Customer Reviews

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I have been looking for a gong for a while now to replace one that I had to sell about a decade ago, and the 20" Chau Gong that I received from Steve Weiss Music is absolutely perfect. It will serve its purpose in my setup nicely, and my wife will be able to use it for sound healing at her Wellness Studio. I am extremely happy with the quality and tone of the instrument, and I look forward to doing business with Steve Weiss Music again in the future to acquire some more instruments for my wife's studio!!

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Superb sound great ! Play the 36" gong every day all a complete relaxing experience! Don't forget to order some friction mallets for the whale harmonies. Been playing this one for over 2 years.

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This gong is incredible! I was so surprised to see the quality of the instrument and the sound it produces is as good or better than any of the big names in cymbals and gongs. This is an incredible option for groups of all ages. This purchase was a donation to a junior high school and the students are amazed at how much better it sounds than their old one.

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Purchased on behalf of my community band. We could not be happier with what we received! A true quality gong!

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I purchased the 24" - and have been pleased that it has a nice dark tone for its size. Complex and versatile so far, for recording. Responds well to different playing techniques. It has a wicked "scrape" sound, and a responsive bloom at bigger volumes.

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I bought an 18" Chau Gong back when Steve Weiss began carrying these hand selected gongs. Having used it in a variety of situations over many years I can agree that SW's statement about having the best gongs on the planet is not hyperbole. I've used it in show pits, percussion ensembles and in small wind ensembles. It has done everything I've asked it to do and I have received compliments on its sound from musicians and audience members alike. Its depth of tone, sustain, and quick response are all positive features. I also have a 22" Wind Gong and a 14" Tiger Gong which are also fine instruments but the 18" Chau has been my "go to" gong through the years. I'd love to have a larger one at some point.

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I am quite pleased with the SW 26" chau gong. Great sound. I have larger gongs but this one takes a back seat to none. The sale price didn't hurt, either.

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It sounds amazing. The only thing, I was surprise it did not include a mallet for the gong. For the price we pay for this beautiful instrument, it should include a gong mallet. Other than that, the gong is amazing!

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Good & heavy, attractive finish- not sure the cats like it but has great sustain and overtones.

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A knowledgable friend turned me on to the gongs and mallets at Steve Weiss Music. He told me I could buy one of their hand selected Chau gongs for a quarter the price of a Paiste gong. Well worth the money! Buy the Weiss hand picked Chau, invest in good mallets and have a ball. Be sure to buy a full set of the rubber ball mallets to make whale sounds. They are what I use the most. Takes away stress and leaves me feeling very refreshed. These hand picked gongs are really a great value and the staff at Weiss is consistently helpful year after year.

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Every single gong I purchased from the Weiss organism has been beautiful. No stinkers. Not sure if they do what I ask in the comments--timbre choice, decay, note--but all the instruments sing like ya prolly wanna. Don't postpone your needs. NOW!!!

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I have used a 28 inch chau gong in our drum circles for years . We use it in conjunction with our crystal bowls. We use different mallets and small friction mallets to give it that eerie whale/dolphin sound. Now this 40 inch gong has really surpassed my expectations. I knew it would be different and more bold but wow amazing sounds and not only with the huge mallets but the friction mallets as well. You do have to be careful though when playing it as you can turn pleasure into pain for some people. Check in with your audience when your first learning to play it and find out where their pleasure/pain threshold is. Booooooonnnnnggggg!

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This instrument replaced our orchestra's small "tin can lid" gong, and it is such a huge upgrade. The depth of tone is amazing, and it's nice to hear the "bloom" of sound with just a soft stroke. All the gong any ensemble could want.

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The 26 inch chau gong arrived promptly and sounds better than similar gongs I have tried elsewhere previously. It has an overall pleasant, meditative sound at low volumes but it can also get very loud. Mine is pitched at G flat but the fundamental pitch is not overwhelming. It has a broad spectrum of overtones and I can get a nice, pitchless wash if I play closer to the edge. It doesn't have too much tremolo. It is also beautiful to look at, I like that it has no logo.

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Quick service and good quality item. The Chau Gong sounds great! (But be sure to get a good, heavy gong mallet to go with it -- a good mallet makes a huge difference. I purchased a Mike Balter MBGM2 Heavy Gong Mallet).

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Thanks Jeff for selecting the perfect gong for me. THX - R.T.

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Recently purchased a 36" gong for a high school band program-- it sounds phenomenal. Compared to our older brand-name model, this thing literally makes your jaw drop. The deep/dark "blossom" effect after the initial attack is impressive, and it rings for a very long time. My students and I highly recommend buying a Weiss Hand Selected gong!

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I have purchased five of these hand-selected chau gongs, and every one of them has been just great. I chose them because of other customer reviews, when I had no experience with gongs and was afraid to launch into it without knowing more about what to look for. Quite frankly, I thought they were really sticking their necks out in advertising these gongs as "the best gongs on earth," and I figured they wouldn't be so bold without reason. When the first gong arrived (a 26"), they won me over, and I have since added two 32's and two 22's. I have friends who have paid four times as much for their gongs, and these are every bit as good or better. The customer service is also first class, and I have been so impressed with their responsiveness to questions and concerns, as well as the speed and carefulness of shipping. I wouldn't buy gongs anywhere else, and I can recommend Steve Weiss Music with total confidence.

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Thank you Steve Weiss music! Gong sounds great!

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I purchased the 36" tam tam, the team at Steve Weiss was a big help in finding the sound I was looking for. It arrived fast, well packaged and overall nicer than I hoped for! It will be used for recording and drum ensemble music. It is heavy, lots of material in this instrument.

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Surreal sounds. Great 28 " gong

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You can pay more for a gong with a big cymbal company brand on it but why? Steve Weiss Chau gongs are equal to or better than any others out there. Save yourself some money and purchase one of these.

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You wouldn't hope to buy an orchestral tam-tam without hearing it first, but Steve Weiss will not let you down. In Australia where you don't often have a wide selection gongs to choose from, the Strathfield Symphony bought a tam-tam from Steve Weiss and we are really delighted. The tone blossoms warmly with plenty of white noise, resonance, and no discernable pitch especially at the lower volumes where less desirable tam-tams (Chau gongs) sometimes have too much of a specific note. Don't buy a reject. Buy from Weiss.

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Steve Weiss selected an excellent 34" tam tam for our orchestra. Its quality is on par with any name brand instrument.

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Our elementary school band needed a gong for a song they were performing in the annual All-City Band concert. The 12" gong arrived and the teachers were impressed by what this little guy could offer! A great addition to our elementary percussion locker and affordable to boot, you guys are fantastic!!!

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I was very surprised by the excellent , deep rich ring of my new gong. For the price I did not expect such excellent resonance . Thanks! great!

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I bought the 36" to replace a 30" that broke during a run through prior to a competition. Oh heavens if you are still reading this review and not pulling out your credit card or getting a PO together there is something wrong. The 36" will ring for 5 minutes it seems. Overtones are incredible. I am a music educator and have been for 14 years. I have heard hundreds of gongs as we host the district band evaluations every year. I have listened to countless bands. NOTHING I HAVE EVER HEARD EVEN REMOTELY COMPARES TO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have half a mind to record this sample and sell it. It would be the best recorded gong sound available. Where are my C414s?

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I have the 26" and there is a huge variety of sounds in it. Every striking implement I use on it produces something different. This size is very well balanced; a hard hit can make it crash instantly but there is still plenty of headroom - one can play runs and rhythms on it and easily keep the cleaner, more focused pitches. If you intend to bow the edge of the back rim on these you may want to sand it a little to prevent it from cutting the bow hairs - your fingers won't feel it but the horsehair will. Overall, a highly responsive, powerful instrument. I'd love to see a totally unlathed version.

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I purchased the 24" version without seeing or hearing it, and I was very happy with the instrument that SWM sent me. I used it for Marching Band and Pep band as well as small percussion ensembles. I haven't found a place that this gong can't take the place of any other gong. It's small size works well with softer passages and ensembles, but the fact that it is a Chau Gong makes it a great choice for those big gong needs on a budget. I recently purchased the 36" version the same way and we very pleased with the results. The sound is like any other gong I have ever heard. I can't help but smile everytime I hit it! Passionate Percussionists know what I am talking about!

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I've purchased many gongs and tam-tams from Steve Weiss Music over the years for both my personal use and for the percussion department at Penn State. Each instrument has a lovely, powerful and resonant sound. I've been a customer at Steve Weiss Music for over twenty-five years because of their large and wide-ranging inventory, reasonable prices, and fast service. Besides that, Steve knows all the best jokes. Dan C. Armstrong Prof. of Percussion Penn State University

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If you don't live in China and need gongs for any style of music, Steve Weiss is the place to go. He has a huge selection of the finest gongs in the world at fantastic prices. I never even think about shopping anywhere else for my instrument needs, especially for gongs. Professor Dean Witten Director of Percussion Studies Rowan University

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This gong is AMAZING!!! One of the best sounding, most responsive gongs I have played, and SO CHEAP! I bought the 24", even though I really wanted a 26", but sometimes even and extra $50 can make a difference. I was worried the sound wouldn't be quite full enough, but I rolled the dice. I was right to put my trust in Steve Weiss! This gong sounds great! Buy two today!!!!

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Purchasing this 34" Chau Gong was a big choice and investment for me. The 40" would have been great, but I needed to purchase a gong I could lift. So many people told me to never buy a gong without first playing it/hearing it. Since actually striking gongs in the wear house was not an option for me because I live in California, I had to trust that the gong meant for me would be the one that SWM would choose to send to me. And YES, SWM sent me the gong of my dreams! The gong that SWM sent to me is incredible; the sound, the frequencies, the tone, amount of time sound continues on...all amazing. Being in the flow once again proved be the way to go...or should I say the way to GONG! Thank you SWM for being noble and honest about the gong you sent...I feel I made a good choose by picking SWM. Your integrity sounds OM!

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The gong worked well in Hindemith's Symphonic metamorphosis

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I needed a medium-sized gong fast and felt I was taking a big chance ordering online for something you should select by ear, but when it arrived it was perfect. This is one made-in-China item that can't be made anywhere else!

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This is an incredible tam tam. We bought this for the Prescott POPS Symphony in Prescott, AZ. We tend to do big pieces such as film scores and heavy overtures. Our percussion section couldn't be happier. The tam tam made its premiere on "Fanfare for the Common Man". We actually let the audience know that the instrument was new. The crowd applauded wildly. We got the 40". Thank you for picking out a nice one for us.

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