I got a question about my china cymbal. I've got an 18" Paiste that sounds more like a gong than the quick "splashy" sounds I hear when listening to other drummers. Does this have to do with the fact that its a bigger cymbal? I would assume so anyway but I don't know much about chinas.
Is there anyway to either tighten the cymbal up or dampen it to get that sound, or would it be better to just invest in a smaller cymbal?
Hello ThePallsDrummer: My experience with China cymbals is that they are quite varied. I have played on many, and I currently own two. That quick, trashy-splashy sound that you are looking for is one that you will need to seek in a different cymbal. Look for one that is thin. Play as many of them as you can find in the store. I have had pretty good luck with the Wuhans. This is the Original China Cymbal. They are usually cheaper, but they are more brittle, so be careful how you mount and strike them. Maybe someone else's ear will be pleased with the sound of that Paiste.
You could also try getting more felts to tighten it up. Thats what I've done with my Paiste 18" alpha, and it sounds great, just be sure to strike it on the inner, round edge as apposed to the outer edge. When you do something up that tight you don't wanna crack it. I've also got a paiste 22" 2002. Now that barstad sounds like a gong, but it's good for when I want the roar.
The bigger ones are a bit gongy, i had a Paiste 20" 2002 many years ago, never used it and swapped it for a kick pedal.
I now own a 16" Alpha and it's a great accent cymbal and very musical, not too trashy.
Before you part with what you have , have a listen out front to it being played as drums and cymbals sound different from out front, and try the good advice from Skin slapper.
I found, like the other drummers, the bigger ones quite gongy.
In my book a happy medium seems to be 12/14 inch. certainly not bigger if a "splashy" sound is required.
I also discovered that they are more gongy when mounted on a steep angle or vertical.
It might be sound projection but I found them much better sitting horizontal with the felts tight, an explanation is that GRAVITY works on the vibration, which is fading quicker that way, and which will have no impact on a vertical mounted one.
If your China is already horizontal, then my remark of the gravity effect does not help you of course.
generally speeking, around where i come from people(allot) have been drumming horizontally(if thats not correct I'm blaming spell check), so it makes sense, on my new metal set up i put it more vertically(stereotypical, Spinal tap style).
I've got a 14"...yes, a 14" WUHAN china that will blow the fuzz off a peach at 25 feet! Bang for the buck...and real trashy mean and nasty sounds Woo-hoo-hoo-han! They are hand hammered and it took me to go through like 8 or 10 cymbals before I found "the one"
Bang for the buck...and real trashy mean and nasty sounds Woo-hoo-hoo-han! They are hand hammered and it took me to go through like 8 or 10 cymbals before I found "the one"
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