the natural sound of a cymbal

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.

You ain't seen nothing yet. Some people can hear the directionality of a fuse in an AC circuit.

While I personally couldn't tell you about cymbals, I imagine that any number of drummers could identify different brands in much the same way pianist can tell whether it's a Steinway, Bosendorfer or Yamaha.

Just because you can't doesn't mean other well trained listeners can't too!

You did read that I said on a recording, right? There's no doubt in my mind that a trained ear can tell the difference live. Man can not produce a recording that captures the true sound of a live instrument. Close maybe, but no cigar, as the old adage goes.