I have a dilemma...

[Jan >^..^<]

Being new to the djembe and not knowing all I needed to, I met with the director (Bill Scheidt) of the local TTM and purused the djembe he had. After much thought, I bought one. It is a very nice djembe. He said it had a good, balanced sound and was an excellent drum.

I bought it because he is an expert and knows what he's talking about. He did not talk me in to this one, I choose it myself because of what he said. However, I fell for another drum. The one I really wanted had a ringing sound according to Bill. But, boy, the base on that thing ... WOW!! I loved it! I have e-mailed Bill and he is happy to make the exchange for me and let me get the drum I fell for.

Here's the dilemma: do I buy the one my heart fell for that may not sound quite as good when playing tones, or do I keep the one that has balanced sound and is a really good drum? Can the one I love be adjusted to get rid of the ringing? Is it just a matter of preference?

Help! Any thoughts would be appreciated!

[Rhythm House Drums]

Over time your preference will probably change. It sounds like the difference in sound is based on the tension of the skin rather than the shell. Starting out, I'd say take Bills advice on the drum. That way you have a drum that already has a decent sound. The drum with the big bass might prove to be a problem in pulling out proper slaps... A quick tune up might could fix the issue though.

It's hard for a novice to pick out a drum, a lot of times the sound you think you want, isn't the sound you're happy with once you start playing and know what to listen for. If you are wanting the djembe for playing West African music than you want something that is tuned properly, for the best dynamic range. If you are going to be playing only periodically and just for personal enjoyment, the one with the ring and bigger bass might be just fine... and always, you can get it reheaded with a new skin and have it tuned to your liking.

Hope this helps.

[Jan >^..^<]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for the input. The best solution would be to get them both - but, of course, there's the money problem!

So, if I get it reheaded in the future, is that gonna mess up the bass sound?

[Waraba]

Can you post sound samples? That would help us hear how the drum(s) are tuned.

[bubudi]

it's quite common for beginners to gravitate towards a big bass. that's not a bad thing as long as the tones and slaps are good. however, as you mature in your playing, your appreciation of the drum's sound qualities will change. a couple of students out of the many i helped to buy a drum told me i should have been more forceful with my recommendation at the time, as they had fallen for the bass or the carvings on their drum, only to discover later down the track that their preferences had completely changed.

[michi]

Bill is an excellent player with tons of experience, and an all-round nice guy. You could do worse than to follow his advice.

Cheers,

Michi.

[Trog]

The drum with the bass you like, is it a larger drum then the one you have?
Some ringing can be eliminated by tuning without losing any of the bass. If you have a drum with too much ringing, your sounds may suffer when you start playing faster. I'm a beginner and after 6 months of playing, I find I want a good tone and slap sound more then a certain bass sound.

[e2c]

everyone's offered excellent advice so far; there's nothing I can add, except to say - I think you are going to want that balanced sound not too far down the road.

[Waraba]

Speaking of bass, when you play in a situation with highly skilled players, you don't really hear that nice round bass sound anyway, not from the djembes. It's all dominated by tone and slap. The bass frequency gets hit by the duns, which are like battleships.

[Paul]

Haha, Ibrihama Sarr gives out about the youth of today, all tones and slaps and no bass...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMwRM_2qneg

[Jan >^..^<]

Can you post sound samples? That would help us hear how the drum(s) are tuned.

I only have the one drum. Didn't bring the other one home. I really don't have a good way to record it. Maybe if I play it really loud and you open your windows ...

[Jan >^..^<]

Bubudi and Michi, you make very good points. I asked Bill's advice and bought this drum based on his recommendation. I trusted his expertise. Maybe I should stick with that, huh?

And Michi, you are right, Bill is one of the nicest people I have met!

[Jan >^..^<]

The drum with the bass you like, is it a larger drum then the one you have?
Some ringing can be eliminated by tuning without losing any of the bass. If you have a drum with too much ringing, your sounds may suffer when you start playing faster. I'm a beginner and after 6 months of playing, I find I want a good tone and slap sound more then a certain bass sound.

I don't think it is any taller, but the head is larger. Larger also means heavier. It is made from Lenge. I remember it being a good bit heavier than the one I bought. The one I bought is djalla.

[Jan >^..^<]

e2c and Waraba, Thanks for your input. It does sound like I need a more balanced sound. The tab I've looked at seems to have mostly tones and slaps and very little bass.

I will, however, be playing for my own enjoyment a lot. But ... one of the things I like about the djembe is the versatility of it. Just a bass note is going to get boring after a while. That's why I got rid of the Native American hand drum I had. It had just one sound ....

[Jan >^..^<]

Thanks SO MUCH for all of your input. It has been very helpful.

I think one of my disappointments (if you can call it that) is that this djembe doesn't sound as good as it did on the sidewalk! However, I have been playing it on a rug and so the sound is muted. I will take it out on my porch or move it to the hardwood floors and play it!!

I really don't need anything bigger or heavier than this one, especially if I start going to lessons or drum circles.

I loved the spotted goatskin on the other one, but I can always have this one reheaded.

Bill said this one has very balanced sound - tones, slaps, bass. He is an expert and I don't have a clue to what I'm doing!

Alright. You've just about got me convinced not to trade drums.

Maybe I'd better not even go back and look at the other one .....