Pearl BCH-10

I'm a full-time drum teacher specialising in world percussion work shops and this Pearl BCH-10 is the perfect choice for my Brazilian Samba drum groups. Unlike other major brands I've tried, these bells don't rust, are very durable and hard to dent, have multiple distinct tones from the mouth, back and tail, have HUGE projection when played hard, but keep their warm tone even when played softly. They are also very close in pitch from bell to bell, presumably from consistent manufacturing processes, which makes them a great choice for performance groups. I now own 10 of these and am so so happy with them. After years of heavy use they keep their tone and integrity and are such expressionate instruments. They have quite pure, musical tones, so if you're looking for that drier, raspier, multi-tonal sound for that authentic cuban feel, then there are better options. But unlike a lot of 'rock' bells, these have absolutely no tinny top-notes or unwanted overtones, and really hold their own in large ensembles. The metal finish is super-smooth with no weld-lines (the first thing to go rusty on other bells!) and are pretty scratch-resistant. Where LP bells let me down, Pearl nailed it!