Sizzle Chain Chokes Cymbal

[Rattlin' Bones]

I use a 22" very light 2300g Bos New Orleans as my primary ride for small jazz combos. It excites quickly and is not pingy. A jazz sound not a rock or country sound.

I tried a sizzle chain on it, and actually lost a bit of sizzle. It sounded more choked. More dull. More flat. The sizzle chain wasn't full length it didn't goto edge of cymbal. More like 3/4 of cymbal in length.

Are there certain cymbal categories or cymbal characteristics that just don't work with a sizzle chain? Was chain too short?

 

[CKV]

M

I use a 22" very light 2300g Bos New Orleans as my primary ride for small jazz combos. It excites quickly and is not pingy. A jazz sound not a rock or country sound.

I tried a sizzle chain on it, and actually lost a bit of sizzle. It sounded more choked. More dull. More flat. The sizzle chain wasn't full length it didn't goto edge of cymbal. More like 3/4 of cymbal in length.

Are there certain cymbal categories or cymbal characteristics that just don't work with a sizzle chain? Was chain too short?

My 2 cents’ worth - chains seem to add a bit of stick definition, and shorten the wash/sustain - plus add the “sizzle” sound of course. The effects seem more pronounced on thinner/lighter cymbals. If the chain reaches all the way to the edge, or hangs over, it shortens the sustain even more. Rivets, even just one or two, seem to keep all three - more stick, ample sustain, sizzle sound - but permanent - you can take rivets out, but the holes are forever

 

[DrumPhil]

I have a sizzle chain and I never use it. I found the same problem: the chain dramatically reduced the sustain of the cymbal. One of the main uses for my sizzle cymbal is a long sustained soft crash, and the chain kills that. It defeats the purpose. A cymbal with rivets works great, so that’s the solution I’m staying with.

 

[Rattlin' Bones]

I have a sizzle chain and I never use it. I found the same problem: the chain dramatically reduced the sustain of the cymbal. One of the main uses for my sizzle cymbal is a long sustained soft crash, and the chain kills that. It defeats the purpose. A cymbal with rivets works great, so that’s the solution I’m staying with.

M

My 2 cents’ worth - chains seem to add a bit of stick definition, and shorten the wash/sustain - plus add the “sizzle” sound of course. The effects seem more pronounced on thinner/lighter cymbals. If the chain reaches all the way to the edge, or hangs over, it shortens the sustain even more. Rivets, even just one or two, seem to keep all three - more stick, ample sustain, sizzle sound - but permanent - you can take rivets out, but the holes are forever

When I tried it, any sizzle the cymbal had by itself was muffled. I honestly could no longer hear any sizzle from cymbal with sizzle chain on. Well, maybe a little sizzle barely tapping the cymbal but I'd never play like that.

 

[premierplayer]

Chain not to short. Longer the chain, worse it gets.
Try a rivet tied to a piece of 2# monofilament fishing line, loop the line over the mount post.
Light sewing thread is a option.
Too many rivets will also choke a cymbal.
I have a 22 KDM, came with 4 rivet cluster, I use 1 - rivet.

 

[Tama CW]

You could experiment with some twine with rivets or fine nails/screws/nuts tiied into it. Shouldn't be as heavy or as stiffling as a linked chain.
The twine will tend to float above the cymbal.

 

[2oo2]

Yes, the chain's weight is going to inhibit cymbal movement to some degree, so shorter sustain and less overtones. Maybe try placing the chain underneath the cymbal (jk ).

You could try with a very short section of chain (1 or 2 inches) attached to a string, you run the string from the bell and place the piece of chain exactly where you want it, so not to have a full-lenght chain hanging from the bell.

 

[Rattlin' Bones]

Yes, the chain's weight is going to inhibit cymbal movement to some degree, so shorter sustain and less overtones. Maybe try placing the chain underneath the cymbal (jk ).

You could try with a very short section of chain (1 or 2 inches) attached to a string, you run the string from the bell and place the piece of chain exactly where you want it, so not to have a full-lenght chain hanging from the bell.

I may try and put some tape on stand just above bell but not touching, and then hang chain on top of it so it doesn't contact the bellow or innermost diameter of cymbal.

 

[Blue Zurich]

I know of some items which do not choke cymbals as much but you have to DM me about them as I want to follow the Mods rules

 

[glaze148]

I love using a small piece of gaffers tape and a single dime
Position it in different places until I get the effect I’m looking for.
A penny works also.
I have found the choking issue as well when using a chain at different lengths

 

[Action_Potential]

All “chains” will be too heavy. Instead Can buy a used women’s necklace chain and modify. Can find ones much thinner and delicate than “cymbal” chains...or anything from a hardware store.
I bought one used women’s necklace for $2 at a art store. Can attach a small rivet or washer or bar / medallion at the end. This will minimize any energy loss into a heavy chain.
However Problem with chain - even my necklace style - is any chain or piece attached at the end will experience escape velocity. There’s an ideal tempo and force you strike cymbal with and chain sizzles just right, but too much force and the end will jump off / escape... Where as rivets just become more excited and vibrate at higher frequency. Rivets give that beautiful swell with crashes that cannot be achieved with any other method.

This chain is maybe 1mm thick.
Also - I attach a small hook above the felt - you can see that it does not make contact with the bell.

At any rate - I plan to open my new business called "Drum Jewelry". I'm sure to make millions of dollars.

 

[Cliff DeArment]

I love using a small piece of gaffers tape and a single dime
Position it in different places until I get the effect I’m looking for.
A penny works also.
I have found the choking issue as well when using a chain at different lengths

I use that too, with a few very small washers in various spots. Can be fun messing around with different sizes, metals, etc.

 

[Kcmcc]

Take some dental floss - tie it to the end of the chain. tie the other end to the stand post - as high as possible - make sure that the length of floss is long enough to get all the way past the bell and the “transition” from bow to bell, but not so long that the chain hangs over the edge. Lying across the bell and “connecting” the bell with the bow is a big part of what is choking the sound so much. I will take a picture later if this isn’t making sense.

 

[zenstat]

Take some dental floss - tie it to the end of the chain. tie the other end to the stand post - as high as possible - make sure that the length of floss is long enough to get all the way past the bell and the “transition” from bow to bell, but not so long that the chain hangs over the edge. Lying across the bell and “connecting” the bell with the bow is a big part of what is choking the sound so much. I will take a picture later if this isn’t making sense.

The original pic of the Mers Dental Floss method from Cymbalholic 2012.

 

[1988fxlr]

Maybe a setup that avoids the bell would leave more life than the chain. Something like this might be worth a shot

AHEAD Vintage Cymbal Fizzler | Big Bang Distribution

This adjustable vintage style cymbal fizzler gives you the rich sound of a riveted cymbal without having to drill any holes into your cymbals. It’s infinite ...

www.aheaddrumsticks.com

 

[premierplayer]

Maybe a setup that avoids the bell would leave more life than the chain. Something like this might be worth a shot

AHEAD Vintage Cymbal Fizzler | Big Bang Distribution

This adjustable vintage style cymbal fizzler gives you the rich sound of a riveted cymbal without having to drill any holes into your cymbals. It’s infinite ...

www.aheaddrumsticks.com

link not working here?
cymbal fizzler?

 

[1988fxlr]

link not working here?
cymbal fizzler?

Yeah

 

[GiveMeYourSmallestSticks!]

This happens with too many rivets, or even rivets that are a bit heavier. I've found the steel rivets really deaden a cymbal, whereas brass rivets are significantly lighter and don't choke it as much. A whole chain definitely has the capacity to do the same.

 

[2oo2]

Ahead 6mm Adjustable Vintage Style Cymbal Fizzler with Rivets

This adjustable vintage style cymbal fizzler gives you the rich sound of a riveted cymbal without having to drill any holes into your cymbals. It’s infinitely adjustable locking dual-arm design allows you to enhance your cymbal sound with 4 or 8 steel rivets in the sweetest spots of each cymbal...

www.drumcenternh.com

That's a pretty over-engineered solution to a simple task, but looks very well designed. I can see myself rotating the cymbal under those rivets and making everyone cringe...

 

[Action_Potential]

Ahead 6mm Adjustable Vintage Style Cymbal Fizzler with Rivets

This adjustable vintage style cymbal fizzler gives you the rich sound of a riveted cymbal without having to drill any holes into your cymbals. It’s infinitely adjustable locking dual-arm design allows you to enhance your cymbal sound with 4 or 8 steel rivets in the sweetest spots of each cymbal...

www.drumcenternh.com

That's a pretty over-engineered solution to a simple task, but looks very well designed. I can see myself rotating the cymbal under those rivets and making everyone cringe...

Agreed. My drum jewelry is much more attractive, and it also won’t break or bend.

The dental floss is nice for deciding if and where you want a sizzle / rivet, but it’s not going to last, and not practical to gig with.

How long do rivets last in cymbals before they keep enlarging the hole and fall out? I’m thinking the brass rivets are less aggressive bc soft alloy and lightest weight.