Help! Is Dugara espcially known for not cracking?

[simba]

I'm headache when making decision between Lenke and Dugara djembe when I plan to buy a pro-djembe in DSD. Ryan at DSD recomand a Dugara djembe for its super sound quality but it is a mali style which is not my favor style. I prefer Guniea style.

What do you people know about Dugara? Is Dugara the same wood of Dimba?

Many thanks!

[Djembe-nerd]

From what I know it is the wood more likely to have or develop cracks. That being said DSD will have good quality shells.

I have Lenke, Hare and Iroko, so can;t tell you more than that about Dugara, and yes Dimba is also a name for Dugara.

[simba]

What does this sentence "That being said DSD will have good quality shells." really mean?
My English is quite limited.
Thanks!

[jeffduyndam]

When drummers refer to shells, it means the carved wood drum before the rings, rope, and skin is fitted to the wooden drum "shell".

Dugara is great wood for djembes. I have heard it called "bush mango". It has a very loud sound when a goat skin is tuned high on a dugara wood djembe.

[jeffduyndam]

I have owned four dugara djembes and they didn't have any more issues with cracking than any other type of wood from what I have seen or heard about.

[Dugafola]

i've always wanted a dookie drum.

where do you live? climate can affect whether or not a shell will crack. DSD makes sure that their shells are properly cured and free of any defects before shipping it out to you. no need to worry.

re: mali style vs guinea style. the mali shells at DSD are some of the nicest shells i've ever seen from any country.

[bubudi]

hi simba, welcome to the forum! please take the time to read the rules and guidelines, and post your questions only one time. thank you. i hope your questions have been answered. if you have any more, i am sure you will be assisted.

[BobF]

I have a dimba djembe from DSD (a Senegalese shell) that I love. Very loud, very bright, but VERY heavy. I've had it roughly 3 years or so and the guy I got it from had it a couple years before he sold it to me. So far no cracks and it still sounds great.. Just wish it was a little bit taller..

[Tom]

In my opinion Lengue, Khadi, and Acajou wood all offer excellent sound quality, but Dugara (Douki, Dimba - don't confuse with Senagalese Dimba) wood gives the best sound, and with the least risk of cracking; most likely due to the "stringy" grain pattern. What I've found is that most people don't choose Dugara because it's not as pretty as the other woods.

[guedom]

i have a dugura one from a ballet of matam and i m very happy .. about crack.. is the shell is dry must no problems with it, but is not a hard (also heavy) wood like lenke..

[Tom]

Forgot to mention: the sap wood of dugara/doukie wood is very prone to powder post beetles, which eat the wood, so make sure there is not an existing problem. If no existing problem then it will be fine. Same deal with Chelen.

[BobF]

Tom, what's the difference between Sengealese dimba and other dimba? how do I know which I have? Here's a pic:

[bubudi]

having checked several sources, i'm pretty sure senegalese dimba and dugara are from the same species of tree. however, regional variations in soil, climate, and other factors can affect the wood quite a bit.

[Tom]

having checked several sources, i'm pretty sure senegalese dimba and dugara are from the same species of tree. however, regional variations in soil, climate, and other factors can affect the wood quite a bit.

Tom, what's the difference between Sengealese dimba and other dimba? how do I know which I have? Here's a pic:

Yes. Same species, different properties. The great majority of Senagalese dimba wood djembes I come across have a very rough interior, due to a tendency of the wood to carve out in chunky strips, and also do not sound so hot. But I have come across some which were well carved inside, and the Senagalese carver of those drums told me that it has to do with carving techniques. In other words, he has the skill necessary to carve Dimba wood with better results.
Guinea Douki wood has a very slight tendency to “chunk out”, but not to the degree where it is a problem or makes the wood difficult to carve. As I said, Douki is my favorite wood because of that little extra sweetness of sound it gives, but that really only applies to a drum which is well carved. In my experience, and what a knowledgeable carver will tell you, is that sound quality depends mostly on interior carving and not wood type. A professionally carved melina (softer) wood djembe can sound like a professionally carved hardwood djembe, only without the “punch” a hardwood djembe has to cut through a full ensemble.
Although I can’t see the interior of your dimba wood drum, from the outside it looks well carved.