風 (Fēng) — 40 Inch Ohm Wind Gong Handcrafted in China

A wind gong is a flat bronze plated gong with no turned rim like most of the gongs you see. 

The entire face is the playing surface, and the instrument hangs freely from cord tied through holes near the top of the plate. This construction is instrument to the sound character of this gong.

With no rim to contain and reflect vibration inward, the energy is released energy immediately and in all directions, which is why wind gongs respond the way they do. 

This is a 40-inch wind gong handcrafted in China, made to Ohm Store specifications from a B20 bronze alloy. The hammer-marks will be reflected in the face of the gong, with each strike of the hammer during shaping meant as a deliberate adjustment to the geometry of the plate, which is what determines the sound character of this Gong.

Sound

The sound comes on with this gong. A Fast attack with full frequency generates an immediate presence. At 40 inches and bronze, there is a genuine low-mid weight behind the strike, and sitting above that is a prominent shimmer in the upper register that radiates outward.

The dynamic range of this instrument will span from a barely audible low hum at the softest touch to a full, room-filling crash at maximum force. 

At soft dynamics you can hear shimmer at the upper frequencies. This is what makes a gong of this type useful in close, quiet work as much as in large performance spaces.

New instruments like these benefit from being played in. Over the first several weeks of regular use, the plate's internal structure will settle and the gong will open further.

The Character 風

The character stamped above center is 風, Fēng, meaning Wind. Its earliest pictographic forms depicted a phoenix in flight. The character evolved over centuries but the meaning remained. 

Specifications

Diameter: 40 inches (100cm). Alloy: B20 bronze

Handcrafted in China, exclusively for Ohm Store.

Comes with starter gong stand

*There is a 36 inch version of this gong if you'd like a smaller version. Click here.