the natural sound of a cymbal

Opeth "Damnation"
Great Jazz Trio "Direct From LA"

Ramsey Lewis "Hang on Ramsey"LP recorded live.

I find that if you get the entire drum kit right everything else sounds right too.

Are you looking for the sound of(let's say) Paiste, Sabian, Meinl, Zildjian or Wuhan? Further: If Meinl(for instance), their Classic, HCS, MCS, Candela, Generation X, etc. Series of cymbal? Every brand, and all their individual cymbal lines, will have a different sound. Unless you know what brand and series of cymbal a drummer is using, and are familiar with that particular cymbal set's sound(live); you can't know if the sound you're getting is, "natural."

If someone tells you they can ascertain what brand of cymbals are being played on a recording, it is because of one of the following.....

1. They are delusional.
2. They are lying.
3. See numbers 1. and 2. above.