I think folks might be referring to the practice of rolling a cymbal with soft mallets at a high intensity for extended periods to loosen it up. I have read that Elvin Jones did it and then I have also been told that it doesn't really, noticeably work- two differing camps on the matter I believe.

Specifically speaking of Istanbul Mehmet cymbals- I am a huge fan of them and own a good number myself- I believe they come out onto the market quite fresh and the ones I have sound much darker and mellower after 5 years or so. I read some quote from Mehmet himself about his cymbals sound developing with aging. For a hi-hat cymbal I recommend just playing it regularly- the actual chick, open and closed sounds produced by a hihat are so short and controlled that I don't think it will be easy to tell the difference of rolling, or even aging for a good long time. Best of luck with it.

I have done this for many many years. But, I only use the mallets on cymbals larger than fifteen inches. Osaka is correct. I have found that it is especially noticeable on rides like a twenty or twenty two. I did a video some years ago to listen for a before and after difference. I found that, to my ears, it was substantial.

caddywumpus and mcjnic have talked about this procedure, and Osaka Bop has described it perfectly. I used it on a ride cymbal, worked great. Get some mallets, and roll on the cymbal for 15 minutes. I made a cool exercise out of it, by, doing different dynamics up and down the cymbal. It was fun and did the trick. I'm thinking of buying some new hihats, so, I was wondering if this worked on smaller cymbals. If mcjnic has already done some study on this matter, I would go with his opinion.

Strange thought: if you (Gilnar) try it out on the hihats, you might want to split the hats up. Put the top on a cymbal stand and do the procedure, then, repeat with the bottom hat. If I get a new set of hihats, I'm going to try this. That's me.

Another way, just play those hats! Play 'em all the time.

Well, then gentlemen, do you think it would make a difference on my B8pro

18" medium crash? I know its a lower end cymbal, but there is a really hgih pitched ring to it, and I want to get rid of it...do you think it would even make a difference on a lower end cymbal like my B8pro? Thanks.

It can't hurt to try. The technique does not damage the cymbal at all. It could not make a B8 sound worse and it might warm it up a little. Maybe..

There is one thing cymbal rolling can hurt. Your ears. Wear protection!

Hey guys, im curious if this would do anything to an older cymbal? Its a late 70s 20inch Zildjian Ride and its pretty thin..i dont think id call it a medium but anyways, i find that it has a weird overtone and i noticed that its shape is different from my 22 thats a bit older..the 20 is more rounded down near the edge of the cymbal and i wonder if thats why it sounds ..almost too tin-y or something..i dont have the vocab to explain but it sounds stiff or something. It has been played because when i bought it it had stick marks and a patina but maybe its never been "broken in" I do lay into it and even use it as a crash/ride but only playing louder rock and not with mallets. Or, should i bury it? I wish it was a bit darker with less sustain...like my 22 sounds.