Djembe Advice Please

[PaulDrummer]

hi,
i want to buy a djembe which i could use when camping. i am a part of scouting so i would use my djembe there when singing songs next to fireplace. i would also like that djembe to be good sounding so i could use it on some acoustic concerts but that is not so important. i don't have big budget. i am looking somewhere around £50 or cheper.

therefore i found these djembes:
1) http://www.thomann.de/gb/millenium_7...mbe_medium.htm there are sound sample on the website.

2) it is african djembe from west gambia, it is 12'' inches with new head and it cost £40 it is second hand. there are two picture attachments of the djembe.

the question is which djembe should i buy, the reall handmade, native african djembe for £40 or the shollach for similar price? is there any better sound from native one? and if i'll go pick up the djembe from second hand how can identify its condition? where should i look to see if it is in good condition? the size is different as well. the african one is 12'' and the shollach is 10''. iam aproximatelly 187cm tall. please help me with this choice because i don't really have much understanding in djembes.

thank you
Paulius

[PaulDrummer]

anybody HELP PLZ

[michi]

Forget about the Schalloch one, it'll sound dreadful. Besides, it's way to small. Especially for someone your height, 12" is the minimum size you can reasonably play (and 13" would be better).

It's impossible to tell from the photos whether the second-hand djembe is any good. The photos don't show enough detail and, even if they did, it would only be a rough indication. What matters more than anything is the sound. Assuming that the African djembe is carved from one of the traditional hardwoods, it could sound good. At any rate, I'd say that drum is likely to be better than the Schalloch one.

Be aware though that, at your budget, you are unlikely to get a good drum. For a good quality full-size African djembe, I'd expect to pay at least three to four times as much (even second hand).

Cheers,

Michi.

[PaulDrummer]

thanks. i usually play drum kit so i will try to use the the same factors that i use to identify drum set condition. i also know one person who is pastor in a church i'll try to ask him maybe he will be able to order me one djembe drum from Nigeria. is is worth ordering drum from Africa to UK? will the price be not too high?

thnx
Paulius

[michi]

I'd advise against buying a djembe from Nigeria. That's not one of the countries the djembe comes from, and chances are that you'll end up with something that's no better than an Indonesian copy. If you want a proper djembe, look for a shell from Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, or Ivory Coast.

Cheers,

Michi.

[PaulDrummer]

thanks for the list of countries. what do u think about drums from Ghana? i found this website where they make fairtrade drums and they are a lot cheaper than the ones from the shop. iam really now thinking to buy one of these from fairtrade website. could you please check this website and tell me if this will be a good choice for me. i am not looking for the best drums but i think these are pretty good. i haven't heard them but iam planning to go visit their store.

Fairtrade drums: http://www.goldcoastdrums.com/pages/about_us.html

thnx
Paulius

[rachelnguyen]

Ghana is not a traditional djembe country either... but for a camping drum, it might be ok. The best bet is to go try them out. Have the store owner give you one that is properly tuned to try.

Bottom line, as Michi said, is that your budget is very low, so you can't expect a great drum. But if you find one you like for the money you want to spend, you are all set.

[bubudi]

hi paul. consider waiting a bit and saving up for a better drum from one of the countries michi listed. there is something that makes a great djembe sound amazing and you will need to hear one to understand the difference between a great djembe and an imitation (such as the ghanaian and nigerian ones). once you hear it the difference will be quite obvious to you. if you absolutely have to go for a lower budget drum some of those from the ivory coast are cheaper and still sound great.

[PaulDrummer]

thank you all very much
i think i will try to go to that store and check them out. if i really wont like them then i will save up for drum from the Michi's listed countries.

thanks again
Paul