I just received my new Djembe from Wula and it is a beauty. I really love this djembe. I usually don't go for the flashy ornate stuff, but something about this one really caught my eye. I love the form and how much the stem flares out toward the bottom. It wasn't listed on the online store, I saw it in the corner of a facebook photo of the new shipment and I decided to ask Galen about it.
I've read some negative comments about Wula in this thread which dishearten me a bit. I've had a wonderful experience with Tom, Galen & Mike. they are very helpful on the phone and email. It is always a bit of a gamble when buying a drum online as far as how much you'll like and bond with it when you get your hands on it, but every piece I've purchased from Wula has been a superior sounding and looking instrument and I've really grown strongly attached to them with one exception and that drum was replaced free of charge for another drum that I chose in it's place. My experience is that the Wula team really stands behind it's product and wants you to be totally satisfied with your purchase. I recommend Wula to everyone, their instruments continue to set new standards, stand out sonically and visually, and I feel like you get WAY more for your money than with drumskull. I also like the business transparency side of Wula and their social & environmentally conscientious approach to drum building. I like seeing pictures of the guys that carved my drum, what their workshop looks like, where they go to cut the trees, etc.
All of that serves to build a stronger connection between me and my instrument.
I've learned to not have the same expectations for speed of service that I have for Wula as I would have for Amazon, and sometimes it may seem like Wula's endeavors might be overwhelming their manpower, but I really love what they stand for, the people that make the up the company, the product they create, and the direction they're headed. I am proud to own and play their instruments and I can't say enough positive stuff about them. Thanks Tom, Galen, Michael, Yambig and the rest of the crew! Y'all are awesome!
