The only guy in the world that I would trust with that job would be Michael Paiste. He's an artist on that lathe. The best.

I'm not sure that Michael Paiste is still doing modifications on request. Last I heard he wasn't unless perhaps you are a personal friend like Drumaholic is. Oh, and yes he is really from that Paiste family. Facebook needed:

https://www.facebook.com/michael.paiste?fref=ts

The trouble is that a number of the independent cymbalsmiths start out doing modifications (relathing and rehammering), but they progress on to just doing their own original work. Like a covers band wanting to do their own material, I guess.

The other factor is that in the past it was much harder to get good cymbal blanks to work from, so more of the pioneers: Michael Paiste, Johann Van de Sijpe (RIP), Mike Skiba (RIP), Roberto Spizzichino (RIP) spent time doing modifications. These days it is easier to get good cymbal blanks so many of the current crop of independents have already moved on from offering modifications to only doing their own work. I'm thinking of Matt Bettis, Matt Nolan, Craig Lauritsen. Matt Bettis trained up Heather Stine and last I heard she was still doing modifications. I haven't used her services myself, but people I trust have done so and they love her work.

https://www.facebook.com/37Cymbals

Then Jesse Simpson recently appeared on the scene:

http://www.jessesimpson.com/cymbals

and he offers modifications. His work is on display on the web site and it seems good. But that's all I know. He also gives indicative prices which might help your friend decide if he really wants to go that route.

Also there is Ariel Calabria who was doing cymbal mods and originals from blanks:

https://www.facebook.com/ariel.calabria

I'm not sure if he is still working on cymbals or not. There are some youtube clips of his work and one says 4 months ago, so that is promising:

https://www.youtube.com/user/arielrcalabria

Once again I haven't used his cymbals or modification service myself but people who I trust have done so and they love his work.

Your drummer friend should be made aware that depending on the cymbal it may need more than just lathing. Sometimes you must do a bit of retensioning (hammering) afterwards. That's something to discuss with the person doing the modification.

Note also that if you go for somebody who is outside the USA (presuming your friend is in the USA) you add large amount of postage each way into the costs.

Hope this helps. I used to maintain a list of all the independent cymbalsmiths and their contact info, but it was lost in a system crash and hasn't yet been recovered. It would be out of date anyway.

As a service to others, it would be great if you check back with us via this thread, having contacted Heather and Ariel to confirm that they are still doing modifications. I'm presuming Michael Paiste is ruled out because he is in Switzerland (shipping costs) and because I really don't think he still does mods. But if you do contact him and he is willing that would be great to know.

Heather Stine did two mods for me - I was quite happy with her work and her prices. Easy to find her on the web or on Facebook.