Using Spring
Mounts for Cymbals - Article
|
Cymbal
Mounting Springs - Good or Bad?
Most drummers
mount their cymbals onto their stands
using the stock mounts provided (i.e., a plastic "stopper" base, plastic sleeve, felt washer below, felt washer above, and a wing-nut to
hold everything in place). Although this system has
been around for years and works well, it does have
flaws. For example, once a cymbal is tightened (especially "crash" cymbals), striking the cymbal in quick succession over time can ultimately result in
bending and/or cracking around the mounting hole (because
the
plastic sleeve is easily cut). And cymbals aren't
cheap. And
if a cymbal is locked in place too tightly, then it
can
crack
along
its inner circle edges from repeated striking over
time.
Conversely, if a cymbal is mounted too loosely, then accomplishing quick multiple
hits can be difficult (since it is constantly
swinging). In fact I have noticed that excess cymbal
swinging is
a major factor in the premature breaking of drum sticks.
In short, the traditional method of cymbal mounting
requires
a good "touch" between wing nut tension and proper cymbal striking technique.
Since I generally use 16 to 18-inch diameter, thin
to medium-thin crash cymbals this complicate
things. I now use spring mounts on almost
all of my larger cymbals (not
splash cymbals), and I have never cracked or
bent a cymbal (even when you consider some of the heavy
handed players
that I've let "sit in" on my kit). Amazingly, most drummers I know have never seen spring mounts for
cymbals? But they want them after they have. They are actually known as "Cymbal Springs" (if I remember correctly). And they are made by Aquarian.
They are quite effective
if used properly. All you have to do is remove your old mount hardware and slip the cymbal spring
assembly over bare shaft of the stand. Next, you tighten
down a screw that press-fits the assembly into place
(without marring the existing threads). Once attached,
you place the cymbal over the lower rubber washer
(that's attached to the heavy gauge spring), and tighten
the upper rubber and felt washer down onto the cymbal.
Now, when you strike your cymbal, the spring moves
WITH the entire cymbal; rather than the cymbal swinging
around against a plastic sleeved, metal
shaft.
And the amount of cymbal swing per strike
is significantly reduced.
I believe there are three
reasons why more drummers don't use this device. First,
it's an added cost to the stand, second, they are not
very well marketed, and third, critics state that this
system reduces the natural ring of the cymbal.
As for the last point,
I have noticed this is true if you use the mount "as
is" on smaller diameter cymbals. However,
there's
actually
an easy solution to this; you simply place a small
diameter piece of felt against the top and bottom of
the clasping
system. This reduces the damping effect of the standard
mount's "wide rubber washers"). Then, the choking issue goes away - pretty much. The cymbal can now
ring more naturally, and
you can add
years
to the
life to any cymbal (even ones that are already cracked).
Check them out for yourself.
Click
Here to Return to Main Drum Tips and Articles Archive |
