I'm just going to clean them and then post what i notice. I bet its a more open new sound though. I can't wait!

I'm hoping that you like them more...

BUT........I have heard from people who have cleaned,and wish they hadn't!

Me too, I am hoping I will. If not go throw them in the dirt awhile haha jk

Unfortunately, dirt won't do it, although many have tried. Its oxidation that creates patina, and it takes years.

There not years...

http://www.ehow.com/how_13285_oxidize-brass.html

Same thing prolly better with a more even patina that sounds better too. Looks are the same and its a win win situation. Not years for sure.

If it isn't that particular metal it works with almost any metal out. Oxidation isn't something that takes years. Naturally sure but there are many other ways.

Applying chemicals of any type to your cymbals to create a patina would be a mistake. First, professional cymbals are B20 bronze, not brass. Second the oxidation they are talking about in your link is aritifical, not naturally occurring and is not as stable. It is meant for decorative purposes.

Oxidation is a naturally occuring rust process which takes time. Using chemicals to induce rust other than for decorative items would be a mistake on cymbals. I build build 17th thru 19th century wooden ship models I use a variety of chemicals to create a worn or antique look on various metals. They are all corrosive to one degree or another. You could ruin your cymbals. Don't do it.

Why isn't it stable? It is a identical process it just takes a short time.

Okay here is a example.

Take a bar of metal and put it in your closet and then put one outside in the rain. The one outside is clearly going to oxidize faster than the one in the closet. So what you are saying is because the one outside happens faster is less stable than the one that takes forever? This is simple chemistry.

There is a specific chemical out there that does the same thing in just a day and you get a better finish. It is just how things work.

It's not that it's unstable, but it's intentionally destructive to a point. Some would argue that intentionally oxidising some metals protects it from further destruction (like on some unplated golfclub heads that were popular a few years back), but if you change your mind later, you would remove quite a bit of metal to restore it to a polished state and probably change the sound. I wouldn't do it to a new cymbal, for certain. It only takes a couple of years to get a patina'd look. If your sweat has enough acidity, it'll only take months, not years. Bronze really, really wants to revert to an unpolished state.

I am doing this to a brass ddrum Shade cymbal, and main purposes are as follows:

1) The purposely patina'd finish is calming down a couple of harsh frequencies (as I am hearing with each repeated application). Note that I also use my tanning bed to accelerate this process.

2) I wanted something a little darker looking to match my smatterings of Colorsounds and Rudes.

3) Yellow brass just doesn't look all that good, especially when the oxidation happens under the lacquer.

4) It's going to happen ANYWAY, so I may as well start the process off right.

5) This cymbal has ZERO resale value, as it's a $50 FX cymbal.

6) I hated the Carmine Appice and ddrum logos.

Don't take this as an endorsement of "pre-aging" your cymbals, however:

If I were to do that (on the link), I would use a spray bottle for a vinegar/saltwater mixture.

Another way to accelerate oxidation is to polish the cymbal. Yes, I said it- once you polish a new cymbal, the metal now wants to get back to being dull and patina'd. Let me put it like this: I polished a few months old K and it wanted to revert to being tarnished MUCH quicker. I even used the Zildjian cymbal cleaner and it did that!!!

I see this thread turned in to a debate on cleaning cymbals. I have mixed emotions. I recently came across some really nice A Zildjians from a Craigs listing. Late 50's.

The 19" ride is hand hammered, with the small hole. The 16" is very nice also. Plus some A Zildjian 14" Hi Hat"s.

They completed the vintage cymbal set I was wanting for my jazz kits. Also found a really nice A Zildjian 18" med ride from someone else and bought a 18" med sizzle from a member here. The first pic are the 19" 16" 14" from the CL seller. I bought that whole lot of stuff from him. He got it in a estate sale and someone in the family was obviously a drummer. The cymbals sounded great as was. I did clean the 19" and 16". Left the hats alone as I am useing another cleaned set for performance.

Now they sound close to the same. I can't tell a lot of difference except they shined up nice and sound nice and brilliant. Did not do to much to the others. That 19" is the finest ride I have ever used for jazz. The patina was really nice but I do like clean looking cymbals with pristine drums and hardware. I probably devalued the 19" and 16" but they look and sound great.

It was a crime what I gave for all that stuff pictured.

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