Here's the thread : http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=17507&highlight=Rivits

Rivited cymbals traditionally was most used in small jazz combos to give the cymbals additional sustain, especially when using brushes. Not sure how much you'd gain using them for country music.

If you want to drill the holes yourself, support the cymbal and put a wood block under the cymbal at the location of the hole you're drilling. Drill at low speeds and use machine oil to keep the hole lubricated and cool while drilling. The few times I've done it, I always start drilling on the bottom side of the cymbals

Mark - thanks, again. I got digging around last night and found that sight - gave basically the same instructions you did. One suggested using a hand drill instead of electric, but most used electric. I like how the rivets fill the sound on lead breaks so I'm going to add 3 or 4 to my Meinl this weekend.

Jake

A bad sounding cymbal without rivets = a bad sounding cymbal with rivets.

Absolutely correct!

probably true - FWIW, I'm not doing this b/c I think my cymbal sounds bad, but b/c I liked the sustain from playing on another kit where the ride has rivets.

I don't think Blairndrums was necessarily implying, nor was i assuming, that your Meinl sounds bad. However, historically, many have tried to fix bad sounding cymbals by adding rivits, as if the added sustain will somehow mask the cymbals shortcomings. It doesn't.

makes sense. I got my kit back together last night & hung a light chain in the Meinl - gave a nice sound, too. Will compare that with the other ride I'm playing with rivets.