Three hours, one-to-one with me in my Bristol workshop. Hammer and lathe a professional 16-inch bronze crash cymbal from scratch, then take it home and play it the same day. No experience needed.
One-to-one in my workshop, they'll hammer and lathe raw bronze into a 16-inch crash, hearing it change with every blow, then take it home and play it that same day. It's a real instrument, with a story only they can tell. Friends and family are welcome to come and watch.
Spend three hours working one-to-one in the cymbal workshop, shaping, hammering and finishing a cymbal of your own. No previous experience is needed.
Not sure what to choose? You don't need to decide now. The standard session makes a 16-inch crash, and any session or voucher can be upgraded later to one of these. Just pay the difference.
Crashes are thin, fast-responding cymbals. Going bigger gives you a deeper, fuller crash with a longer, washier finish.
Rides are heavier cymbals, built to be played on all night, so they start from a thicker piece of bronze. That extra bronze is why the price steps up.
A matched pair, top and bottom, so you're making two cymbals. Like rides, hi-hats start from heavier bronze.
It counts towards any of these, so you just pay the difference. Get in touch and I'll send you an invoice.
Any size or style is possible, from splashes and chinas to a full set over a few days. Drop me a message and we'll talk it through.
“Had a great time with Dave. He explained every step very clearly and I came away with a lovely sounding crash cymbal! Will be coming back!”
“Excellent! Informative yet friendly. Dave’s a true master and yet doesn’t have an ego, so is open to however you want the session to go. Would recommend to any drummer or music fan.”
“Huge thanks to Dave for a fantastic afternoon! Learned so much and had a great time in the process. Highly recommended!”
I spent years touring the world as a professional drummer, then started making cymbals in 2010. I’ve run Make Your Own Cymbal sessions in Bristol since 2022, and taught cymbal making in the UK and the USA, including at the Chicago Drum Show. I love sharing this craft, and I’ll guide you through every step at whatever pace suits you.
None at all. Most people have never picked up a cymbal hammer before. I’ll show you every step.
A 16-inch crash cymbal from professional Turkish B20 bronze. It’s a real instrument to play on your kit, not an ornament.
About three hours, and you take your cymbal home with you the same day.
No. Buy now, and we’ll arrange a date that suits you.
You’ll get a PDF voucher by email straight away, ready to print or forward.
Yes. If you’d like a name or message on the voucher, just get in touch after you buy.
Yes. See “Want something bigger?” above. A session or voucher counts towards any upgrade, and you just pay the difference.
No. Book whenever suits you.
No, but under-18s need a parent or guardian with them.
Yes. Friends and family are welcome to come and watch.
My workshop in Bristol (BS15). I’ll send full directions when we book your date.
Sadly not. You reach it through a working woodwork shop, which is safe and tidy, and then up two flights of stairs. Please get in touch with any questions about access or suitability.
If you’d like to ask about the experience, buying it as a gift, or arranging a personalised voucher, just get in touch.