That is the product of the breakdown of the metal. Why would you listen to anyone else when deciding what to do with your own cymbal? If you want to clean it, then clean it. If someone else wants to dictate what you do with it, sell it to them and let them enjoy their little cymbal bliss. It's insane to try and filter the many voices. If it's resell that concerns you ... whatever.

The metal in your cymbal is breaking down. You should clean it. Warm soap and water solution should do the trick. Try not to use the good towels. Your spouse will thank you. If you're a batchler, chances are you don't have good towels so no worries.

OK. Please don't think I'm crazy but I have done this and it works amazingly!!

If you got a really badly corroded cymbal that's turning brown and green get some muriatic acid at your local hardware store. A gallon is about $8. Make sure you wear rubber gloves and work outside in a well ventilated area. Simply poor the acid on the cymbal and use an old rag to wipe away the tarnish. There will be no scrubing necessary. Be sure you do it outside as it will give off noxious fumes! Also don't do it on your lawn as it will kill the grass!! Wear rubber gloves!! The acid will dilute completely with water so just wash the cymbals down with a water hose when you are done. Also don't leave the acid on the cymbals too long. Once they are shiney wash them down with water!

You will be amazed!!

Muratic acid is also very good to clean rust off of old parts especially tension rods. Just put your parts into a glass jar and cover with the acid. In a few seconds the acid will completely disovle off the rust and tarnish. Poor off the acid and rinse the parts well with water. This will strip the part down to the pure metal so make sure to spray the parts with WD40 to keep them from corroding again.

Just remember to work safe, as this stuff is real nasty. But you will end up with a cymbal or parts that look brand new!

If they are really funky, of course clean them. They are after all yours. In additional 60's and '70's A's ( I assume they are A's) are not that valuable to start with and it's unlikely your cleaning will lower their value significantly. If they are actually old K's, may I suggest giving us some photos prior to cleaning them.

I think that for many of us who eshew cleaning, our main goal is to avoid removing the naturally occuring golden brown or brown patina, especially on old K's and very old A's. IMHO they not only tend to sound better with the patina, but I strongly believe removing that patina will reduce the value to many potential buyers. As an example I would be wary of a shiny old K for sale since I can't be sure of whether it was chemically cleaned (and with what chemicals) or buffed with steel wool or worse. If a cymbal retains it's natural patina, it's less likely to have been abused.

However real gunk should be removed, but gently. Often it can be partially or completely removed (depending on its nature) without removing all of the patina with it.

They are A's and not K's. So I know they aren't worth tons of money to start off with. I'm not really worried about what other people are thinking. They are my cymbals, I just don't want to damage to them. I just know that I've read posts where people would rather die than clean a cymbal.

Would the muratic acid effect the metal? Or does it just clean the grime off? Are there other creams, polishes, etc that work well?

Oh yeah and mcjnic, thanks for the warning about the towels. I'm married and have made that mistake before....

Can't absolutely answer that. I have never used harsh chemicals on cymbals. However I believe muratic acid is a corrosive and while I'm aware that others, on various sites, claim to have used it succesfully to clean off cymbals, I would be very wary. In addition I believe it can be physically dangerous to use if precautions are not taken.

Did you try cleaning them first with a sponge and mild soap and water? Before going the chemical route I'd try something a bit easier on the cymbals as well as easier on you!

I'd be really hesitant to do that. Cymbals are made of bronze, which is composed primarily of copper and tin. Copper is non-reactive with hydrochloric (muriatic) acid, but the stuff will dissolve tin.

In the SE US we have polishes for fine sterling silver like Wright's Silver Cream that work very nicely w/a little elbow grease. You can apply it,let it dry and wipe off- or continue rubbing until it looks new...your choice. Brasso is faster and harsher but makes old chrome "POP". Both can be found in grocery stores.Good luck!

Polishes and Brasso are by their very nature abrasive. While they MAY not actually take off metal or materially affect the sound of most cymbals, I would personally stay away from using any abrasive product on my relatively large and valuable cymbal collection. To me it would be as inappropriate as using Pledge furniture polish on a Stradivarius! I remember reading on a site where there was a recommendation to use Carnuba car wax on a cymbal after cleaning to restore the original shine. Seems most folks desire to restore their cymbals to like new, and have little concern with the effect on the sound. Perhaps with rock in louder venues that's not as important. But with jazz, cymbal subtleties make a difference musically. Its a personal decision. Like doctors, my credo with vintage cymbals is "do no harm".

I only purchase cymbals that in my estimation sound great. I buy them to use and not just look at. I do nothing that might alter the sound in any way. I once cleaned a 16 inch crash cymbals for my son a number of years ago when I didn't know better. It was a wonderful mellow crash and after cleaning it sounded brighter and a bit harsh. My son noticed the change in sound first and still refuses to use it to this day even though he performs a couple of times a week. I used Groove Juice and I learned the hard way.