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How to Clean Paiste and Other Nickel Silver Gongs

by Max Holmquist May 01, 2018

It happens. We've all been there. Who hasn't? Your perfect, beautiful, priceless gong has some sludge, muck, fingerprints or even dog saliva on it. (We've seen a lot of muck over the years.)

What do you do?! No one ever told you how to clean your symphonic gong. It's sad. It's depressing. It's frustrating and generally no good. Do not weep or be forlorn if friction mallet residue made a mess on your symphonic center-piece.

You can clean your Meinl or Paiste gong! You have to be careful and cautious when you do, but you can make it wonderful and new. We are here to show you how to do it!

In this instructional gong cleaning video, our own gong pro and enthusiast Mick tests out 7 cleaners on a Paiste gong to see what works and what doesn't so you don't have to risk it with your precious instrument. We take zero responsibility if you clean "outside the lines" after watching this video. Look at how careful and professional he is!

NOTE: These cleaners will work the same on any Nickel-Silver gong, including most (but not all) gongs from Meinl, Oetken, Tone of Life, Ryan Shelledy, Shawn Aceto, Matt Nolan, Steve Hubback, and others. If you're very worried and still have questions after watching the video, please contact us with further questions and we will try to help.

Shop for gong cleaning supplies here!

The Cleaners:

Flitz Metal Polish                         -     00:50
Meinl Cymbal Cleaner Spray    -     02:44
Meinl Gong Polish                      -     04:13
Goddard's Silver Polish            -      05:11
Sabian Cymbal Cleaner            -     05:54
Paiste Cymbal Cleaner            -     06:50
Gord's Metal Cleaner                  -     07:47
Renaissance Wax                        -     09:45