Keyhole?

[Mart]

Does a keyhole have any other aeffect other then being a cosmetic eye sore?

I notice that some vintage cymbals can be had for substantially less if they have keyholes.

 

[Coelacanth]

Does a keyhole have any other aeffect other then being a cosmetic eye sore?

I notice that some vintage cymbals can be had for substantially less if they have keyholes.

No major effect on sound. It's not even really a visual problem if you put a top felt above it.

However, keyholes are like cracks. They were caused for a reason, and will continue to grow unless something changes. In the case of keyholes, using a cymbal sleeve should stop it from growing. Keyholes are considered damage in my books because the cymbals weren't manufactured with them. And that's why they sell for less.

 

[mlayton]

ive always been kinda drawn to them in a weird way. seems like ive found some great ones with keyholes. lets me know someone liked the cymbal enough to play it that much...

mike

 

[Coelacanth]

lets me know someone liked the cymbal enough to play it that much...

...or didn't respect their fine instruments enough to protect them with sleeves.

 

[Patrick]

I have seen some keyholes that remind me of the two majorette's getting into their costumes for the big parade.

First majorette: "Oooohhh, look at your belly button!"

Second majorette: "Well you try carrying the flag then!"

Been my experience that even with sleeves and copious good care, gravity will encourage keyholes in cymbals that have a natural "tilt". It will take a while but as the majorette's noted,

cheers,

Patrick

 

[Mart]

Somewhere I've seen someone put a brass grommet in a keyhole. Would that effect the sound?

 

[Coelacanth]

Somewhere I've seen someone put a brass grommet in a keyhole. Would that effect the sound?

I doubt it would make any noticeable difference in sound. 99% of the cymbal's playing surface is away from the grommet. The centerhole of the cymbal hardly plays any role in it's sound because it's supposed to be loose to begin with; the cymbal needs to move around on the tilter/shaft.

 

[mlayton]

lets me know someone liked the cymbal enough to play it that much...

...or didn't respect their fine instruments enough to protect them with sleeves.

i spend too much time here. i could have almost pre-qouted you on that.. and i agree. i totall protect mine and the ones that i have that were keyholed when i bought them. i'm pretty anal about gear protection and care.

mike

 

[K.O.]

I don't own any cymbals wth a major keyhole (the long slot running down the bell) but I have bought several cymbals that show minor keyholing (egg shaped center hole) and have never noticed any problems as far as the sound of the cymbals (with the exception of a few "antiques" I only ever buy cymbals that sound good to me). What I have noticed is that a minor keyhole can sometimes result in a significant savings in the price. A lot of my cymbals come from Music Go Round stores that I cruise through every so often. Often a cymbal with a slight keyhole will be priced $50-$75 less than the same sized and model cymbal without any keyholing (for example, a slightly keyholed 20" ride might be $80 vs $150 for a similar one without a KH). If it's a good sounding cymbal I can certainly put up with such a minor imperfection if it saves me that much on the purchase.

I also have a ride cymbal that was repaired with a brass grommet. I bought it that way. There doesn't seem to be any effect on the sound of the cymbal. It's a 60's vintage A. Zildjian 20" ride. I think I only paid $50 for it... nice cymbal and the only thing "wrong" with it is the enlarged center hole and the grommet.

The top section of the bell of a cymbal is usually a pretty stiff area of the metal anyway and I don't think there is a lot of tonal vibrations happening there. The part that the area around the hole plays in the overall sound of a cymbal is going to be slight (if it even plays any part at all).

 

[Mart]

Thanks!!

 

[mountainhick]

Seems to me with really long keyholes (like an inch or more), if the cymbal is sitting way off center on the felt, the bell is damped, and does sound different (possibly also because of the keyhole itself. )

I actually like a little keyhole in ride cymbals. It keeps the cymbal in one place so you always know where the sweet spots are.

 

[gezz]

Somewhere I've seen someone put a brass grommet in a keyhole. Would that effect the sound?

good idea.. perfect solution

 

[RyanR]

Keyholes are usually caused by the cymbal getting munched by the threads on a stand as it rocks back and forth... steel trumps bronze in hardness.

For me, the frustration with keyholes is stuff getting off center... sometimes it can inhibit a cymbal's freedom to move on a stand. Though, a wider (wider than the keyhole) collar or cymbal crown thing on the stand can keep the cymbal where it belongs.

With hi-hats, a "keyhole" (more of an oval) from the hi-hat clutch will make the top cymbal sit on the bottom cymbal sort of funny. I learned this the hard way a long time ago as the clutch to a brand new DW hi-hat stand munch an oval in the top Sabian HH hat. Didn't take long (a few hours playing). I was definitely upset when I noticed. Tape over those threads!

-Ryan

 

[Luddite]

I used to have a Zildjian A brilliant finish 24" heavy ride with a rivetted hole---didn't seem to make a whole lot of difference in the sound. That thing was loud---and heavy! I don't think that my aged back could handle a monstrosity like that anymore!

 

[tillerva]

I have some keyholed cymbals and they're actually some of my favorite ones. I do worry that maybe they ought to be able to spin a little, but probably not a big deal.
Definitely a good way to a great deal.

 

[Midlife Corvette]

Maybe a keyhole is God's way of telling you that you are playing as much as you really ought to?