by Raymond » Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:26 pm
All those low tone bells are good for recording but for live playing, unless you have a good mic, they get lost. The Sergio bell, that I have to admit I have one, suffers from that. Truly, at the beginning I was crazy about it but now, with all due respect, I try to avoid them because they are all over. (Have to admit I have 4 low tone ala Sergio plus the Sergio). Now I am more into mid pitches and dry sounds, 70s or mambo period....
By the way, somebody threw me a little anecdote, that I cannot verify now if it is true or not regarding this wave of "low tones" bells that started with some of Sergio George's RMM recordings in the late 80s/beginning 90s. Supposedly, Marc Quinones had something to do with this, then an LP endorser, when he requested somebody at JCR to make him a "special pitch" bell. The result was the bell that got fashionable because of the recordings that were hits plus the "unusual sound." back then. (Have to admit that the bongoseros that first started using those types of bells in recordings were Ray Colon and Richie Bastar that participated with Marc in several recordings of Sergio. Although I've heard the tone in some old Cortijo recordings too...Check a version of "Quitate...Perico" and that is the bell you are listening too). Apparently, since Marc was with LP somehow Martin Cohen got the idea or the sound of the bell from Marc and got it made in his line.....Marc and Sergio were and are still close. Oddly, enough Sergio productions of late try to avoid that bell or is rarely used. Now you got high pitch bells.....
I have a way to verify that story and I will....
Saludos!