China positions

[druski_2k5]

I'm about ready to buy a China cymbal, and I wanted some opinions on the positioning of the China.

I see some have it right side up, bell up, and inverted with the bell down.

What are the advantages or disadvantages of each? Would one position be more prone to cracking the cymbal than another? I would think having it bell up and right side up, that the harsh edge of the China would eat into the sticks more. Is that why most have it inverted?

I know everyone has their own tastes and styles and it's a matter of player preference, but I was curious how you guys set it up and why.

[Yoda]

I play mine with the flange turning down. Either way I flip it it sounds the same, so I play mine that way to save my sticks from getting chewed up.

[drumsetsnide]

I play mine bell down. It's the most practical way to play it. It will save your sticks and more importantly it will save the cymbal. Playing with the flange up or bell up, you risk damaging the cymbal; denting the edge.

[Shawn76]

I agree with what the others have said.I've never tried to play a china any other way.

[BigFatDrummer]

I play mine bell down. It's the most practical way to play it. It will save your sticks and more importantly it will save the cymbal. Playing with the flange up or bell up, you risk damaging the cymbal; denting the edge.

Completely agree with this. You will see most players position their china this way. There are models on the market that have a bell the right side up whilst also having the flanged edge curving downwards. An example would be the Paiste Nova, I think.

[slinky]

Bell down here too. Seems to get the full effect with it that way. I've heard of people riding on them for ping but the one i have only sounds good for the trash. Zildjian ZHT 18''

[marko138]

I'm with everyone else here.

As such:

[pastor_bob]

I agree with the inverted postition to protect the edges. I have an 18" Wuhan China and that cymbal's bell is flat on top. That being the case, it makes sense that it was meant to be inverted.

[Drumbledore]

Yep I experiment with placing one or two around the drumset, usually bell down so that your stick hits the downward turned flanged edge....

Completely agree with this. You will see most players position their china this way. There are models on the market that have a bell the right side up whilst also having the flanged edge curving downwards. An example would be the Paiste Nova, I think.

In the foreground, that's the Paiste Novo China BFD mentioned:



Unlike most other Paiste cymbals, the bell doesn't really give you a playable sound, but because this kind of china is "double-flanged", I find it has a slight gated effect.

[SpatzST]

Yeah the thing i never understood about Chinas....

The way the logos are on the cymbal itself would imply that the top side is with the bend pointing upwards.

On the bell side it displays BRAND / SERIES, on the underside it displays just BRAND. On any other cymbal, the brand alone is displayed on the bottom of the cymbal, while the top is brand/series.

It may just be a manufacturing thing though.. systems are built for the bell facing upwards.

Either way, I play bell down. Also HHX Chinas rock.

[druski_2k5]

Awesome replies! Thanks for the input! It'll definitely help when I get my china.

[Shawn76]

Yeah the thing i never understood about Chinas....

The way the logos are on the cymbal itself would imply that the top side is with the bend pointing upwards.

On the bell side it displays BRAND / SERIES, on the underside it displays just BRAND. On any other cymbal, the brand alone is displayed on the bottom of the cymbal, while the top is brand/series.

It may just be a manufacturing thing though.. systems are built for the bell facing upwards.

Either way, I play bell down. Also HHX Chinas rock.

Yeah the HHX Chinas are some of the best sounding ones I have heard. I have the 18" and 20". the 20" is so mellow and not over powering. Just has a killer sound to it.I have an 18" HH that doesn't sound so dark to my ears but fits well with the others.

[SpatzST]

yeah, I don't like pingy chinas so this really does it for me. It has a lot of body to it unlike most chinas i hear.

[BigFatDrummer]

Yeah the thing i never understood about Chinas....

The way the logos are on the cymbal itself would imply that the top side is with the bend pointing upwards.

On the bell side it displays BRAND / SERIES, on the underside it displays just BRAND. On any other cymbal, the brand alone is displayed on the bottom of the cymbal, while the top is brand/series.

It may just be a manufacturing thing though.. systems are built for the bell facing upwards.

Either way, I play bell down. Also HHX Chinas rock.

I have a 14" hand hammered china. I believe it is basically a store own brand Stagg. In any case, on my china, the main logo and model are on the side with the edge facing downwards contrary to most other brands which, as you say, place these on the bell side.

[late8]

Bell down on the china position although I have played with the bell up and I liked the wash it produced.