A lot of drummers like to have clean and shiny cymbals. Clean cymbals have a brighter (can we say cleaner?) tone and they look great on stage. Then there are those who think a bit of patina adds character. And there are devotees of grungy cymbals who just can't get enough of that well-aged look and sound.
And what if you value that worn-in sound and look, but want to keep your nearly new cymbals?
Some drummers like to help the aging process along by treating their cymbals to a variety of techniques that claim to hasten the cymbal ageing process.
Note that there are no guarantees and no recommendations here. Note also that many modern cymbals have a light coat of protective lacquer which must be removed if you're to make any headway with an ageing project.
Patina Happens
Cymbals are made of bronze, and bronze will tarnish. Patina (surface discolouration) occurs when the surface metal of the cymbal interacts with certain elements in the environment. Removing patina means removing the top layer of the cymbal, and if you do that, your cymbal will probably sound like it's brand new regardless of its age. Patina, by the way, protects the cymbal from further corrosion.
Getting Down To Earth
A simple trick is to bury the cymbal in the back yard or perhaps out in the woods (don't forget to mark the spot, make a map or both). Leave the cymbal there for three months or more and then dig up a cymbal that's been aged in doggie years. Here’s an interesting video wherein Sabian buries a bunch of cymbals.
In a Fine Pickle
A highly rated technique is pickle juice. The process calls for covering the cymbal with the juice and a dash of salt. Then you just watch the magic happen -- seriously, this will turn your cymbal green pretty fast. Apparently pickled onion juice works best.
Fumée Bronze
Ammonia fumes love to react with bronze. In this scenario you'll need a container large enough to hold the cymbal. You prep the cymbal with salt (saline gives a more even result) then put it on a platform inside your container of choice. Add a dish of ammonia or two and close the lid. You'll begin to see changes within a few hours. Allow a week or more for maximum effect, which can be both dramatic and beautiful.
Maybe, Maybe Not
There are reports of drummers taking their bronze to the beach and immersing them in the briny deep. If you're headed that way, why not? This one's not on the short list of aging suggestions as evidence at this point is purely anecdotal. A technique that is recommended, though, is a mixture of salt and lemon juice (some people swear by coffee grounds). Brush the brew evenly onto your cymbal, wait a few hours and voila!
The good news is that it's almost impossible to harm a cymbal with any of these tricks, so if you don't like the result, a good cleaning can usually set things right.
Want more ageing options? Check out rdavidr's video.
Photo credit: Nadezhda Bolotina, Dreamstime.com