Recently got a nice China in a trade, first ever. This may sound dumb but do you play it bell up or bell down? It is pretty thin and I think if you play it bell up the edge could get beat up very easily. It sounds cool and I like the challenge of incorporating it into my setup.
Which way for a China???
Lucky, they are meant to be played bell upside down! with the flared edges of the cymbal facing you the player! here's a wuhan video to demonstrate! [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFwgVHJ_zGY&feature=player_embedded[/ame]
..use it as a ride?? bell up.....
R
Thanks V2K, a ride??? It is only a 17"er, will give it a go.
Whichever way sounds best.
I have a 20" 2002 with rivets that I usually play bell up so I can ride it. It also gives a mellow crash that way. It goes upside down when I want to get medieval.
My main China is an 18" HHX prototype that I mount upside down. It's the best China I've ever heard and it's like a gong if I use mallets.
• 1979 Oak
• 1978 Blakrome + 6.5x14 TDR SD
• 1977 Black Diamond Pearl + 5x14 SD (gold badge, Rapid strainer)
• 1976 Black Cordova
• 1975 Silver Sparkle + 5x14 SD (Rapid strainer)
• 1974 Chrome + 5x14 COB TDR and 6.5x14 COW Zoomatic SDs
• 1973 Purple Sparkle
• 1973 Phantom (clear)
• 1971 Walnut (gold badges) + 5x14 TDR SD
1x Rogers Powertone Londoner V 12-13-16-22
• 1972 Butcher Block + 1979 big R Dynasonic SD
Personally, I use both. When i'm playing a trashy china say, a Wuhan, I will mount it bell down. It will get hard hits, because of the sound that suits a certain style, and for that reason I won't want to put it right side up. The combination of a thin cymbal, the sharp flange of a china cymbal, and hard hitting just doesn't work. Bye bye cymbal, bye bye sticks. If i'm playing a more washy, crashy, non-trashy type cymbal, let's say your tipical zildjian or paiste china, I will mount it bell up, and use it as more of a crash ride than a sharp accent cymbal. Since they are much heavier and I don't hit them very hard that position really suits the cymbal in my playing. In my case there's a reason for wich way I mount my cymbals, I don't just pick a way that looks the coolest or the most popular. However you wish to mount them thats fine, but keep in mind that if you mount a china bell up, don't bash it unless it's as thick as a brick and you can afford to replace it, and many pairs of chopped up sticks!Violin
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