How tight should I fasten the cymbals?

[JPS]

So, it took me 5 years to ask this:

How tight can or should I fasten Roland cymbals on a rack ? Is it a matter of personal preference, whatever swing you like to have ? Because if I tighten them all the way, they don't really swing. If to loose then the nut doesn't stay put. The manual was never clear on it (or at least not the TD-12 manual, not to me). But I have a TD-30K on it's way now (Thanks for pushing me over the edge, Alan) and I kinda want to start doing things 'right'

[Macarina]

I tighten my cymbals down to firm tightness. Meaning there is some deflection. I would say the cymbals sway up and down about an inch. Just a guess.

This is what I grown accustomed too. I hate a loose cymbal on my e-kit. I also think a loose swinging cymbal will wear out the cable connection sooner than later.

[kgoroway]

And I'm just the opposite. I want them to swing as much as possible.

I think this is going to boil down to personal preference...

[EssKayKay]

I too like the sway. I have both Roland and Yamaha cymbals - IMO Roland's design sways more/better.

[TangTheHump]

Like acoustic cymbals, I don't use wingnuts on electronic cymbals. Rather, I put the cymbals on stands using thin felts under the cymbals (these super thin-felts conform to Roland's grombals under the cymbals so the felt acts as a compression layer between the cymbal and the grombal), leaving the cymbals to swing and sway as much as possible. This provides the most cymbal-like action and lessens stress on the cymbal while playing. I don't wingnuts on top and instead leave the threads bare and open to allow maximum sway for the cymbals. This doesn't seem to place any extra stress on the wires attached to the cymbals and even if it does, replacement wires are inexpensive whereas the cymbals themselves are a much more expensive replacement. Therefore, I err on the side of protecting the cymbals.

[Kabonfaiba]

Make sure you use the official Roland stoppers on all your poles.

cym_10_set_gal-7a7dbb4a68def90a0fb76109a72f60e4.jpg

I've seen the long term damage done in demo stops, where they've just mounted them on regular washers and felts and thought nothing of it. It's not just stopping the cymbal from rotating! That plastic gets eaten and torn when the load isn't distributed.

Anyway, you can have them as loose or as tight as you want really. Whats most important imo, is to find a nice natural and predictable swing. Another thing about the Roland stoppers is; no matter what amount of dampening you opt for, I found it was always smooth and balanced. I briefly had a used CY-14C without a stopper for a short while and it just didn't feel right, well, it was like a floppy spinning top lol.