When Nothing Sounds Right for a While

[Utopian Glints]

Have you ever had this happen? You play basically the same cymbals for years and everything has always sounded great. They record well. They sound great live. And then you go through a long stretch where everything sounds kinda meh to you and you wonder why you ever liked it?

I've been pretty meticulous in choosing my cymbals, and overall they've served me very well. In particular I've used my Paiste Masters cymbals extensively. But lately when I gig them I just want something else. I also have a great set of Lauritsens and when I play those I ALSO want something else.

What? I don't know. Because if you did a hidden camera recording, I'd almost certainly pick my current cymbals as my favorites.

I keep extra cymbals around so that when I get bored with my main cymbal set I can switch to others. But now everything sounds kinda meh. There's nothing on my horizon that sounds better-- it's not like I've been listening to Funch or some other cymbal maker and I'm lusting after those. It's just--- meh. Everything's meh.

I have the feeling that the answer is something like, "Mix things up, use your Rough Ride for jazz gigs for a while, or use Dark Energies or whatever." And I know that. But again-- meh.

Sound familiar?

 

[pork]

This happened to me over the course of about two years. For the vast majority of my gigs, I used a pair of K Con lights, 20” and 22”. I bought both in 2004. Around 2023-2024, I realized I needed more high end than what I was getting from them. Switching to nylon tips helped for a while. Buying new cymbals helped more though.

The irony is that I heard a record I’m on a couple weeks ago. I was using those two K Cons and I thought they sounded great. However, I don’t really have a desire to play them live anymore. I have too much history with them to sell, so maybe I’ll use them again someday or just shed with them for old times sake.

I’ve been buying cymbals like a drunken sailor all year, so I’m currently not bored.

 

[Steech]

This happens a lot to me, but with snares. I keep going back and forth, shuffling through my set of 6 snares, just to keep them in active play on my kit. Strangely, only one of them is really working for me right now. And I know that in a couple of weeks/months from now, a few of the ones that don’t sound good to me now will likely sound good again. I can’t really explain it other than ear fatigue, where my ears are just tired of hearing the same frequencies and need a break from them.

Maybe it’s something similar with you and your cymbals. I absolutely love my Paiste Masters but could imagine ear fatigue setting in with those as well if I played them constantly.

 

[MikeKnight]

I agree with what Steech says about ear fatigue with our own stuff. I get that with snares and rides.

I found the best cure for this is to go play on some absolutely terrible equipment for a while. I have to do this fairly often when I travel for longer work trips. I’ll book some time on a barely functioning beater kit with stamped cymbals in some random jam space. When I come home everything sounds glorious again.

 

[bobsyouruncle]

This happened to me over the course of about two years. For the vast majority of my gigs, I used a pair of K Con lights, 20” and 22”. I bought both in 2004. Around 2023-2024, I realized I needed more high end than what I was getting from them. Switching to nylon tips helped for a while. Buying new cymbals helped more though.

The irony is that I heard a record I’m on a couple weeks ago. I was using those two K Cons and I thought they sounded great. However, I don’t really have a desire to play them live anymore. I have too much history with them to sell, so maybe I’ll use them again someday or just shed with them for old times sake.

I’ve been buying cymbals like a drunken sailor all year, so I’m currently not bored.

Do tell. What were you looking for, what did you like and what did didn't work?

 

[jmpd_utoronto]

Sound familiar?

Definitely familiar. This is probably how I ended up with way more cymbals than I need. Have had that experience where one sounds really great for a while, then I use it for something and think the same thing - “meh”. Can’t find something I like so end up buying another option, often something not *that* different from what I already have. And the cycle continues.

Maybe you should try the new Kerope cymbals?

 

[SteadyBeat]

Maybe you should try the new Kerope cymbals?

I hear the price is right !

 

[pork]

Do tell. What were you looking for, what did you like and what did didn't work?

So I mainly play "acoustic" jazz, but it's getting less and less acoustic as time goes on. In addition, I've been playing more concert/larger venue type gigs in recent years and fewer causal, small room type of gigs. I felt like I was working too hard while playing the dark K Cons I had been using. The 20" was actually ok, but the 22" I have is dark and low for its weight. I think they've really mellowed quite a bit over the last two decades. I probably could have polished them (*gasp*) and got some of the high end cut back, but I can't bring myself to clean a cymbal. Previously, when I needed something brighter, I subbed a 20" 60s A for the 22" K Con.

I switched primary rides to a 21" Cymbal Craftsman Patina crash/ride (2253g). This cymbal seems to live somewhere between the K and A sound. I think most drummers would probably find it boring. I sort of did at first. The more I played it though, the more I realized how good of an "all arounder" it is. I could probably play it on the vast majority of my gigs. When I need more power (i.e. outdoor gigs), I have a 24" version of the same cymbal, though it has a higher profile and it proportionately heavier (approx 3600g). So I'm using CC cymbals for gigs where I want a "clean" sound.

For gigs where I want a dirtier sound, I've been using mainly Lauritsens, but I could stand to get a heavier primary ride from him. I've been having a great time mixing and matching cymbals on gigs, factoring in the room, the band, etc. I was sort of a minimalist for most of my career. I'm having a lot of fun changing my sound up from gig to gig now.

 

[bobsyouruncle]

So I mainly play "acoustic" jazz, but it's getting less and less acoustic as time goes on. In addition, I've been playing more concert/larger venue type gigs in recent years and fewer causal, small room type of gigs. I felt like I was working too hard while playing the dark K Cons I had been using. The 20" was actually ok, but the 22" I have is dark and low for its weight. I think they've really mellowed quite a bit over the last two decades. I probably could have polished them (*gasp*) and got some of the high end cut back, but I can't bring myself to clean a cymbal. Previously, when I needed something brighter, I subbed a 20" 60s A for the 22" K Con.

I switched primary rides to a 21" Cymbal Craftsman Patina crash/ride (2253g). This cymbal seems to live somewhere between the K and A sound. I think most drummers would probably find it boring. I sort of did at first. The more I played it though, the more I realized how good of an "all arounder" it is. I could probably play it on the vast majority of my gigs. When I need more power (i.e. outdoor gigs), I have a 24" version of the same cymbal, though it has a higher profile and it proportionately heavier (approx 3600g). So I'm using CC cymbals for gigs where I want a "clean" sound.

For gigs where I want a dirtier sound, I've been using mainly Lauritsens, but I could stand to get a heavier primary ride from him. I've been having a great time mixing and matching cymbals on gigs, factoring in the room, the band, etc. I was sort of a minimalist for most of my career. I'm having a lot of fun changing my sound up from gig to gig now.

Did you have Paul make you something or you bought it off a sound file/listing ?

 

[pork]

Did you have Paul make you something or you bought it off a sound file/listing ?

I bought the 21" online. I bought the 24" in person at a drum shop. I had Paul make me a 22" Spizz inspired ride, but I haven't been using that one as much lately. I also have been using one of his 20" Bill Stewart V2s. Lately, I've been using the 21" and the 20" Stewart on most gigs.

 

[Seb77]

Sounds like the C Y M B A L H O L I C experience...
In the end, it's how you play the things, it's in your hands. You can get the "ah" moment from playing very modest instruments with a nice touch and feel, and you can get tha "meh" moment from playing superior instruments, you guess it, with less care.

 

[Houndog]

 

[Rick]

I definitely have experienced this over time and have found myself pretty frequently changing cymbals. I finally have it locked down really well. I swear.

But one thing I've noticed is the ear fatigue thing on a short term basis. If I spend a lot of time playing during the day, by the end of the day my cymbals don't sound as good to me. Same can be said for my snare but to a lesser degree. The other thing I've noticed is when I come home from flying. I've long suspected that I have narrow eustachian tubes in my ears and have always had to use the valsalva technique during descent to clear my ears. When I get home after flying, my cymbals never sound right. By the next day, they're back to normal. The good news about narrow eustachian tubes as an airline pilot (I'm retired now) is you cannot sneak a pressurization problem past me. I'll feel it in my ears immediately before any cockpit indication has a chance to alert me.

 

[Steech]

View attachment 737621

I bet this thing cleans more than just ears.

 

[SteadyBeat]

I've long suspected that I have narrow eustachian tubes in my ears and have always had to use the valsalva technique during descent to clear my ears.

+1 for mentioning the valsalva technique in this context; I am only familiar with its use in weightlifting. I experience ear canal distress when descending as well, and will try this.

The things you can learn on a drum forum!

 

[Rick]

+1 for mentioning the valsalva technique in this context; I am only familiar with its use in weightlifting. I experience ear canal distress when descending as well, and will try this.

The things you can learn on a drum forum!

Just don't do it while climbing, as it will make things worse rather than helping. I learned that one the hard way!

 

[Myetkt]

This happens a lot to me, but with snares. I keep going back and forth, shuffling through my set of 6 snares, just to keep them in active play on my kit. Strangely, only one of them is really working for me right now. And I know that in a couple of weeks/months from now, a few of the ones that don’t sound good to me now will likely sound good again. I can’t really explain it other than ear fatigue, where my ears are just tired of hearing the same frequencies and need a break from them.

Maybe it’s something similar with you and your cymbals. I absolutely love my Paiste Masters but could imagine ear fatigue setting in with those as well if I played them constantly.

Would love to see your 6 snares..

I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours.. haha

 

[james_c_marks]

Put your “other” cymbals up for a while - you know the ones you’re keeping just in case. Practice with those, go to an open jam and play someone else’s mediocre cymbals, then after a few weeks put your “best” set back up and rediscover what a Cymbalholic you’ve been all along.

 

[owr]

The solution is extra-extra.

Until you have enough cymbals that you forget you own some, or at least forget what they sound/feel like so you can joyfully re-discover them - you’re not doing it right!

(Only half kidding)