make sure the cymbal can move freely when hit, do not over tighten the wing nut as this will cause stress on the cymbal which could lead to cracking.

When transporting your cymbals a case is essential. You must never let the edges come into contact with anything other than a drumstick, dropping a cymbal onto a concrete floor or pavement will almost certainly shorten it's life! If you look after them, cymbals should last very well. If you find you are breaking cymbals there are several things to look at: the type of cymbals you are buying may not be suitable for your style of playing, the way you are mounting and hitting them, and finally how you are transporting them.