How to choose a Paiste Gong
Paiste gongs are known around the world for their high-quality workmanship and deep resonant sound. Handcrafted in Germany by the Paiste family since 1906, they’re among the highest quality gongs available in the world today, producing sounds that mesmerise and inspire.
But with so many types and sizes to consider, choosing your Paiste Gong is no easy feat – especially for first-timers. As an official Paiste Gong Centre, we can help you choose the right gong for your needs.
Types of Paiste Gongs to choose from
Symphonic Gongs
The original Paiste gong design, Symphonic gongs produce rich, harmonic sounds. They have a slightly raised surface with complex overtones balancing their fundamental note. They are available in a broad range of sizes, from 20-inch up to the legendary 80-inch – the largest commercially available gong produced today. Symphonic gongs have similar sound characteristics to the Planetary gongs.
Shop Symphonic gongs
Planetary Gongs
Paiste Planet gongs are precisely tuned to the orbital frequencies of the Earth, Moon, Sun and planets in our solar system. These frequencies are transposed into audible tones thanks to the natural formula of the Cosmic Octave, discovered by Hans Cousto in 1978. For example, the 32-inch Mercury gong’s fundamental note is tuned to 70.64Hz / a C#note. Their clear, focused tones make them an ideal instrument for sound healing.
Shop Planet gongs
Sound Creation Gongs
Sound Creation gongs are forged with nickel silver, the same material as Paiste’s Symphonic and Planet gongs. The main difference is in the forging technique – you can see the pronounced hammer marks across the face of the gong. Instead of a more prominent, fundamental note, the Sound Creation gongs can produce a broad spectrum of tones for a swelling, immersive experience.
Shop Sound Creation gongs
Brilliant Gongs
Offering a mirror shine, Brilliant gongs are meticulously hand-polished. Forged identically to Symphonic gongs they can resonate slightly longer due to the highly polished surface.
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Bronze Gongs
Composed of 92% copper and 8% tin, Bronze gongs exude warm, earthy tones. Lower-pitched than equal-sized nickel silver gongs, they offer a round, voluminous sound. Due to the high copper content, the Bronze gong range comes in a warmer colour palette, from golden shimmer to dark brown earth tones.
Shop Bronze gongs
Things to consider when choosing a Paiste Gong
With so many exceptional Paiste gongs to choose from, keep these four considerations in mind:
Sound
Listen to the audio samples of different Paiste gongs on our website to determine your preferred tone. Symphonic and Planetary gongs offer clear fundamental pitches, whereas Sound Creation provides a broad tonal palette. Generally, the larger the gong the deeper tones it will produce. For example, a 20” gong will have a much higher pitch tone than a 32” gong.
You’ll find high-quality recordings of each gong in our store on the main category and individual product pages.
Note: Listen with high-quality speakers or headphones to get the best impression.
Size
Consider the size of the space your gong will reside and be played in and whether or not you’ll need to transport it regularly. Larger 28-38” gongs project beautifully in big spaces, which is ideal for gong baths with a large group of people. Smaller gongs can also work well in a sound setup for larger spaces. But If you have limited space then a 20-26” gong may be more practical.
Transportation
If you intend to transport your gong to different venues, size can also be a consideration. Do you have enough space in the car? Larger gongs may be easier to move with two people. You might also consider a quality gong bag for easier carrying and to protect your precious gong.
Handheld Gongs
Do you want to play your Gong while holding by hand instead of suspended on a stand? Generally, 20-24” gongs are manageable as hand-held gongs. While some folks may be able to handhold a larger Gong, the size and weight can be restrictive and quickly become tiring.
Purpose
What will you use your Paiste gong for? Those using their gong for sound healing and meditation could choose any gong. Those using their gongs in large studios during yoga or sound baths may prefer a slightly larger gong. Symphonic and Planet gongs are particularly popular among this group.
Budget
Paiste Gongs come with a suspension cord included, but other accessories are sold separately. You may need a stand, mallet(s), or gong bag, depending on how you plan to use your gong. So, factor these in when considering your budget.