by Raymond » Mon Jan 26, 2004 3:04 pm
Franc,
What bells? Depend on the "tones" or sound you are looking for. Bongo bells? The most current "fashionable" bell is the low pitch that has been used a lot in recordings lately. You have the kind of "overtones" and the one with dry tones just like the "classic sound" from the 70s. These bells tend to be flat and big. The problems with the low pitch bells for bongos is their lack of volume when you are playing live. Unless you have a microphone you could barely be heard in most cases. (These bells are the ones used in Victor Mannuelle's, Tito Rojas and Gilberto Santarosa's latest recordings. This bell sound was populariized by the bongoseros used by Sergio George recordings late 80s mainly Ray Colon, who from what I've heard used JCR cowbells. As a matter of fact, LP developed a Sergio Hand Held Bongo Bell, in honor of Sergio George, that is the sound I am talking. However, JCR has developed other bells with the same basic sound but variations in the tones)
You have the regular looking ones that could vary in high pitch, middle pitch and low pitch. These are smaller bells and provide better projection in live playing. The very high pitches got popularized by the Colombians and Venezuelans who used them in their recordings in the 70s, i.e, Oscar D'Leon. The 80s with romantic salsa they became popular and were preferred in recordings, Frankie Ruiz, etc, etc. (That changed with the New York sound by Sergio George). In a "fat sound" band they sound OK too! (Check Willie Rosario, late 70s and 80s). The high pitches vary in their tones. Also,there is a dry tone that I prefer to play in "tumbao" situation. (Tumbao is no timbales. The Johnny Pacheco sound). Lately, these types of high pitch bells are making a comeback for recordings.
What to get? Get a low pitch, to be modern, get a dry pitch, either on the flat or regular bell, and get a high pitch you feel comfortable with. Play them and try them... (Personally, and it has become a norm here in Puerto Rico by some bongoseros, I carry at least three bells in different tones and I used them depending how do I feel the song should sound, or how it was originally recorded).
Timbale bell. There you have different pitches too. The most popular ones lately are the "half moons". They are not your regular looking bells because you could only play them in one side and not both sides. (The bottom side is flat). Their sound requires some break in and tend to be dry at the beginning. Here depends what you looking for. What I am using lately, a half moon that I am breakin in and one with mid pitch that I love because it has the right amount of overtones. They have some "open mouth" ones that are pretty good but that high pitch sound is not that popular and requires some "muffling."
I hope this helps. If you need more help, let me know...