Meinl Cymbals 18-inch HCS Big Bell Ride Cymbal Reviews

Nobody loves a good offbeat bell groove more than drummers at Sweetwater. If you, too, are all about that chunky, funky bell tone, then the Meinl HCS Big Bell 18-inch Ride — with its mammoth fist-sized integrated bell — is one cymbal you'll want for your collection. The HCS Big Bell is crafted from MS63 brass, which happens to be the same alloy many actual bells are made from. The result is a pure, throaty, piercing tone with a cowbell-like low end that really projects for Latin to metal grooves. Sonics aside, what's great about the HCS is that the bell on this thing is impossible to miss. You can strike it with the whole shoulder of a stick with pinpoint accuracy without so much as a passing glance. This makes transitioning from bow to bell tones a walk in the park. Despite its massive bell, the ride tone on the Meinl HCS Big Bell Ride stands on its own. Its glassy definition and warm wash probably won't replace your current ride cymbals, but they will give you additional options for timekeeping and texturing around the kit.