how old should be the calf to use the skin on a djembé?

[davidognomo]

I don't know if this is a silly question, but I would like to know this. I thought I had seen a post in a discussion here on the forum approaching this matter, but I can't find it on search.

And how thick should it be?

[jeffduyndam]

I have found 12 to 18 months being a good strong cow/calf skin that is not too thick.
I think this age of cow is called kip instead of calf. I have heard some djembes cranked up with kip on them at the drumskulls shop and they sound sweet! Clear tones and slaps with no ringyness.

I have some medium thickness cow skins on djembes right now. The skins came from the side/belly of the cowskin. I don't know how old the cow was, but the skins are very big so I think they were adult dairy cows. These skins sound very good also.

I have put real thin cow skins on djembes and they sounded like a goat skin. For me cow skin on djembe is an ongoing experiment. Sometimes I get it right and sometimes I don't. The times the cow skin goes on and sounds awesome when pulled all the way up, outweigh the other times.

[Djembe-nerd]

I have put real thin cow skins on djembes and they sounded like a goat skin.

Did they feel like a goat skin also when played (easier on the hands) or the feeling was the same as playing a medium cow skin (tougher on the hands).

[shortypalmer]

Naming cowhide seems to be an interesting subject, I have quit naming cow or aging it, i just go by thickness. A good analogy to describe thickness is to compare it to how many sheets of paper thick. it works well. As for using it, i agree with it is hit or miss. I produced the best sounding drum i have done using a Pakistan cow round and an guinea shell. the secret is to pull the hide super hard when wet. i have tried again on another guinea shell and so far i have not gotten it to sound good, to ringy. i suspect i did not pull it tight enough weight.

[davidognomo]

ok, thanks for your help, shorty and jeff.

[jeffduyndam]

Hey Djembe-nerd,

Yes, those thin cow skins felt similar to a goat skin, easier on the hands...