Identify

[strut]

Hello
Im hoping that someone can give me any info on this 10 inch djembe. Timber? Country of origin? Significance of the carving?
Thank you all!

[michi]

My best guess is Bali. If so, it's probably made of mahogany or teak. Ghana is a (distant) second possibility.

What is the colour of the wood on the inside? Same as on the outside?

Michi.

[rachelnguyen]

Really? I would have said it is a cheap drum from Mali based on the shape and roping. As to the wood, I have no idea... But it seems to me that you can see that the bowl is mostly sapwood... Whatever it is, it isn't great quality. That carving almost looks like it was done after the fact by a non-African.

Where did you get it?

[michi]

Really? I would have said it is a cheap drum from Mali based on the shape and roping. As to the wood, I have no idea... But it seems to me that you can see that the bowl is mostly sapwood... Whatever it is, it isn't great quality. That carving almost looks like it was done after the fact by a non-African.

What led me to think that it might be from Bali is the carving. That's totally out of style for West Africa, but not uncommon in Bali. I agree that the shape suggests Mali. And, as you say, the carving may have been added later. No way to be sure, I suspect. And, yes, it's probably not a great drum.

Cheers,

Michi.

[strut]

Thanks for the responses. I dont know any more about the drum, its for sale and I havent sighted it yet. Yes, the carving does look "un-African" to my novice eyes. Good to get your comments.
Cheers!

[rachelnguyen]

Hey Strut,

I am not sure what they are asking for it, but I would probably give it a pass. The roping is very poor quality, which means that even if the drum sounds great (which I kind of doubt) it will be a bummer to try and tune or rehead down the line. You would have to eventually rebuild the whole thing... but the shell is poor and wouldn't be worth it.

Just my opinion!

Rachel

[Waraba]

What makes you say the roping is poor, Rachel?

[Waraba]

Oh, now I see. I had to enlarge the photo. The knots are unevenly spaced. Anything else I missed?

[the kid]

To me this looks like an alright drum. I might be totally wrong too. The wood looks like dimba. I guess its from senegal but it is hard to tell from a photo. It could be good value at the right price.

I've seen similar masks/pics of masks from west africa but not on drums. Especially guinea bisau has masks like that but also cassamance and others places i'd presume.

The rope looks ok but is of the cheap variety. It kinks easily and can burn when tightening but is sometimes stronger than the white african rope.

If i was a beginner i'd go for it. I've seen worse.

[rachelnguyen]

To me it just looks like the rope is too small a gauge. I'd be concerned about it breaking when trying to tune it.

Kid, I agree that compared to a Toca from the Guitar Store, this would be a better bet. But it would all come down to cost.

[djembeweaver]

I've got a few workshop drums with that sort of rope. It might well be strong for its gauge, but it stretches. It doesn't matter how much tension you put in it never seems to make it as far as the skin. I'd save up and buy a better drum if I were you.

[Waraba]

Just send 2,000 to Drumskull or Wula, ask them to send back a djembe + 3 dunun.

[djembeweaver]

Just send 2,000 to Drumskull or Wula, ask them to send back a djembe + 3 dunun

Personally the most I've ever paid for a djembe is £300 - that was for an ornately carved djalla drum from Famoudou's compound. All the rest have been £200 or less. In the UK you can get good Kambala djembes for around £140 - nice shells and decent rope (the rings tend to be a big for my taste).

You shouldn't have to pay a fortune for a decent shell with decent rope.