Stop cymbal abuse! End the cycle of violence perpetuated against these victims of unchecked heavy-handedness.
Case 1: Zildjian 15″ thin crash
The victim suffered a fate all too common for crash cymbals unfortunate enough to be sold into possession of novice drummers: stress via “wingnut overtightening”. Tension at the cymbal’s center curtailed its full freedom of movement during stick impact and subsequent recoil. The result: radial torsion stress fractures originating from the cymbal’s center hole–the region where the cymbal made contact with its center mounting post. In the photograph, holes can be observed at some crack termini. These were likely drilled to prevent crack growth in a vain attempt to extend playing life. Unfortunately, not only did the victim lose all tonal character, several fractures continued past the drilled holes and flaking occurred between them.
Case 2: UFiP Class Series 14″ crash
Not all crash cymbals are created equal. Some are endowed with an inherent resilience, while others falter when their proverbial (and literal) metal is tested. The victim portrayed here was of the latter variety. During its first call to service, a deep rift tore concentrically through the the cymbal’s mid-section after only a few hits. Out of disgust with the victim’s weakness, its abuser continued to pound the cymbal without restraint over subsequent practices. This continued even though the damage had already been observed. The crash’s playing life ended when the ring fracture grew to > 2*pi/3 radians.
Case 3: Stagg 16″ medium crash
Fortunate to be owned by a comparatively experienced drummer, the victim depicted here enjoyed ample freedom to move about about its center mounting post. Unfortunately, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link: rather than sustaining damage within, this crash failed at its extremity. In this specimen, long, jagged fractures originated around sites of repeated stick impacts. It has been speculated that metal thickness at the crash’s edges was insufficient to withstand the full fury of its unrestrained, and often quite overzealous, master. It’s a shame. In its prime before the damage, the victim produced a low, colorful tone quite uncommon to most cymbals of its type. True the the recurring theme of these reports, the cymbal continued to endure repeated punishment for weeks after initial signs of damage had been observed. At the end of its protracted service life, four large flakes extricated themselves, often explosively, from the whole; usually in the direction of its band’s unsuspecting bassist.
