Hihats are gorgeous - thank you! i absolutely love these cymbals.
Gregg
These cymbals are AMAZING and record beautifully. I love playing them behind the kit... feels great.... and they really shine in a track.
Thanks again,
Greg
Hi Chris,
I got the cymbal today... WOW! Nice sound. I bought some wuhan "s" series cymbals several years ago, and they were crap... these are AWESOME! I will definitely be shopping for more! Thanks for clearing up my order.
Best regards,
Craig Hansen
Received my cymbal today...
Very, Very Nice!
I've been waiting for this sound for over 30 years, "My Ride has finally arrived" So much in one sound, one hit
(Like Miles playing one note and you're hearing a chord) Soft, Dark and Mellow with Definition.
Vintage Bliss, full of Life! thanks Chris -Ron
Hi Chris,
Letting you know that the cymbals turned up today safe and sound - from the quick bash I had before work they sound great.
Thanks for your great service - I'll definitely be shopping with FRB in the future.
Cheers,
Skye
Hey man
Just a quick note to say the cymbals got here fine, and my god I am in love with the 24" ride, it is so SWEET! Haven't got my hi-hat stand fixed yet (long story) so cant try out the Hi-hats but all the others are great also, very impressed.
Thanks Mate
Pete
Hey everything arrived just as planned and the cymbal is to die for thanks so much for getting it here fast!! The show went great!!
Jake Flack
Hi Chris,
Got the cymbal today. It sounds great; very dark and dry, very similar
to the other sound bytes you have on your site. BTW, I think having the
clips of the cymbals is a great idea; next best thing to going to your
store(don't know if you have a store) and trying them out.
At some point I'd like to try a set of the hi-hats, interested in
hearing their sound. Thanks for the great service.
Peter Adelmann
Chris,
I'm a jazz player, received an 18 and a 20 bliss last week, I play mostly with
brushes. These cymbals are fucking AWESOME! Exactly what I wanted. The
internet video files are a killer idea. You will be getting more business from
me in the future.
Great job, Pab
Hi Chris,
I got the 18" Bliss yesterday and I'm REALLY digging it. I've bought enough cymbals online via sound files that I know what to expect and what might not be so obvious. The sound file was a very good representation of the actual cymbal. The actual cymbal is even BETTER. I was a bit skeptical about how "k" like these cymbals really were, given all the hype, but this thing has that vibe in spades (at least to my ear). And I must say, the video and verbal descriptions you give definitely made all the difference. I'm already thinking about a 22. Thanks very much for the great service and prompt shipping.
Regards
Tom
Chris,
The 13" Bliss hi hats arrived here yesterday in perfect condition. I love them! Very silky and darkish, but not too dark. Definitively great hats for jazz and low volume latin stuff. Thanks for everything. I will be playing and getting used to them.
Cheers!
Joe Cedeno
Hi, Chris. I received my cymbal last night. Thanks for shipping it so quickly and so well packaged. I was impressed. I haven't had much time to play around with it, yet, but I am really stoked about what I'm hearing so far. I've been playing for 25 years or so, but there's two things I've never owned... a truly hand-made cymbal and a sizzle ride. I'm excited about playing this thing in for a while and hearing it change. Then I'm going to sink a few rivets in it. I'm like a kid on Christmas morning.
Thanks again
Chris Whitfield
Hey Chris,
Just got the cymbals for my church today and am totally blown away!!!
not only do they sound great but they sound just like the sound files on your site
I can't tell you how impressed I am with everything thanks so much for all your help.
Dave Duke
Mt Horeb Praise Band
Hey chris, i wanted to write you and let you know how much i am impressed with the FRB plates i bought a while back... they are starting to patina very nicely, and as they have been played, they are warming up well. thanks for the sound clips on the site, they really helped me to pick two cymbals that compliment each other well. they sit in great with the ride i already had, and sound very mellow and distinct on recordings i have done with them. i couldn't be happier!
thanks again!
jay schwab
beaverton, OR
Hey Chris,
I got them :))Very nice cymbals.In fact I own an 18'' K made in Istanbul(with 5 rivets previosly installed), and the Bliss is very , very close.Great one!
I didn't realise that the 24'' is almost flat.Almost no bell,but I love the wood in it:)Will take them to a gig tonight.I will definately spread the word around, and if you got any other orders from Bulgaria, they probably will come from me:)
If you have time please check this: www.myspace.com/jp3trio
We just released a DVD with the trio.My main rides are prototypes from Masterwork which I made in their factory in Istanbul with Behnan Gocmez. The right one is 22,5'',and the left is 20''.My far right is old 18''K made in Istanbul. I wished i had this ones too, but .. next time
Thanks again, for your fast responce, and will hear each-other again for sure.If you ever stumble across a 20'' bliss in 1700g range , wich is dark , dry and woody send me a message:))
Cheers
Dimitar
Hey Chris,
received the crash ride a couple of days ago and it is just awesome. i must say u packaged it well.
have been breaking it in, but it sounds good as is. it was the best i liked from the sound files and thankfully it wasn't sold already.
would be buying some crashes from ya later.
thanks for the experience.
Vaibhav Gadade
Hi Chris,
Zapped off to France for 3 weeks, the cymbal arrived while I was away. really interesting sounds coming out, I've already stuck a couple of rivets in (experimenting process)...........This has calmed some of the spread down......But it's very early yet, another 3 months and it's character will emerge..........Several drummer have heard,and like it...They now have your website address
What's most interesting is the fact it's fitted in with other cymbas, Agops, Bos'...etc.
So far,so good
Thanks Again,
Vince
Hi, I bought cymbal 992 from you recently and it fits in great with my Zildjains and Sabians. i'm very happy with this purchase and I hope to buy from you again. Thanks, Don Albanese
Hi, Chris -
Not sure if you're home to get this, but anyway...
#974 Bliss 24" ride just arrived today. Looks lovely... can't play it til I get home later, but looks lovely.
You really weren't kidding when you mentioned it was quite a flat one! This will make a unique addition to my little arsenal of ride cymbals. I once had a true Flat Ride many years ago. That was very much a "one trick pony" type of cymbal, but this one promises to have a lot of the clarity you get from a flat ride, along with much more expressive tonal possibilities.
I'll drop you a line sometime later with some comments.
Thanks as usual for your very diligent packing job!
Best regards,
Eric Brant
Chris,
The cymbal rack did arrive. It took FedEx a day or two to finalyy bring it, but they finally did, and I love it. Well thought out and very well planned for a non construction type person to put together..
Please get some more Contact series cymbals. I got one on eBay and fell in love with it. Ther are some 22" ones that could be sold I think. Listen to the rumblings over on cymbalholics. I think the timimg is right to bring some in.
AND. if you could get the POWERS that be bo make a model with a smaller bell and slightly lighter in weight, I think we would have something.
Ithink they are the K KILLER...Just make a smaller bell a little lighterm and you are there. I like the tension in these, I like the metal better...I think they are B20 and the Bliss is B23 but that is just me...anyway the tonal grooves are great..just all around a great cymbal with a few improvements. Tell them to put me in charge......
Sutton Rigg
Yo Chris,
I received mt #658 crash/ride yesterday.....(a day earlier than expected-thanx!) W O W !!!!! It's awesome!!!! It sounds incredable, just like on the website sample. It's a unique sound to say the least and mixes in nicely with my other cymbals. I'll be back soon for one of those big 24's! Thanks again... be in touch soon.
Scott
Well, I had this box that I got yesterday and my first impressions- it was a lot washier than I expected, but I mallet rolled it yesterday and even after 10 minutes it was a lot different, it’s almost like the stick sound needs to “break away” from the wash. I was glad my Erskine ride sticks sounded so good on it, I’m kind of attached to that model. I’ll probably tape it up a little to accelerate the age-in, but mostly just wanted to write and let you know that I got it and that the cymbal is still morphing and will go from great to exceptional very soon. I’m VERY happy with the cymbal, a 22” and 16” hats will be on the list as as I can flip some other pies I have now. My best friend lives in Shanghai, can they get Bliss in China (strange question, I realize), or are they export-only? Thanks again for the service Chris, it’s much appreciated!
Benjamin Goodwin
Got it! This is the smoothest, most well-defined, lowest-pitched
thing I've ever heard. It takes a lot to open up the crash, which is
pretty quiet compared to my other cymbals, but that's okay... I
finally got the stick sound that I wanted!
Thanks,
Perry
Hey Chris,
I just wanted to let you know that I received my
cymbal a couple of weeks ago and I love it. It was a
pleasure doing buisness with you, I am telling all of
my drummer friends about it.
Thanks again,
-Keith
R. Keith Botello, MMT, MT-BC
Master of Music Therapy
Hey Chris
The cymbal rack turned out very nice! I have it loaded about halfway so far and its very stable.
I might need to get another one.
Thanks Chris the rack is great!
Park Hubbell
Anyways, the Bliss is the most exotic sounding cymbal I've ever heard. Maybe it's the one I picked, but it's the trashiest ride I've ever heard! Personally I think this is more of a china ride, than Meinl's. What I really like is the dark, gong-like roar the cymbal makes when roliing with mallets.
In the end, very exotic. I'm goning to make this my signature sound!
Thanks again Chris.
Chris--
I wanted to let you know...it's going to be a month or two before I move into my new space and can really set up my kit...but these cymbals are AWESOME. The 20 and hats you picked out for me are great...they're going to complement the 22 beautifully. I can't wait to get recording with them.
Thanks for all your help!
John
I received the cymbal today. It's working out *amazingly* well as a hi-hat bottom with my new Bos New Orleans as the top. I thought it would work, but, it turned out better than anticipated. Per your text insert in the package, it should sound even better as the cymbal ages and mellows a bit.
Take Care,
SDD
Hi,
I'm really happy with my new Dream Bliss ride I bought last week. You are the fastest shipper I ever meet on the internet! One weeks after I order the cymbal it cames to my door! Really appreciate your work and your cymbals. I'll buy a 18" Crash Ride soon (When the pay will arrive tuesday ahah).
Thankssssssssss.
Maxime Landry
Everyone I know just raves about my new Bliss (#458) and it's really a remarkable cymbal. Even
though it's much thinner than a heavy Avedis I own, its crash is actually louder and, since it
opens up more, much fuller. The bell is strong --- I have to stand back when a friend plays it
--- and the cymbal itself is not overly washy, despite the buttery feel. The tension is varied
throughout the plate's bridge area (which I really dig), and some areas actually remind me of a
much more expensive cymbal by a Turkish handmade cymbal company that I once owned, in both feel
and sound. It's now a commonly made statement, but these cymbals are an incredible value, and
I know I won't be able to stop at just one.
Thanks!
Perry
oh, BTW.....those RAM mallets are really interesting. i THINK i'm diggin them.
i've been using them as my basic 'go to' mallets for the past 2 weeks and they seem to be suiting the bill....replacing my clevelander bamboo shafts! i would have never guessed it possible.
let's see how they hold up!! HA!
DUDE.....first of all, i've been meaning to get to you about that 24!!! it IS KILLIN!!!!!!!!!!! i LOVE it. VERY unique and i love the bow shape (or lack of!!) and bell size.
so coooool....thanks!
ok bro....onward to finishing my taxes....
be blessed.....#
The 24" Bliss prototype #683 arrived today and I have to be the first to say...WOW....and that about sums it up for me.
I thought the 22" Bliss was a nice cymbal, but the 24" Bliss is in a class by itself. I am totally blown away. It sounds nothing at all like I thought it would from listening to the soundfile.
It is simply something to behold. first of all, it is drop dead beautiful to the eye and it sounds fantastic. It is not as deep in fundamental as I had thought, but has a great stick that is dark, but at the same time sits right on top of some beautiful wash. It is simply so much better than the 22" in most respects, that it is hard to describe. It really does sound more like an old nice K than anything in the Dream lineup I have heard. As a matter of fact, I had an old stamp up on the stand and compared it to the 24" Bliss and the 22" Bliss and the 24" gets the nod..The 22" is nice, don't get me wrong, but the hollowness I hear in the 22" just is not there in the 24". The 24" in spite of it's size, is very complex, but somehow more focused, and the stick is very much a "tah" and not a "ting". The wash is rich and full. It is not deep, deep in tone as I had expected, but is very full and tuneful. Anyway, I think you get my drift....The 24" Bliss is definitely the stuff. If you're looking at a Bliss, get the 24" and you won't look back....
Thanks again for a fantastic gem of a cymbal...........
I received the cymbal today. It's working out *amazingly* well as a hi-hat bottom with my new Bos New Orleans as the top. I thought it would work, but, it turned out better than anticipated. Per your text insert in the package, it should sound even better as the cymbal ages and mellows a bit.
Take Care, SDD
Hi, I'm really happy with my new Dream Bliss ride I bought last week. You are the fastest shipper I ever meet on the internet! One weeks after I order the cymbal it cames to my door! Really appreciate your work and your cymbals. I'll buy a 18" Crash Ride soon (When the pay will arrive tuesday ahah).
Thankssssssssss. Maxime Landry
Hi Chris, The hi-hats arrived today and I’m quite thrilled with them! They are lively and musical and light and have plenty of chick – perfect combination for me. Thanks for your guidance and quick shipping and website that has so much helpful information. I’ll try to spread the word and I’m sure that up the road I’ll be back to buy from you again.
Betty Malcom
Hey Chris, Just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that the 20" contact crash/ride I purchased is great. This cymbal sounds beautiful and fits right in with the zildjian 20" A custom crash. Everyone who has heard it is stunned when they find out it's not a Zildjian or Sabian. I been talking you and your cymbals up, just hope it has provided some customers. You will probably hearing from me again in the future for another purchase.
Thanks again Chris for an excellent product and outstanding business procedures. Rich
Hello Chris: I just recieved my 18" Dream II 1325g crash/ride. I really dig this cymbal and I can't even begin to express to you how pleased I am with my purchase. I will definately be purchasing from you in the near future. I'll keep an eye out for some more 22"s. Also, I am a drum set major at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA and all of my fellow drummers showed great interest in these cymbals. Even other instrumentalists told me that this was the best sounding crash they ever heard! I'll keep checking out your site and continue to spread the word. Thanks so much. It was a pleasure doing business with you. Dave
Chris - Further to my message yesterday, I've now had time to try out my new Bliss ride cymbal. I have to tell you - I'm not satisfied.
I am... deliriously overjoyed! Indescribably thrilled! Wildly ecstatic!
The brand name is spot-on. Playing this cymbal is BLISS. It's really the cymbal of your DREAMs.
This is exactly the cymbal I've been searching for over the past two decades. Along the way, I've spent a pretty good chunk of change on some of the 'vintage reissues' that the Zildjian guys have cranked out, as well as some of the new generation handmade Turkish cymbals. Some of those are nice sounding instruments, in their own way. But none of them had THE sound I was after: that profoundly PERFECT ride sound that emanated from the era of Art, Philly Joe, Tony & Elvin.
I can only remember playing two cymbals that had what this one has: that gorgeous, three dimensional sonority. One was a superb old K. belonging to the fine NY jazz drummer Owen Howard (who incidentally comes from Edmonton, Alberta, where I live). The other was an exceptional 50's A. that I discovered in a crappy old music store while on the road almost 20 years ago. I couldn't afford to pick that one up at the time, having just spent my weekly disposable income on a really nice 1930's Ludwig Standard snare drum (no regrets about buying the drum, only having to miss out on the cymbal!)
I am just amazed that these guys in Wuhan province, with their old world technology, have been able to totally nail the sound and feel of what the real Turkish K's were all about. How did these guys know how to do what has apparently escaped the American Zildjian company and all the various Turkish pretenders to the throne?
This cymbal has a fabulous stick sound, sitting perfectly on top of a beautiful shimmering wash. The incredible thing is, it's really quite a thin cymbal... but due to its shape, and the stiffness (which you described), the fundamental pitch is not low - so you get a shimmering wash instead of a dull droning hum. And that is what I love! The other usual drawback with many thin ride cymbals is that you lose volume and projection. Magically, there is no such weakness with this one. Put it down to genius in craftsmanship.
I would like to find the guy that made this cymbal and give him a big hug and thank him profusely. But I'll have to settle for thanking you for making it possible for me to (finally!) get the cymbal that I've always wanted. I am very particular about cymbals, and the idea of buying one through the Internet is usually something that I would not consider doing. But the sound clips on your website took the guesswork and fear out of it.
Ten stars outa ten. Find of a lifetime. blissfully yours, Eric Brant
Chris I am digging these,
wow, they really need to age
before they really get dry and funky
the 20" 1895g with the small bell looks
and sounds like something Elvin Jones would
use, just add rivets wow. The 20" 1665g wow!
Am I wrong to want the 22" contact 2640g you have on
the sight? I feel even at the brand new stage of the
22" 2500 gram # 458 I feel like I need more weight. What
do you think?
Well take care I love the big note about the cymbals,
My 8 month old son, who turned 8 months today, he love
the splash cymbal, thank you, Chris,
David Mahoney
Chris, The Bliss are just fabulous...every drummer that plays/hears them has to find out what they are...and I have been telling EVERYONE about you...even have a post on my site about them. Todd
Hey Chris, Today I received my new 22" Bliss 2395g #404 and I am completely knocked out by it. There are probably at least two dozen sounds in this cymbal just playing it on the bridge around the circumference of the cymbal! This Bliss III is totally different than the 20" and 22" Bliss II's that I have, but it fits in perfectly. This #404 is much more trashy and dark than my #306, which is much cleaner sounding, while the 20" is somewhere in between the two. And the hammering on #404 is so beautifully imperfect, and very obviously hand hammered. #404 is also much more flexible than the 2480g #306 which is much stiffer. In fact #404 wobbles much more than I anticipated it would. Your statement in the sound for #404 said that this would make a great jazz cymbal, and indeed it is... and will. Thank you so much for steering me to #404. I love it! Now I can't wait until I get back from vacation and I can hear the 18" #500 that I just bought from you. It should be a great addition to the family.
I am very seriously considering selling all of my Agop's. These Bliss are really doing it for me, and in a way that I never could have anticipated. I simply can not stop playing these cymbals. I am awestruck by the sound and the quality. I have never had the opportunity to play an old K, or a Spizz, and at this time I don't care if I ever do. I believe I find my sound in these Bliss cymbals and never look back.
Thanks for bringing these cymbals to us, and thank the guys at Mountain Rythmns for working so hard with the Chinese to develop this great series of cymbals.
Thanks, Cary
Hey Chris! The cymbals arrived yesterday and I've been playing them a lot. Great combination of rides and hats, lots of overtones and stick definition. I've played them with mallets and different stick sizes and they sound great always. Man they sound like old recordings of Blakey, Max and Tony. So you know I dig 'em.
Thank you very much for everything, Raúl Maldonado
I spent the week with this cymbal set up on a stand in my living room, and I have a hard time walking past it without stopping to play. I'm having lots of fun trying different sticks, etc. Now I need the right gig to take her on! Thanks again, and I hope to order again soon, when I hear the right hats and maybe another ride. I bet the line for 24"s is pretty long?
I plan on getting a short testimonial up on drumforum soon - maybe 'holics, but it seems like everyone there already has at least one of your cymbals!
Thanks, Herb
Hey Chris, I just got the 22" Bliss from you this afternoon, your right ,I love it. I paired it
with my hollow stamp 22 A zildjian and I admit I like it better than the A Z! OK, so now I want
that 18" Contact 1465gm #349, it sounds really different . I also have some of the type 2 bliss
that I'm hanging on to for now but those type 3 sound terrific, can't wait to see whats coming up
next.
Hey Chris, I received the cymbals today. They go trash, trash, trash! I LOVE THEM! Now I have 7 splash cymbals on my kit, and even if they have different sounds they are differently tuned and I can play some melodies with them. The ride is washy but if it settles a bit it will sound awesome. I may throw a rivet or two on that one, don't know yet. One of these days I'll get one of the new 24" monsters. It's been a pleasure doing biz with you.
Take care& peace, Jon Iriarte
Hi Chris,
The cymbals arrived this morning and I have been playing them
throughout the day. I must tell you how pleased I am with them.
I thought they would be pretty fair cymbals at a good price.What
a surprise to find out they were much more than fair sounding cymbals!
I put up some of my Bos Masters and New Orleans,and Zildjian Cons
on the stand to compare with the Dreams. In my opinion,they sounded
quite good and compatable with the other cymbals.
Thanks,
Charles Vallor
Chris: Holy macareal. Well beyond what I was expecting. Wait till word hits the streets about these cymbals. RIght out of the box and up on the stands they went and on went the Elvin Jones on the stereo and I was off.
I've played/owned them ALL. I even made a pilgrimage last summer to Tuscany to visit Don Roberto personally. I'm reminded of the scene at the end of the movie "PRedator" w/ Arnold where the Arnold says, "What the hell are you?" THat's what I have to say about these cymbals: What the hell are they? And I mean that as one who is in awe. I guess I've never played real, true hand hammered cymbals before.
You probably got my phone message on your machine. SInce then I hit the BIN on those hats you had on Ebay. (Paid for and all) I'm also eyeing that other 20 you have on your sight. THe 1905 gram No. 65. Is it available?
LMK Vinny
Hey Chris, These hi hats are great. If anything, these cymbals are underrated rather than overrated and they are fit to compete with any of the Turkish cymbals I've got. I'll definitely be back before long for a 20" ride.
thanks, -Aaron
Hi Chris, I got the 18, and 22" bliss I ordered from you. Thanks for a fast and painless transaction. First off you did a nice job pitch matching the two, and second, as promised I will give my thoughts on the cymbals. These cymbals have a great warm tone to them with a nice complex wash. They are, as stated very reminiscent of vintage k istanbuls, great stick definition with a nice wash, but still controllable, for the price tag I'm very impressed!
Best Regards,
Shelby Smith
Hi Chris! Just a quick note to let you know the Bliss you sent me arrived today and 2 hours later it was on my trio gig with fusion guitarist Don Mock. I love it! Couldn't be happier. I'll definitely put the word out. Thanks again, I'm sure we'll be doing business again in the very near future. Probably a nice 20" next time. Regards, Dave Coleman
Hello, I received my 22" Dream Bliss last week. Thank you for your quick delivery and the info. sheet that accompanied the cymbal...very informative. I haven't seen the MD article, but I've read great reviews on RMMP.
It is a beautiful sounding cymbal at a fantastic price. I've been looking for this kind of cymbal for a while now, can't afford a new one from the store, and can't personally trust most on Ebay because I need to hear how they sound before I make a purchase. The sound files on your website and Ebay helped me a great deal in making my decision, that and the RMMP reviews.
I finally used it last night, apart from practicing with it in my basement, at my soundpainting orchestra(guided improvisation using hand signs/signals) rehearsal. One piece calls for extended cymbal rolls that match 5 different tonal pallets. I used Firth general tymp mallets. The cymbal answered the call of duty, and more. I couldn't believe how many different beautiful tones come from this plate. Apart from the cymbal rolls, I brought out so many complex harmonics using a metal scraper going around the edge of the plate, like a bow. This is an amazing cymbal. I really can't wait to use it as an actual ride at a gig in December.
Up to now, when I needed to use this type of cymbal I used an LP Ranchan 18" china crash, which has very similar characteristics to a Turkish ride- completely hand-made and undersized at 17.75", one half weighs twice as much as the other, heavily hand-hammered, very dark and dry, thin, and crashes nicely at the edge. I always thought that LP and the cymbal smiths were missing a key demographic by marketing these cymbals just as Chinese cymbals.
Thanks again. I am certain I will be doing business with you again. Christopher
Hi Chris, This is a little late but I wanted to tell you I received my cymbal last Friday and am very pleased with it. I took it out to an informal jam session that night and used it exclusively. It served me well as a crash and a ride and did not get too wild on me. Unfortunately I had a busy week at work (I'm a school teacher) so have not been able to touch it since. I plan on breaking it in with some tympani mallets "just like Elvin." Thanks for the great service. You'll be hearing from me again as I plan on getting some more crashes, splashes and rides! Pete Gottfried
Chris! I just played the cymbal and it is spooky!!!! I played it in a big band and it was so fucking awesome!!!!!
THANKYOU
Just want to say, I love my 18" bliss and I can't wait to get my 16". Your sound bites are true to the cymbels. I am a working jazz musician and these cymbels speak very well in all settings. Frank Wilson
H O L Y . . . F !
i am very f'n happy-
i got my 20 today-
just put it on the stand an fucked around for about 10 minutes-
it is exactly what you said it was and it matched your sound file to a f'n t-
i played it next to the other 20 and they are so different but also similar-
the one i got from you is exactly what i needed-
mostly stick on top of the smoke-
perfect jazz trio shit-
thanks for a picture perfect transaction from top to bottom-
the cats at cymbalholic will hear about this-
thanks chris-
(next up...a freakin 22...dark...plenty of stick...a little more wash...
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!
adios- marty swings nyc
Hi Chris, Just wanted to let you know that I received the cymbal. Man... it is really good. It is definitely my most interesting ride cymbal (among a 21" Agop Signature and a 21" Istanbul Mehemet Legend), and I mean that in a good way. It is really fun to play. The weight is exactly what I was looking for because I wanted something a little more articulate. But man, the low, raw, and organic nature of these cymbals is just awesome. That's what I dig. Beautiful looking also. I'll be playing with it live this week and am so looking forward to it.
Although I'm not ready at the moment to buy another, I would love a complimentary 20 and 18. I would likely go lighter, relatively speaking. I really dig the 20 on eBay right now, but I need to hold on for the time being. You've got a great thing going... keep up the good work! Your sound files are great, too.
Take care, Marco
hi chris-
played the 20 last night at a jam-
heard it while playing and heard it as an audience member-
didn't realize what a nice crash component the cymbal has-
also-
how different it sounds in different rooms-
at home i was thinking of putting a rivet in it-
at the jam the cymbal was bright and still nice and sticky with a wash that came up when pushed-
very cool-
the dude who's drums i played on has an amazing line up of cymbals at the jam-
a 20 spizz-
a couple of nice agops too-
plus old k hats-
(this dude is a cybalholic member)
i put the bliss up on the stand and evetyone was impressed-
i am wondering about the 22's -
are they coming soon ?
please let me know-
my 20 needs a bigger darker and nastier brother-
please give me a couple of suggestions for a pick when they come in if you can-
i trust your input-
i want to jump on one-
talk to you soon-
marty-
swings16
I received my cymbals yesterday well packed in great condition.
The cymbals are great and Ill probably want more.
Dealing with you was great I just wanted to say thanks.
Erik
Hi Chris, The cymbals arrived this morning and I have been playing them
throughout the day. I must tell you how pleased I am with them.
I thought they would be pretty fair cymbals at a good price.What
a surprise to find out they were much more than fair sounding cymbals!
I put up some of my Bos Masters and New Orleans,and Zildjian Cons
on the stand to compare with the Dreams. In my opinion,they sounded
quite good and compatable with the other cymbals.
Thanks, Charles Vallor
Hi Chris, I got the ride and it sounds great. I'm gonna have some fun breaking this one in! Do you have any kind of feedback system?
Best, Evan
Hi Chris, I received my 20 inch Bliss and I'm really happy with it. Again, these cymbals are so cool. This one is quite a bit washier than my 22, which is what I was hoping for. It has what I think others are referring to as that "dragon breath", that Chinese character. I'm kinda' hoping that it mellows just a little, because overall, it's great. I also like the fact that these cymbals have good stick definition, even when they are really washy. On the sound file you mentioned that my cymbal sounds like an old K. Since I've never owned an old K ride, what makes a cymbal sound like an old K?
Hope all continues to go well with you,
Marco
Hi there, Chris.
Just wanted to let you know that the cymbal just arrived.
I've spent a mere 5 minutes with it, and I'm in love with it, man.
Thanks so much for selling it to me, brother.
-Emmett
Man....I'M sold!!!!
I used the 16" over an AGOP bottom pie as my hats and the 18" on my left for
this week's melissa ferrick hits and they were AMAZING....nothing short of
stunning. DEFINITELY not a mistake to take a chance on these!
Dude....is there anyway I can grab the 'ebay'd' 14" crash??? I totally see
it with my 14" K hat (the top is sporting a nice crack....fixed, but
fragile!)....i would love to add that to my 22" purchase when we figure out
WHICH 22"....which should be tomorrow!!!!
Let me know....
And THANKS!
Be blessed....d#
Hi Chris, Got the cymbal last Tuesday and did not get it home until after the Holiday's. That is one wild beast. It is funny because that is the sound I have been looking for to complement my other cymbals in my setup. I am thinking of a 20 as well. I've already taken the mallets to it.
Excellent. Thanks, Dave
Hi Chris, When I first got these yesterday and put them up, I thought...not really my thing. Too many low undertones, too wild. Too different. I left them on the stands and came back to them a few times, still didn't do it for me. Did some mallet rolls on them, tried again, not so bad. Tried again today - incredibly I'm starting to really fall for them in a big way, especially this 20". If these dry up a wee bit more like Schuh says they do, then I'm gonna love 'em!! I'm really gravitating toward the tone and the stick sound and feel. I suspect I will soon be raving about them, if today's experience is any indication.
Thanks for "pushing" me into the experiment. /Mark
hey chris.
got the cymbal today- ahh, it is beautiful. volume-wise, it is probably
a hair louder than i expected(a pleasant surprise). my guitar player
commented that it sounded like an orchestral cymbal- and i think he's
right- it has that rich sound. here's the problem though:
it has a pretty nasty ding in the edge. i didn't notice it for quite a
while, but it seems to be on the heaviest side of the cymbal, so it
always ends up sitting right in front of me- right where the stick hits
most often. i've had a lot of cymbals with edge dings that held up just
fine, but this one is bigger than most, and due to its placement, i
worry about it. what do you think? should i worry too much? do you
offer a warranty on these sort of things? i have included a couple of
(crummy) photos to help you get an idea of the ding... it may be one of
those things that is fine for a long time, but i am not sure. let me
know what you think about it.
Chris,
Dig this......been messin' around a bit with the tympani mallets....just softly on the very edges. Man that is one hip sound. Just to check, I set up a Bos 20" Hammer Ride...a nice cymbal...on the stand and tried the mallets for comparison. No contest. These Bliss have some seriously mysterious voices in there. It's like there's spirits in there wantin' out. Scary. Weird. Cool. So the Chinese are finally getting down.
Joel
Chris,
Just pulled the Bliss out of the box (man you wrapped them up good) and got down with 'em. Cool. Refreshing. Exotic. Fun. Interesting. Love 'em. I especially got right into the 20 incher. When I rode it and it started hummin' it reminded me of the sound a hive of bees makes. And the wooden click of the stick was never lost. And it is gonna be fun to learn to use the 22. Love the "Chinesey" sound of the cymbals. To be honest, I don't know how I'm gonna use the 18"......it does have a really cool crash sound. Don't think I've heard anything quite like it.
Thanks man.......good work.
Joel
Chris: Just wanted to let you know that I used all my Bliss on a blues/electric gig Friday night and they kicked ass. I really pounded the hell out of them. The 18 crash is just outstanding and the 20 inch 1905 is sooo sweet. I really beat the hats into submission.
I took them to a drummer buddy’s house Saturday night and after playing them he said, “they’re certainly better than anything zildjian is making these days.” Thanks Vinny Rac
"Hey Dean - how is that 22" treating you??" (From Front Range Bronze).
DUDE!!!! It is quite possibly the coolest, STRANGEST pie I’ve ever owned....and I LOVE IT!
I have been using it constantly....LSR, far R ride, all over the place! I DID tape the heck out of it, but I have no reverence for things in that arena 8^)> (I’ve even RE hammered the 18” I got from you in search of MORE weird trashy beauty!) Yeah, man....it’s waaaaaay great. At first, I was stymied....but the more I forced it into the fold, the more at home it seemed. It’s soooooo freakin dark and brooding!!!
Needless to say, it’s a keeper....any more in the wings???
Hey dude....maybe I’ll give you a ring, just to yap, in the next few. I’ve been thinking about you lately. You have a very cool offering on the web, and a real service to cats who have ears but are cash-light (I’ve turned a bunch of cats onto your sight!)
FYI....they’re all (the 22”, 18”, 16” and 12” hats) ALL OVER this record I just did for rachael sage....i’ll forward some roughs to you when I GET ‘EM....
Be blessed and STAY IN TOUCH....d#
Wow!!
That's all I can say.....WOW!!
I have checked out every friggin 12" splash on the market!!...I"ll pick THIS one over ANY other brand....fantastic!
I need more!! ;-)
Thanx!
Thomas
Hi Chris, When I got back from my hiking down at Tongariro, there was a box for me! Here is what I've posted on Cymbalholics: I've removed the logos as per instructions, and have given them a first playing. My initial impression of the bliss hats is that they are delightful right out of the box. The slightly chinese flavor gives them a nice chick and excellent sizzle. They have bumped my 13" Bos Antio hats off the stand for the time being. The thin contact 18" crash ride is mounted in place of my 16" Bos Antio crash and it is a raw untamed beast. Now I know why many people talk about how mellow Bos cymbals are. The 18" at 1360 grams is louder and more penetrating than my 21" Bos ride! I've begin the process of hours of rolling on it and I swear it is settling down nicely already. I'm looking forward to a long and rewarding relationship. Thanks for your prompt shipping (despite blizzards -- hope things are settling down now) and excellent service. I'll be back. Steve
Hey Chris,
I finally got my 16" contact crash. I love it! these really are a good quality cymbal. I will definately be ordering more. thanks for taking care of my shipping problems. I will reccomend you to my drummer friends.
thanks again Phil
Hi Chris,
Got the 20, thanks!
This is a BEAST! Very nasty. I'll take it to my gig tonight with a chick singer. Maybe it'll help her to swing. hahahahahahahaha ! ! !
Thank you,
Jay
thanks chris-
i'll let you know when i get my 20-
i'll be sure to let the cymbalholic cats know how you have handled things-
i appreciate the communication and your expertise-
who the f else would know what the hell somebody was talking about when you would say " nice stick on top of a smokey wash"
I HEAR YOU !
talk to you soon-
swings16
marty
n.y.c.
Chris, got 'em, thanks! Mr. Spooky is a beast! Could probably benefit from some mallet rolls but I love his character. The 20 is ready for gigging as is. Great pitch differential between the two. I'll be getting more as cash becomes available. Thanks again!
Adam
Hello Chris, Just got back from Miami and played the cymbals. I could not be happier with them. Thanks for all your help. Jerry
Hey Chris, Got back from Dallas late last night...Wanted to let you know that the 2485gr 22” Dream arrived in good order...Great cymbal!!! I have a feeling it will age-in really nicely!! Thanks again for this one! Do you have a sense at this point as to when the next shipment will arrive? As you know, I was unable to get a thin 20 from the last batch, and would really like to grab one this time!! Many Thanks, Jim
Dear FRB!
A pen pal buddy just sent me a link to your site this morning. As the owner of a couple old K's and a couple old Istanbuls, you can imagine how knocked out I was by the bliss cymbals you are selling!
I think it is an interesting reflection of the world these days that stupid Zildjian, who MADE the old K's , is dumbly trying to recreate them with computers and missing the mark 99 percent of the time, and here come the Chinese, doing it the right way and kicking Zildjian's butt!
Could you please email me when you get more of the Bliss 20's and 22's in? I am definitely looking for a dry, trashy one. The closer to Tony Williams Nefertiti cymbal, the better! Best wishes, Don Berman
Chris, my man! Dude, the cymbals are sounding sweet. I'm in the want mode, but the can't afford mode also. Mr. Feather is way cool. Does it look like that one is going to go through? Also, when will the next shipment be coming in? I may not be able to jump on an 18 and 20 this time.
Hello again Chris-
Boy, now I'm on my 5th purchase ... you have to stop getting such great cymbals in, you're killin me.
Please send me an invoice for cymbal #449 when you get a chance.
Take care, John Berry
Hi Chris!
Just after I had finished reading your mail, and calling the customs office, the cymbal arrived. What coincidence! Had been with ground shipping, no airmail.
Thanks a lot! Secure packing, and the most perfect handling instructions! Thanks for the "gift", too! I'll let you know how the cymbal works for me. I've just done a quick soundfile to document the initial state (see if it changes). It's a lush sound. I think I'll be back with an order for a 22" or another, heavier 20"!
Best regrads, Sebastian
Hey Chris, I received my new Bliss today. I'm sure you've heard it a hundred times, but these cymbals are "Blissful"! This new 22" is a completely different cymbal that the 2250g that I bought the first time. That first 22" was too trashy/Chinesey for me. This new 22" is smooth. It may have a little clang in it, but that may go away over time. The 20" is a bit brighter than I generally like, but it seems to be a nice contrast to the lower tone of the 22". Oh, and the bell on both are wonderful (one of my biggest complaints about my Agop's is the bell, or lack there of).
Thanks again, Cary
Chris,
Been way to busy, but the pie is here and sounds great, what a value, more later, but from a few feet away with an upright bass playing I think you would be hard pressed to tell if it was a spizz or a Dream.
thanks, Dean
Chris,
Once again, a big thank you for all your help in getting me into these SWEET plates...they just all go so well together. Yes, I did take some time to play them when I got home (just couldn't help myself...we really are addicted to all of these things, aren't we?!)...did some "breaking in", per your suggestion.
Think I'm going to take them on my big band gig on Monday at Dazzle!
All the best to you again...please let me know if I can be of any help to you in your site. You can visit my design website at http://www.ntegritydesign.com
Todd
Hey Chris,
Thought I’d let you know that I brought the 22” Dream Bliss(2485) I bought from you over to Billy Drummond’s today ( we get together from time to time for a “cymbal hang” )...He played it for a bit, dug it, and asked me for your website address, so you may be hearing from him...Billy has a some of the most amazing Old K’s I’ve ever seen ( including one personally signed to him by Tony Williams)...So the fact that he dug the 22” Dream is, I think, saying a lot for the cymbal.
