I prefer lip down because it's more comfortable for me. It's the same angle as hitting a crash. Sometimes I like to hit the shoulder of the cymbal along with the edge for a smash.
I mount my china lip down - I tried lip up but was striking directly into the edge too often. I attempt to strike my china a glancing blow across the flat area of the downturned lip - the other way up seems to munch my sticks and I get the feeling I'm going to smash a chunk out of the side of it.
I currently set it up lip down but would like to use the bell of it, and am currently contemplating this exact question. I too am worried about cracking it or going through sticks. I love the sound of it (14"K fast china) and have not noticed any change when hit lip up or down. I will vote lip up because I would prefer it.
Also still struggling with a location for it, I do not want to add another stand but have not found a good adapter or placement for it yet.
Last edited by MDK; 04-02-2015 at 02:17 PM.
Ludwig Classic Maple 22x16,10x8,12x9,16x16
7" Moon Gel Practice Pad
Sabian HHX Legacy
Decide whether this is love for the craft or simply an ego thing
http://www.redskymary.com/ NOT MY BAND, JUST A GREAT LOCAL BAND WHO SHOULD BE SOOO MUCH BIGGER IMO
I have all of mine lip up. I use an 18" Sabian china that is very thin and have played it this way since I got it, in late 2013. No cracks, bends, etc...I'm not a hard hitter and this is a fairly mellow china, so I guess that helps. I have an 8" china splash that is also mounted the same way, and a 12" Meinl Filter China with Jingles like this as well. Interestingly on that cymbal, even though the jingles are touching the side where the lip would be down, it sounds better the other way as the jingles have more freedom to vibrate.
But this isn't for everyone. All my larger cymbals have a smaller one stacked over it with a cymbal stacker, and so mounting a china bell-down just wouldn't work for this setup without making it very tight. I like my cymbals being able to move freely.
Lip down. I tend to really lay into the kit so I'd chop either the cymbal or the sticks in half if I played the china lip up lol
- Zack
Interested curves on your rack Late8
Any side or front photos?
down. Otherwise I wouldn't have any sticks left
I play mine down. Now, Charlie Watts plays his lip up and uses it as his crash. So I would guess there is no right or wrong. I have never seen an article on it. Ooops, time to go serf the interweb!
1976 Tama Imperialstar Saturn 12+1 Platina6,8,10,12,13,14,15,16 concert toms, 16, 18 floor toms, 2-22x18 Bass drums.
1971 5x14 Ludwig acrolite snare
Tama metalworks snare 13x6
DW collectors Maple Blue Glass7x8, 8x10, 9x12 rack toms, 11x14, 13x16 hanging toms, 18x23 bass, 8 and 12 timbale toms, 5.5x10 Ten and Six All Maple snare, 5.5x14 Supersolid snare, DW 9000 rack system, DW 5002 Double bass pedal, DW 5000 Hi-Hat stand, DW 9000 Snare stand.
Sabian Xs20 cymbals: 16 & 18 crash, 20 ride, 14 hats, 8 splash, 18 china.
Zildjian cymbals: 21 ride, 15 hats. All '70's era.
I've always played them lip down, guess it's just what I'm used to. It feels like a more natural angle to strike the cymbal, and less likely to damage it.
down for me too. I like to smash into it right on the curved part to get the full affect plus i have it hanging pretty flat, not completely but close.
RDM/Damage Poets
UFiP TAMAHA Zildjian
REGAL TiP
AQUARIAN
I have my 18's upside down, but the 12" on my X-hat is lip up.
^^ That's a nice cymbal setup
Down...
Signature here
[QUOTE=late8;639452]I prefer the lip up. Why? For me with the lip up, I get more wash and the cymbal rocks freely. Am I concerned about bashing the lip? Nope. I don't aim for the lip when I wash ride the china. I aim for a spot between the bell and bow.
I've just tried this with my ZHT 16 china and like the results. It isn't a disgusting cymbal after all - as long as I don't hit the edge of the lip that is, if I do its a case of sick bag required!
I have 30-some cymbals but not one China. I'm waiting for a 27" thin Wuhan to play lip down.
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