Does anyone have any experience with Afrodesign.com

[TeutonJon78]

I found a drum I like on there, and was curious about quality level.

After looking through the forum yesterday, I'd like the quality of the WULA/DSD/etc or other similar drums, but the budget isn't anywhere near those...especially since I just want a plain drum (or better yet, just a shell since I want a specific hide that no one seems to carry).

[Djembe-nerd]

No experience, but their Pro series is masonia wood (which generally is not considered Pro in this forum), and the lead djembe series is Ivory coast lengue shell.

If you are looking at their lead djembe series ($360) I suggest you better look at Djembedirect.com. Many people here have good experience with them, including me and the price is similar.

[TeutonJon78]

That is still a little more than I was wanting to spend (as it's my first drum). I'm tempted just to buy a small backpacker drum and make sure I really enjoy playing a ton before getting a "real drum".

From Afrodesign, I was looking at the PRO line one that is a cross between a djembe and a bougarabou.

[freefeet]

It'd be interesting to see what that hybrid is like inside. Bougarabou and djembe are very different, i like both.

[Waraba]

You should contact Wula drum directly as well as looking at their site. They have a ton of great stuff on sale. They can also accommodate multiple price ranges. What I like about them (in addition to a lot of other stuff about them), is that the craftsmanship is always superior, so that even if you're getting a lesser quality wood, it's going to be the best damn lesser-quality wood djembe you can possibly get, and it will sound great.

[e2c]

I'll second Waraba's recommendation. The folks at Wula are fine craftsmen; extremely conscientious and very easy to work with, re. budget concerns, type of sound a customer wants, etc.

(and no, I'm not affiliated with them in any way - except as a satisified customer. )

One other thought: a good drum (doesn't have to be fancy-looking or top-dollar) will make you want to play it. A so-so - bad drum will have the exact opposite effect. I've got some rejects (smaller drums, not djembes) in the hall closet - bad decisions; made when I was a newb. We all do that, i think.

[TeutonJon78]

It'd be interesting to see what that hybrid is like inside. Bougarabou and djembe are very different, i like both.

I am intrigued as well. I actually tend to like the bougarabou sound a little better, as I tend to like a little more bass over so much high pitched ruckus. And quite frankly, I'm kind of an individualist, so I like something more unique. I was just recently at a new drum circle (and me with my little egg shaker) and there was like 40 djembes, and almost few other things. Blah.

I'm not "I want the 'djembe'" sound specifically person" (probably heresy here ). But after reading around how the Ghana drums are not so great quality, I'm less intrigued by one from that area. I also didn't know how much the internal shape affected the sound quality either.

What is the internal shape of a bougarabou? Straight like an ashinko, or more curvy like a djembe, or neither?

And also, I've been "in contact" with Afrodesign, and I"ll say the response has been underwhelming to me, which also makes me leary of them.

EDIT: add last section

[michi]

What is the internal shape of a bougarabou? Straight like an ashinko, or more curvy like a djembe, or neither?

Not much of a bowl shape. Basically, the "bowl" (what little there is) has almost straight sides that narrow towards the hole, which is normally quite low, a good two-thirds of the height of the drum below the rim. From the hole down towards the foot, the shape flares open again a little.

Cheers,

Michi.

[freefeet]

I am intrigued as well. I actually tend to like the bougarabou sound a little better, as I tend to like a little more bass over so much high pitched ruckus. And quite frankly, I'm kind of an individualist, so I like something more unique. I was just recently at a new drum circle (and me with my little egg shaker) and there was like 40 djembes, and almost few other things. Blah.

My bougarabou came with cowskin but i put a bleached goat on it, cranked it up screaming, and it has plenty of high pitched ruckus. The bass is totally awesome even with the thin goat. I'm gonna put a calf skin on it next time i skin it to see what that's like.

I've had a couple of 12+ inch tweneboa ones from ghana which were really nice, both came with goat, but nothing like my 10 inch which is hardwood.

I just love the all round harmonics within a good bougarabou. Bass, tone and slap have something a djembe doesn't. I love djembe as well, but not to the level of bougarabou.

Inside mine is gently curved and flowing, no bowl edge whatsoever.

My only peeve is when i keep getting asked where i got my djembe from.

[TeutonJon78]

Well, my stupid gut kept telling me to get this drum even though my mind was telling me otherwise, so I went I ahead a bought it. It should be here this week. I'll be interested to know what the shape inside is as well (now that I know there are different shapes to look for).

[Dugafola]

did you go by rhythm traders in pdx??

[TeutonJon78]

did you go by rhythm traders in pdx??

Ha...yes. Their store is less than a mile from my house. I went there numerous times. I just never found a drum that spoke to me. The quality was excellent there though.