Got my 1st Mali 2 weeks ago: 19 diamonds too much??

[fooddude]

Hi.

I bought my first Mali 2 weeks ago at Motherland Music in LA. When I bought it they tuned it for a beginner (ie: not too high tone for solos, more for accompaniment) and added 13 diamonds.

After 1.5 weeks, I wanted it a little tighter sound and added 7 diamonds myself.

Is this too much for a newish djembe?

For sure it sounds tighter, but I don't know if I added too many or too little. It almost a 14" (13.8") and right now it has 19 diamonds (just a bit over halfway around the entire djembe)

[bops]

just a bit over halfway around the entire djembe

Sounds to me like you're in good shape so far. There are a lot of factors at play, however. A picture would help.

[Djembe-nerd]

I got mine a few days back, its an iroko 13.75" with thick goat skin. I went all around one time putting diamonds and I like the sound, slaps crisp, tones good, bass OK.

I am not too sure how much more can I tune it, the center of the skin when pressed hard with a thumb goes down 6-7 mm but then its a 13.75" dia.

I will post a photo in the weekend, also i roped my mali and will post that too.

[michi]

I am not too sure how much more can I tune it, the center of the skin when pressed hard with a thumb goes down 6-7 mm but then its a 13.75" dia.

If you can press down that much, you can go a lot further. On my djembes (even when not tuned particularly high), I get barely 1mm of give when I press down in the centre of the skin with my thumb. For my solo djembe, I basically have no give left at all. If you really can press down 6-7mm, that djembe needs a lot more tuning.

If you want more accurate advice, try and post a sound sample of your drum. That would speak volumes, so to speak

Cheers,

Michi.

[Djembe-nerd]

I don't have a good mic. but i will do that today evening.

[fooddude]

I lessesened it to 17 diamonds. I redid the 6 I added since I noticed the diamonds "I added" were getting "bigger" and tapering wider as I progressed. (I think since I am new at tuning, I don't know how to make the diamonds "even".

I think I figured it out now. I just have to pull downwards towards the base hard when pulling diamonds to get the lines "straight" and diamonds the same shape and smaller.

Right now it has 17 and sounds about right, nice tone, bass not too tight. 19 for me was kinda too tight and the bass sounded way too tight.

[Djembe-nerd]

How do i upload a mp3 file ? someone help

[michi]

How do i upload a mp3 file ? someone help

Hit the "Post Reply" button. Below the text entry area, there is an "Options" tab and an "Upload attachment" tab. Select "Upload attachment" and use the "Choose File" button to select the file you want to upload. Add a file comment, and then press "Add the file".

To get the file displayed in your post, use the "Place inline" button.

Cheers,

Michi.

[Djembe-nerd]

Thanks,

Here is the sample of my iroko djembe. I did not have a good mike so i just recorded the slaps.

What do you think

[michi]

Here is the sample of my iroko djembe. I did not have a good mike so i just recorded the slaps.

Would be good to have a few tones and basses as well (and more than just two slaps). From what I can hear in the sample, there is quite a bit of sustain on those slaps, indicating that you could go a fair bit tighter.

Basses are revealing too: if the tension is too low on the skin, you get a lot of sustain, and hard-hit basses tend to "crash", where they are not nice and tight and short, but instead sort of go over the top (a bit like a speaker that is overdriven).

Anyway, a longer sample with all three sounds would help.

Cheers,

Michi.

[Beerfola]

Sorry, I was going to give it a listen but I don't have enough karma points

[Djembe-nerd]

how many do you need ? When i uploaded this sample i got 730, i can donate some to you

i was surprised.

[michi]

Sorry, I was going to give it a listen but I don't have enough karma points

The unbeliever shalt not hear the holy sound of the djembe...

Cheers,

Michi.

[michi]

how many do you need ? When i uploaded this sample i got 730, i can donate some to you

Don't worry: if your situation is anything like mine, you'll be down to sixty bucks by tomorrow

Cheers,

Michi.

[Beerfola]

I guess it's back to Djembe-L for me. Does the L stand for Land of the vagrant Lurker? (just kidding)
I'm sure I can overcome my current karma issues. If everyone says a prayer for me I may get out of Djembefola purgatory.