SAVING SIZZLE CYMBALS

Hello all you young whippersnappers!  I know you guys are busy playing your big old 20 and 22-inch rock and roll crashes, but let me tell you about an interesting cymbal variety from back in the ancient days when guys in dress suits played a style of music called "Jazz."

You may look at this photo of a little tiny 18-inch crash cymbal and think, "Hey!  This cymbal is obviously defective!  It has holes punched in it!"

Well, no, actually these holes are supposed to be there, because this is what was known as a "Sizzle Cymbal."  Back in the day, some really cool and talented drummers used to install rivets on the edge of a crash or ride to achieve this effect.  Maybe even a bottom hi-hat!  Eventually cymbal manufacturers like Zildjian began making cymbals with the rivets factory-installed, although nowadays the offerings are very few.  And when I say "very few" I'm talking like.....two.  On their website I found one ride and the Swish Knocker.  That's it.  I guess they're just not doing the rivet thing anymore.

Now, I know nowadays you can simply purchase a "Sizzle Chain" for 20 bucks and dangle that across your cymbal, and this provides you with the option to turn the sizzle effect on and off whenever you so desire, but there was a time when drummers were so committed to this sound they actually drilled holes to prove it.  From then on there was no turning back, unless of course the rivets fell out and were lost, or were deliberately removed.

In either case, sometimes I come across these vintage beauties and have an uncontrollable urge to re-install the rivets and return them to their original purpose.

Why do I do this?  Because I am an idiot with loads of money to throw away on random percussion projects, and I just can't pass up a Sizzle Cymbal that has the holes but not the rivets!

To complete this kind of project, it is best if you have access to a rivet punch.  That's how to do it quickly and most easily.  However it can be done with a standard ball peen hammer and some grim determination if you are patient and careful.  I have done it both ways and I really prefer the punch method.

Cymbal rivets are produced by Zildjian and Sabian and are easy enough to find on Ebay or perhaps even your local music store, but again, you're going to have to install them yourself.  And that's only if your cymbal already has the holes.  I've never drilled my own holes though I'm guessing it wouldn't be that hard if you had a drill press.  Still, I don't think I would risk it on my Zildjians.

So here's what my 18" cymbal looks like now with all the rivets installed.  Whoopee.  Of course, I know this photograph doesn't really convey anything spectacular so here is a brief video to show what it actually sounds like:

Now who wouldn't like that?  I absolutely love the sound.  I think it's spell-binding. You might even say I find it.....RIVETING!