International Currency Select

How to Clean Paiste and Other Nickel Silver Gongs


by M H 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



M H
M H

Author




Also in Gongs Unlimited Super Blog

Gongs of the Nahua and Azteca
Gongs of the Nahua and Azteca

by M H July 26, 2023

"Four times daily the music of chililitli (copper disks), of cornets, flutes, conch shells, and of a metal gong struck with metal hammer, sounded from the ninth story of this temple, calling the King to prayer. In time, this whole temple to the ‘unseen god’ came to be called chililitli in honor of its tintinnabulation."

Read More

The Sound Healing Art of Guadalupe Maravilla
The Sound Healing Art of Guadalupe Maravilla

by M H June 20, 2023

Visual artist, choreographer, and healer Guadalupe Maravilla creates amazing art installations that combine found-objects, drawings, performance, sculpture, and more. We first heard of him a few years ago when he came to us to buy gongs for his sculptures and performances. His installations are an experience that must be felt first-hand, blurring the lines between visual art, performance, and healing.

Read More

Sound Therapy and the Schumann Resonance
Sound Therapy and the Schumann Resonance

by M H May 04, 2023

 The Schumann Resonance is a series of electromagnetic frequencies caused by lightning strikes within the cavity between the surface of the Earth and the ionosphere. Research has shown that these frequencies may have wide ranging effects on us and the world around us. Learn more about this amazing phenomenon. 

Read More