Removing cymbal logos

[some jive turkey]

I'm trying to remove some logos from my cymbals. I'm using acetone from the hardware store, it seems to do a better job than the g/f's nail polish remover, which mostly acetone anyway.

With lots of fresh acetone, and using a clean paper towel, and a lot of elbow grease, the logos mostly come off. However, there is still a little "shadow" of where the logos used to be, or it's hard to get it off entirely. Has anyone else experience this?

Would cleaning the cymbals get this "shadow" off? (I don't normally clean my cymbals) Or is there something else I should try? I've tried to use more acetone, but after a certain point it doesn't seem to work.

Anyone have any wisdom they would like to enlighten me with?

[Vannaroth]

Could it be that because the paint has been covering that area its alot cleaner than the rest of the cymbal so that area looks different?

I really dont know, i have no experience with this, just try cleaning the cymbals

[Sharkey Boy]

may I ask why try and remove the logos?

[We_Love_Lime]

may I ask why try and remove the logos?

Yeah, I assume you will get more money back if you sell them, or something. But they DO contain that vintage look so meh. It's already been done.

[Cocaberry]

That vintage look is not worth flushing the resale value down the toilet. How the hell is anyone supposed to know what model it is if the logos are gone?

[We_Love_Lime]

He already took em off, let's not badger him about it.

I can't help.Sorry.

[beaker_747]

That vintage look is not worth flushing the resale value down the toilet. How the hell is anyone supposed to know what model it is if the logos are gone?
By listening to them.

[AdultSwim815]

By listening to them.
I want you to listen to a Sabian B8 16" medium crash, and a Sabian B8 pro 16" medium crash without knowing it and tell me which is which..

[Panopticon]

it doesnt matter then brand, if the sound is good...you buy it...

Plus, lots of people can tell a cymbal just by their hammering or lathing. I can to an extent, im still working on it.

Also, almost all cymbals have engravings in them...and last time i checked, cymbal cleaner can't create metal to make an engraving disappear...

[beaker_747]

I want you to listen to a Sabian B8 16" medium crash, and a Sabian B8 pro 16" medium crash without knowing it and tell me which is which..
If I'd owned the cymbals for a while I'd safely say I could.

[[Fonya]]

it doesnt matter then brand, if the sound is good...you buy it...

Plus, lots of people can tell a cymbal just by their hammering or lathing. I can to an extent, im still working on it.

Also, almost all cymbals have engravings in them...and last time i checked, cymbal cleaner can't create metal to make an engraving disappear...


The engravings only say the name of the company. An engraving that says Sabian doesnt help much, but I do agree with your first point, if it sounds good buy it but the no logos will turn some buyers away.

[Drum Monkey]

That vintage look is not worth flushing the resale value down the toilet.
Unless you are on a tight budget and need cheap cymbals or just starting to drum, why would you sell them afterwards?

I suggest just trying different things like soap/water, cymbal cleaner and other stuff you haven't tried... It might help a little more. I know DBJ removes the logos off of his cymbals so he may be able to help you more.

-DM

[_Austin_]

Hey, I recommend not removing them because having done so myself on my own cymbals a month ago, They seem great once you have done it...

But after a while, you realise you have polished off the protective coat that was the top coat above your logos.

By removing the logos, you remove this layer aswell, i have no idea what it does to the sound because my cymbals seem exactly the same, but they are certainly changing colour...

I recommend buying some polish designed for the cymbals you polished and give your cymbals a coat of that to put a small layer of protective coat back on to the cymbals to help prevent this.

Heres a picture so you can see what i mean, sorry i dont have a close up, i dont have access to a decent camera at the moment.

Feel free to ask questions about It! :thumb:

They do look a HELL of a lot better if you do it properly, you wouldnt have thought at a glance that they were ZBT's!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v468/ausey/070b50ed.jpg

[spike9908]

The problem with removing the logo is that your going to remove the protective layer, so your cymbal is going to oxyidize much quicker.

[some jive turkey]

1. I don't ever plan on reselling these cymbals. These aren't B8s, I'm using for a while only to upgrade to something else. They're Zildjian k's and A customs, and Bosphorus, and they're all perfect for what I do.

2. It's just an issue of aesthetics, and I like the logo-less look. I like the idea of of sitting at my instrument and seeing less advertising. Somehow they seem nicer looking w/o the logos-especially the Bosphorus->the hand lathing details become more noticeable.

3. I don't really care if the cymbal oxidizes. I also think that looks cool. I have a 17"A custom I bought used, that has a lot of oxidation on it for it's age and I totally love it's sound. It sounds very dark, and I like darkness.


RATM-you mentioned polish. I was thinking of polishing them with NEVR-DULL to make the surface of them a little cleaner and more uniform, in which to then let them age gracefully. One of the newer k's I did looks a little cloudy now, but I don't think the logo is completely off of it yet.

[Plan B.]

Quick question: other than affecting the sound, can oxidation severely affect the cymbals durability?

[Cocaberry]

Yeah, I am pretty sure oxidation slowly eats away at the cymbal.

[Drum Phil]

Yes.

[spirit]

Yeah, I am pretty sure oxidation slowly eats away at the cymbal.

I'm not sure. Once it's oxidised, unless you remove the layer, the oxidation may itself protect the cymbal underneath. I'm sure I read something like that somewhere. I may be wrong of course. Don't take my word for it.

[Drum Phil]

That is correct. However, how do you expect the oxidised layer to remain intact when you keep hitting it? ;) Its a vicious circle.

[spirit]

Well, I dunno. Chemical bonds can be pretty strong. From my little experience, oxidation is pretty reluctant to go anywhere.

[Drum Phil]

Rust falls off instantly.

Oxidised brass and bronze is weak.

[spirit]

Rust falls off instantly.

Oxidised brass and bronze is weak.

Fair enough.

[some jive turkey]

If anyone's following along here:
I just cleaned a cymbal with a little NEVR-DULL after removing the logo with acetone, and it took off the little shadow spot where the logo used to be. Now it looks clean, and uniform, logo-less, and it sounds the same. I imagine IF any protective lacquer came off with the acetone, and the Bronze is exposed, it will eventually start to form a slight patina in the years to come (depending upon fingerprints, moisture and pollution, and other atmospheric variables). With a patina forming in years from now, the sound of the cymbals will probably become darker and seasoned, as I would like it to.

[Seafroggys]

i don't like my cymbal logos, just because i'm from the school of thought of "if I advertise their company, they should pay me" I always wear clothes that never display logos.

I wouldn't do anything to rub off the logos, but if they go, good.

IMO they look better without logos, not for that vintage look, they just flat out look better IMO.

[some jive turkey]

Yeah, I agree with you.
I don't wear clothing with logos on them either.
The kit looks better w/o advertising on it everywhere. Other instruments have brand names on them, but they aren't as distasteful about it as drum gear is. Plus, it's accumulative on a drum set with so many pieces.

Whether they are sponsored or not, I don't think less of other drummers who have "brand x" on the front of their kick drum reso or cymbals. But for me, I don't like it.

I had this idea one day that advertising works on a subconcious level, and also I have a belief that a lot of creative activity depends upon subconcious thought. So somehow, even if you're "ignoring" an ad, you're still subjected to it, like it or not. -And therein lies the possibility of commerce polluting your creative mind when it's ON you instrument everywhere, continually in your face.

[White Riot!]

Yeah, I agree with you.
I don't wear clothing with logos on them either.
The kit looks better w/o advertising on it everywhere. Other instruments have brand names on them, but they aren't as distasteful about it as drum gear is. Plus, it's accumulative on a drum set with so many pieces.

Whether they are sponsored or not, I don't think less of other drummers who have "brand x" on the front of their kick drum reso or cymbals. But for me, I don't like it.

I had this idea one day that advertising works on a subconcious level, and also I have a belief that a lot of creative activity depends upon subconcious thought. So somehow, even if you're "ignoring" an ad, you're still subjected to it, like it or not. -And therein lies the possibility of commerce polluting your creative mind when it's ON you instrument everywhere, continually in your face.

Why dont you file off your drum badges too big boy? :smash:
File the brand name off your sticks?
Sand the Remo/Evans logo off your heads while you are at it:thumb:



You could just play your cymbal logos off just the way god/allah/bhudda/zeus/ krishna had intended :lol:

I want to see you spray off your bass drum logo too!

you must be pretty ADHD to get distracted or even take notice of logos when you are playing

[some jive turkey]

How much do you get paid for having "USA Gretsch Maple" by your avatar?

[White Riot!]

$0.......

Gretsch doesnt indulge in those kinda tactics buddy

The real whore drum companies are asian drums

Pearl
Tama
Yamaha


Jeff Porcaro refused to play anything but gretsch in the studio , but completely whored pearl
Vinnie Coluiata recorded with gretsch for years while being seen in public with yammies
Tama practically copied the black beauty for steward copeland


Gretsch are anything but a gimmick product matey , no one does a nitro cellulose finish half as good as gretsch does , no one has shells that are simillar and no one else has the balls to stand on the 5-lug tom design that makes more complex overtones in the smaller 10 & 12 inch toms

[some jive turkey]

My last post was a joke.



So that's great and all, but what ....exactly ....does all this crap about Gretsch have to do with the topic of this thread?

[White Riot!]

You seriously need to go back to school to learn some basic comprehension skills.

Read back through the thread

#1. jiveturkey wants to know how he can stupidly wipe his cymbal logos off
#2. Various people ask jive turkey why
#3. Jive turkey has a bitch about brand names etc claiming how its subconcious advertising / brand whoring etc
#4. White Riot tries to point out jive turkeys flawed logic
#5. Jive turkey comments about USA Gretsch
#6. White Riot discusses how Gretsch isnt a whore brand (relates to points #3 & #5)

fact is you think you are smart but you majorly fail at basic comprehension skills kid :smash:

[some jive turkey]

Are you on Angel Dust or something?

Actually it's more like this.
(read this slowly, it will help your comprehension)

1) I post a thread about removing logos, for any kind of feedback from forum members. I'm not the only drummer who does this.
2) Some members discuss the issue.
3) I stated an idea and an opinion. I wasn't bitching.
4) You, attmpted to point out the illedged "flawed logic" in a discussion based on something that's subjective. This subjectivity I even addressed by stating that logos on other people's sets didn't bother me. I personally don't like it on my own kit. We're talking about an issue of aesthetics, and logic has no place in aesthetics....they're two entirely differently branches of philosophy.
5) I replied with a joke that you failed to comprehend,and you proceded to misinterpret as some sort of direct attack on Gretsch. The facts illustrate that I did nothing of the sort.
6) In a complete lapse of relevancy, you post about how great Gretsch drums are, and how much better they are than Asian drum companies.


Here, if it makes you feel any better. ....Yeah, Gretsch....great drums. Can we go back to talking about the topic of the thread now?