Ultimate Gong Gear Guide: Makers, mallets, markets, mania, oh my!
The Gong space is one of the most transformative portals on the planet. When choosing to invest in a Gong, quality, connection (personal and by the creator) and resonance are super important to keep in mind when making your selection. I have distilled the knowledge that I have from trainings, teachers, talking with other gong players and my own awareness into this blog sharing only the best Makers, Producers, Sellers and accessories on the market today.
Recommended Gong makers:
Shawn Aceto. Shawn is a former construction worker whom had a transformative life event in 2008 which exposed him to the beneficial qualities of sound immersion. For the last 10 years, he has taught himself how to make Gongs. His work is absolutely breathtaking and the sounds are even more so beyond. He has a studio/show room out of his home in Hope Valley, Rhode Island where he sells his gongs, original Alchemy Bowls, bronze singing bowls and Gongs from Steve Weiss. Always great to try before you buy!
Ryan Shelledy. Ryan is a Gongmaker based in the midwest. He has been creating gongs for 15 years. The complexity of his sound is rich and creamy. You can buy through him directly or Brooklyn Healing Arts.
Broder Oetken. Broeder is the last apprentice of the master Gong maker Walter Meyer of Paiste gongs in Germany.
Martin Blase. Martin is a third-generation master silversmith from Northern Germany. He works primarily with titanium for his Gongs and also has some incredible metal plates and cold-forged singing bowls in a variety of metals. The tones of his gongs are recognizably powerful as well as the visual aesthetic.
Steve Hubback. Steve is a Welsh percussionist and maker. He makes gongs and chimes and has traveled the world with his music.
Recommended Gong producers:
Italian hand-crafted gongs with gorgeous finishes, deeply resonant sounds and innovative perspective. They work primarily with stainless steel and nickel silver with their iconic rainbow gradient. Grotta Sonora is also known for their cave (grotta) gong lounge for playing and receiving in a medieval town in Italy.
Classic German gong that was the most widespread manufacturer in the 70s and beyond. Listening to old Gongheads, they were essentially the mainstream choice and only option on the market. For good reason! The sound is polished and comes from timelessly precise German engineering.
Another clean sound and also a German producer. Highly respected, I haven’t played a Meinl gong in a few years but I remember the depth of tone.
Turkish makers of cymbals since 1623. In the 1970s, their manufacturing moved to Massachusetts and now their gongs are crafted in Wuhan, China with their specs. Since the origin is drum cymbals, their wind gongs have such a satisfying splash and spread of sound.
Universe Gong is a brand out of Portugal that has beautiful finishes. I have not experienced the sound in person, but the owner Miguel seems to have his own thing going on over there!
Recommended Gong sellers:
Outside of buying directly from the maker, which is linked if that is possible, here are a few recommended Gong sellers.
Excellent quality for reasonable market pricing. Steve Weiss has always had the pick of the first gongs in the US market which means that Gongs Unlimited, The Gong Shop and other options have whatever they skimmed over. And those sites tend to be more expensive. (Food for thought!)
Cannot recommend Jarrod enough. I’ve been collecting from him for 7 years. He is prompt in response and ships in lightning speed so your anticipation level is pretty marginal.
Again, playing before paying is a gift of an opportunity and rare in the gong world. You will see an occasional gong at a Tibetan shop or New Age store. Don’t go for it. Unless the Tibetan shop is verifiably run by Tibetan Monks or a direct lineage. Either way, Memphis Gong Chamber has a wide selection of world class Gongs that you can play and listen to before making the thousand(s) dollar jump!
Jon’s Third Floor Bazaar in Brooklyn
Eclectic selection of rare, unique instruments including some incredible gongs for great deals. Posts often in Facebook and Instagram with new finds!
Recommended Accessory Brands (mallets, stands and more)
Mallets:
Paiste
Stands:
Gibraltar is excellent, easy to set-up, expansive and sturdy
Meinl Pro-Gong Tam Tam stand is simple and elegant
Paiste Floor C gong stand is lovely in aesthetic and sturdy
Tone of Life Arched gong stands
Grotta Sonora has some beautiful and innovative gong stands as well
Sweetwater sells refurbished, good condition gong stands if you want to be mindful and save a couple bucks
Recommended Gong apparel:
Gong Gang Gear is numero uno!
Recommended Gong trainings:
9ways Academia Gong Camp run by Mitch Nur This is the reason I am into sound. 13 years ago, I was invited to a 2-hour, blindfolded gongbath as my first sound experience. It was through the man who runs this camp, Mitch Nur, a local ethnomusicologist of 54 yearswith a passion for extensive research in the field of sound and consciousness. World-class speakers and practitioners come to Gong camp. It is an incredible field for tuning into deep listening. Im not sure how much longer this will run as Mitch is largely giving up teachings, but it is co-run with the following gentleman whom also runs excellent technique-based gong trainings.
Mike Tamburo. Mike is a world-renowned musician, educator and friend of the Gong. He has devoted decades of his life to the instrument and shares generously and freely everything he knows. If you have the chance to experience a training with him, it is highly recommended! His focus is on the musicality: understanding what you are listening for while playing; techniques; rhythms; patterns… He is all things experiential when it comes to the gong which is very helpful if you are looking to practice and become acquainted with playing and deep listening.
Michael Bettine. Michael has a great YouTube channel where he has what’s called “Cuppa Time”. Within that, he talks about all things gong from encouragement to new players, reflections on sound, practical showcasing of what to play, etc. He also tours the globe and provides trainings.
My upcoming Gong training which has officially sold out! Looking forward to more to come :)
