Remo Percussion |
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Remo's website states "Remo's commitment to expanding music-making opportunities for non-drummers continues with its innovative Arthur Hull Signature Series Nesting Drums". Now there's an interesting concept - drums for "non-drummers". Making drums for non-drummers would appear on the face of it to be akin to making skies for people who don't ski. Or like making cakes for someone who doesn't eat cakes. All in all not a great business plan you would think? Or maybe I'm just being pedantic? When does one become a "drummer"anyway? Surely anyone banging a drum is a drummer - maybe not a very good or experienced one but a "drummer" nonetheless. Anyway, enough of this word play - time for some drum play. |
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| These nesting drums are great then for use in drum circles or for beginners (or "non-drummers"), offering as they do great flexibility of use. There are six drums in the series, whose sizes range from 11" x 8" to 18" x 18". They are available individually or in a set, and in a variety of colours. Purchased as a set, they can be stacked (or "nested") inside each other for maximum portability. Each drum comes with two distinct-sounding, easily removable heads. The heads once detached can be used independently as frame drums. There are no lugs or other fixings - the heads are simply pulled off. Each head is tuned to a different pitch - one having a lower "calf-like" sound and the other a higher pitched "goat-like" timbre. They may be easily removable but I had real trouble trying to get one of the heads back on! So, remove the thin head and you have a thick-headed conga type drum and a thin-headed frame drum. Remove the thick head and you then have a single headed hand drum like the djembe and, of course, a thick-headed frame drum. With both heads left on the drum you can hit the thin-headed side with a soft mallet (supplied) and it will sound like a Brazilian surdo drum. Turning the drums over and hitting the thick-headed side with a drum stick and it sounds like a tuned Djun-Djun. Or hang it round your neck using the supplied strap and play it like a double-headed tambor or bata drum with one hand on each side. In a recording situation I would suggest an amount of damping might be required as they do ring somewhat. These nesting drums are pretty basic in construction but do provide good opportunities for variety, provide good value for money, and are great fun!
These drums are certainly visually striking, sporting as they do colourful, ethnic style finishes. The key-tuned djembe and the ashiko drum both feature Remo's Fiberskyn heads from which a variety of sounds can be coaxed including high slaps, deep bass tones and everything in between. These heads also afford great tone and projection. The key-tuned djembes (there are 4 lugs on the 10" model, 6 lugs on the 12" and 8 lugs on the 14" plus models) are available in 5 sizes (10",12",14",16" and 18") and 5 different but equally striking finishes. The ashiko drums were developed in conjunction with the afore-mentioned Arthur Hull and, like the djembe, would make great drum-circle instruments if that is your bag. Ashiko drums actually sound and play very much like djembes. The key-tuned version is 25" tall and available in 10", 12" and 14" sizes. The rope-tuned models come in 10", 12" 13" and 14" sizes, the length of the drum varies depending on the head size. In short the djembes and ashiko drums look and sound great but may be a bit pricey for someone on a limited budget (aren't we all?). Valencia Cowbells Remo's have produced a new range of
cowbells. The "Valencia" Series are available in two Remo claim that the "raw steel" finish makes for a brighter sound. So, in the interests of science, I dug out one of my trusty traditional matt black painted cowbells and ran extensive head to head tests - the conclusion being that the "raw steel" cowbell made a brighter sound. However, I tend to dampen my cowbells with tape to cut out some of the ring so the whole idea is kind of self-defeating to this humble percussionist. In the end it again comes down to personal preference and the kind of sound you want to achieve for your particular musical situation. Prices (correct as of June 2005): Nesting Drums 11" x 8" - £88.99 Ashikos 25" x 10" (key-tuned) - £228.99 Djembes 24" x 10" (key-tuned) - £178.99 Valencia "Raw Steel" Cowbells Big Mouth Cowbell 4" - £26.99 Distributed by Arbiter
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Arthur
Hull is apparently "the acknowledged father of west coast drum circles",
and specialises in "creating group synergy through the use of rhythm".
I think we are all aware of the therapeutic benefits of drumming by
now aren't we? I took part in a drum circle at the NAAM Show a few years
back - and great fun it was too. Around 50 people all banging various
drums and percussion instruments, starting out quiet and gentle like
a summer's breeze rising slowly to a thunderous cacophony of sound.
After that I didn't need to visit my analyst for a week.
The djembe is based on the traditional
drums of the West African Mandingo people originating from the great
Mali Empire of the 13th and 14th century, whilst the cone-shaped ashiko
drums are members of a family of West African instruments related to
the djembe.
The rope-tuned djembes are available in 13", 14" and 15"
sizes and are from the Paulo Mattioli Signature Series. Paulo
Mattioli is a world-renowned multi-percussionist, educator and instrument
designer, with a "special ability to inspire and empower others via
the drum" - so another drum circle advocate then - groovy. All these
drums are made from Remo's Acousticon shell material which makes for
a very robust but lightweight instrument. Indeed, the 16"x8" drum weighs
in at less than five pounds - making it an ideal portable drum. This
versatility allows the drum to be played either under the arm in a doumbek
style, or between the legs as a traditional djembe. Having played both
the key-tuned and rope-tuned djembes I can honestly say that I can find
no real difference in sound quality or playability so I guess which
you chose would simply be a matter of preference, but visually the rope-tuned
perhaps looks more "authentic" and ethnic, and are certainly lighter.
styles, "Traditional" with a conventional-shaped opening,
and "Big Mouth" with a noticeably wider mouth. Both styles feature high-grade
tempered steel and a lacquered "raw steel" finish, and both are offered
in a selection of five graduating sizes and tones with offset mounting
clamps and screws.