My hats is broke

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JFogarty

JFogarty

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Ok, I have a drum set from the late 60s that sounds pefect for what I do (old school wanna be Meters funk). The most funky part of this set is the high hats.

Now, heres the trouble. They're old, and there is about a 2 inch. crack on the bottom hat. :( Is there anyway to take this so a shop and have em fix it with out ruinning the funky tone, is there something I can do to stop it from spreading myself? Or am I screwed, and I should just get some new hats that will be much less funky??
 
I've heard you can drill a hole at the end of the crack to prevent it from further cracking. If you do this, you'll probably also want to cut out a section from the crack to prevent the two edges from buzzing.

I know what you mean about the old hats. I used to have a pair of late 60's Zildjian hats that I borrowed from a friend. I never wanted to give them back - so warm and smooth sounding.
 
That's what you do but as a rule they do begin to crack again with time. Use a good sharp drill bit and a drill with a good amount of tork. It's best to lay the cymabal on a piece of wood to hold it steady. The good news is that you can usually find the bottom Zildjian because most people crack the top one from beating on it. Good Luck
 
Must be me. In all my years playing I've cracked on a couple of Hi Hat's and it was always the top. I've helped drill a few too and funny, top again. But it's gotta be 50/50 thing. Somebody's gotta be crackin those bottoms.
Peace
 
drilling holes might slow the tearing of the cymbal but in the end it will crack even more. Sorry, but you're doomed for a new hi-hat. May i recommend zildjian A custom or Zildjian A custom projections, or even Sabian hhx.
 
Now that I think about it, it was the top hat, and I just switched it to the bottom so that it would hopefully crack less. How much time can I hope to get out of this drilling thing?
 
How much time can I hope to get out of this drilling thing?
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Hopefully enough time for you to locate a suitable replacement. You can probably get another month or two, but that's pretty subjective - depends on how hard you hit, how often you play, and how much the cymbal wants to crack. The crack may just stop altogether. I've got a crack on one of my crashes that has been stuck at 1/2" in length for a couple years.
 
Where would you guys recommend I look for some new hats? I don't want to get a set that will sound weird with the rest of my set. Are there any new high hats out there with a soft vintage feel?
 
I would try out those A Zildjian & Cie Vintage HiHats. I haven't heard them, but have seen ads for them, and they proclaim to sound like vintage hats. Also, the Paiste Traditional line of cymbals proclaim similar things. I'm a Paiste guy myself, but I'd check them both out.
 
I just read this today...

check this link:
http://www.drumlink.com/crashtest/default.asp?cmd=view&articleid=37

"But the 13" Groove Hats are damn close to Zigaboo Modeliste playing that "Cissy Strut" with The Meters. Funky retro.
"
I have a HHX 21 Dry Ride and I just bought the 14" groove hats and they are VERY funky. Imagine the dirt from hand hammered K type cymbals but the projection of A custom /AAX cymabls and that's what they are. They are a bit on the pricey side but I don't think I will EVER buy another set of hi-hats again . ( and I am quite the cymbal whore...)

hope this helps...

nP
 
I used to have a very old set of Paiste high hats. Best sounding set of hats I've ever used. I sure miss 'em. Way funky.

You're buying some time already by switching the hats around. The hat is cracked, so it's more or less done for already - I'd go ahead and drill it. Once it starts a good split around a groove it's gonna be useless.
 
Re: I just read this today...

nezpierce said:
check this link:
http://www.drumlink.com/crashtest/default.asp?cmd=view&articleid=37

"But the 13" Groove Hats are damn close to Zigaboo Modeliste playing that "Cissy Strut" with The Meters. Funky retro.
"
I have a HHX 21 Dry Ride and I just bought the 14" groove hats and they are VERY funky. Imagine the dirt from hand hammered K type cymbals but the projection of A custom /AAX cymabls and that's what they are. They are a bit on the pricey side but I don't think I will EVER buy another set of hi-hats again . ( and I am quite the cymbal whore...)

hope this helps...

nP
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Good find. If those hi hats sound meters-y at all, I'll buy em, (when I have the money) in a second.

I'm a groove junky. Put the word groove in a product and I'll buy it. I checked the sound clip of those hats on musiciansfriend.com and they sound alot like my old hats. Just need about 30 some odd years of breaking in :)
 
PhilGood said:
Can this be where it all started???? :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
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Let's see - this thread was started in 2001, which would make myhatbroke 11 or 12 (which he still is emotionally) at the time. So I vote no.

But how hard do have to be hitting to crack a hat? :eek:
 
MadAudio said:
But how hard do have to be hitting to crack a hat? :eek:
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It's actually pretty easy to crack a cymbal or set of hats if you hit them wrong.
 
never cracked a hat or cymbal

& IME if your cymbal/hat is cracked play it untill it dies............& then spend a nasty amount of cash on constantinople zildjian hats
 
slidey said:
never cracked a hat or cymbal

& IME if your cymbal/hat is cracked play it untill it dies............& then spend a nasty amount of cash on constantinople zildjian hats
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Or an equally nasty amount of cash on some Paiste Signatures :D I've broken more Zildjians than every other brand combined :eek:
 
Atterion said:
Or an equally nasty amount of cash on some Paiste Signatures :D I've broken more Zildjians than every other brand combined :eek:
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obviously a jazz player then :D

actually my favourite paiste brand is the sig. series & some of the 3000 series

I'VE GOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a black label 2002 20" crash dated 1979 :D :D :D

I love zildjians heck I love cymbals especially old ones
 
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