Gongs belong to the oldest and most important musical instruments of South East Asia. Their origins may betraced back to the second millennium BC, but it is assumed that the gong is much older. In Chinese history, gongs are mentioned around 500 AD, attributed to a nation called HSI YU between Tibet and Burma during thereign of Emperor Hsuan Wu.

Historic research provides us with four main centers - Burma, China, Annam, Java - at least seven gong shapes and sound structures stem from these regions. Only few families knew the tradition of gong making as it was passed from generation to generation. The art of making gongs was veiled in a sense of magic. Gong makers believed that a gong could only succeed with the help of higher powers, and that they were exposed to forces more so than ordinary humans.

The gong was an important element in the lives of Far East people and is still in some countries today. In Asian families, the gong was an attribute of wealth and served as a status symbol. In rites, the gong was used in the evocation of ghosts and in the banning of demons. Touching a gong brought you fortune and strength. In rituals of the Far East, the gong has retained its special significance to this day.

As a musical instrument, the gong accompanied celebrations, funeral ceremonies, songs, and theater plays.In the music of the Asian high cultures, the gong was used as an orchestral instrument. Orchestras with gong plays containing up to 18 notes were not seldom. They were also played in private concerts at residences.

Since about 1790, gongs were used in European orchestras. Since then, the terms 'Tam Tam' for flat gongs, and 'Gong' for bossed gongs, have become customary. However, the authentic term in all languages of the origin countries is GONG.

The Paiste philosophy:
The principle of our family business is to continually create new sound with cymbals, GONGS, and bronze percussion instruments according to the creative needs of drummers and percussionists.

The foundation of this search for musical sound is the successful combination of the musician’s creative imagination of musicians and the inventive spirit of the musical instrument maker. The spark that continually invigorates this search is music itself, in all its beauty, complexity, and seemingly never-ending capacity for new ways of expression. The relationship between us as sound makers, and drummers and percussionists as musicians, is the very intimate manifestation of this deep principle. This is our true purpose.

The secrets in creating sounds are life-long experience, a deep knowledge about sound and sounding alloys, painstaking craftsmanship, and intensive experimentation. We never get accidental results. We meticulously research and we thoroughly execute our creations. We guarantee consistency in sound qualities and sound color in every cymbal, percussive sound and gong we offer. Through these virtues we can offer a full range of unique and specific sounds, which respond to the musician’s personal wishes. We go on providing you with ever-new sound dimensions. We give you new possibilities to expand your sound spectrum and to creatively develop your individual musical expression. This helps you realize your musical dreams.