Cymbal Modification
Cymbal modifications through the process of lathing, hammering, drilling, and/or patination.
*HOW TO SHIP YOUR MOD: The shipping charge is for BOTH to and from the shop. After your order is placed, please pack your cymbal(s) in as thin a box as possible (under 6” tall is necessary to avoid an additional shipping charge). Once your box is packed, email tim@reveriedrums.com the dimensions (LxWxH) AND the total weight. Then I will email you a shipping label that you can print from home or at the UPS store.
*Please allow 4-6 weeks from the date I receive your cymbal(s) for completion of the modification(s). (I will notify you if there are greater lead times due to a higher workload)
*Hi-hat pairs count as ONE mod (not per cymbal). We count the weight removal collectively. For example, if you want approximately 100g removed from each cymbal you will choose the 100-500g weight removal option.
Limitations (Very Important! Please Read Carefully)
We cannot pull any sound out of any cymbal. Every cymbal has been worked into a predestined shape, so there are big limitations to what a mod can accomplish.
Here are some things we can do with most cymbals - Lathe weight off, Lower or raise the pitch; craft darker/more complex sounds, trashy/dry sounds, and smoother/cleaner sounds.
In general, flatter/lower profile cymbals (and ones with smaller/flatter bells) have more “room” for modifications. Big-bell’d, umbrella-shaped cymbals (like typical rock rides from the 80s and 90s) are difficult to pull nuanced sounds out of when lathed thin and heavily hammered. However, medium and lower-profile cymbals with standard-sized bells allow us the freedom to aim at many different sounds.
It is risky to hammer old bronze (pre-1990) because cymbal alloy gets brittle over time, thus leading to an increased risk of cracking when worked. We will hammer older cymbals, but you must assume the risk of a potential crack. If a crack occurs, we will repair it with no additional charge as a part of the mod.
We do not modify cheap, entry level cymbals. B20 and some higher-quality B10/B15 alloys are what we accept. If you are unsure about what your cymbal is made of, or if it qualifies for a mod, send us a pic or tell us the brand/model and we’ll let you know!
We do not remove more than around 1000 grams of weight.
The maximum weight cymbal we will modify is around 4200 grams (around 9lbs.)
Many factors determine a cymbal’s durability, but with modified, and especially thinner cymbals, the chance of cracking is increased when care is not taken in how the drummer plays the cymbal(s). Therefore there are no returns and no warranties. If you’re modified cymbal cracks, reach out to us about a repair.
