Brass vs. Bell Brass............

[x A7X Drummer x]

Hey i was just wondering what the major differences between brass and bell brass are. I know that bell brass is considerably more expensive and that a lot of metal drummers use it.
I want to know the difference in both sound and material. (for example, is bell brass made from regular brass but with some sort of alteration in the heating process or something like that?)

Also, if anyone has a brass or bell brass snare, feel free to post pics!

[Aries07]

Hey i was just wondering what the major differences between brass and bell brass are. I know that bell brass is considerably more expensive and that a lot of metal drummers use it.
I want to know the difference in both sound and material. (for example, is bell brass made from regular brass but with some sort of alteration in the heating process or something like that?)

Also, if anyone has a brass or bell brass snare, feel free to post pics!

Bell Brass are cast from melted cymbals and they're really thick....
Brass are just rolled and welded....

Not sure what else I could give you....

[Demfer]

Bell Brass are cast from melted cymbals and they're really thick....
Brass are just rolled and welded....

Not sure what else I could give you....

Bell brass im more dense i beleive. Rolled brass is usually softer and made in a layering process. Also bell brass is seamless. Not 100% on that tho.

[marinesrx87]

Bell Brass are cast from melted cymbals and they're really thick....
Brass are just rolled and welded....

Not sure what else I could give you....

They are not cast from melted cymbals, I know that Tama doesn't have a huge forge out back throwing in old cymbals to melt down, the Paiste 2oo2 snare is made from melted cymbals, but thats not the same, bell brass is what it is, the same brass used in bells, like handbells and the like, and you were right it is cast and is much thicker than a rolled brass shell.

[Aries07]

They are not cast from melted cymbals, I know that Tama doesn't have a huge forge out back throwing in old cymbals to melt down, the Paiste 2oo2 snare is made from melted cymbals, but thats not the same, bell brass is what it is, the same brass used in bells, like handbells and the like, and you were right it is cast and is much thicker than a rolled brass shell.

I'll take your word for it, but I thought I remembered reading somewhere somthing about molten cymbals...

And yes if they're cast they're seamless...

[x A7X Drummer x]

Well, the Paiste 2002 drum is obviously bronze, not bell brass......

[x A7X Drummer x]

Thanks for all the replies. i guess you guys are saying that it's the same shell material, but made in a different process right? that makes sense.

But why would that make Bell brass so expensive? (usually about 4 times the price)

[Demfer]

Thanks for all the replies. i guess you guys are saying that it's the same shell material, but made in a different process right? that makes sense.

But why would that make Bell brass so expensive? (usually about 4 times the price)

Bell brass is harder to make, remember its seamless so it needs to be cast. Usually thicker too so theres more material.

[Aries07]

Think more along the lines of 5-6-7 times the price...

Because the process is long and complex, casting and getting the right alloy isn't a piece of cake... Plus then they have to drill that very thick shell and install the hardware...

[IgiDrum]

Bell brass is 3mm. Trick and Reference brass are 3mm also so it got to be in material they use for bell brass shell.I dont think it is in drilling.

[TommySalami]

i think the molten cymbals thing is what paiste and zildjian use on their snares. they take the reject cymbals and melt them into snares or new blank cymbal discs

[Glass19]

my Potyondi Bell Brass is 6mm thick.. ( 1/4 of an inch )

it is cast...and seamless..and pure solid bell brass

[Dmann]

I believe Bell Brass has more in common with Bronze than Brass as far as sound characteristics goes. That and the fact that they are cast and are seamless give it a full warm tone with tons of projection and sensitivity. My 5.5/14 Tama Bell Brass sounds nothing like the regular Brass equivilent, it blows it away.

[Niles]

A warm Starclassic Bell Brass? 00**

[Bostic]

I'll let you know tomorrow when FedEx shows up with a box for me.