There are two fundamental types of shell material used for top quality djembe drums – Hardwood and
Fiberglass/Synthetic. To help you make the appropriate decision for your needs when selecting your new djembe, we will discuss each shell type and illustrate the differences.
Hardwood Djembe Drums
Hardwood djembe drums are the traditional hand carved drum you see in most traditional African settings. These wood drums have a beautiful appearance with the best djembe drums often resembling works of art. The sound of the hardwood djembe with a good goat skin head is rich and warm in tone and preferred by most recording artists and recreational players. These wood drums are used throughout the world by professional performers who admire and respect the African heritage and tradition of djembe.
Hardwood djembe drums are the traditional hand carved drum you see in most traditional African settings. These wood drums have a beautiful appearance with the best djembe drums often resembling works of art. The sound of the hardwood djembe with a good goat skin head is rich and warm in tone and preferred by most recording artists and recreational players. These wood drums are used throughout the world by professional performers who admire and respect the African heritage and tradition of djembe.
Fiberglass Djembe Drums
Fiberglass and its derivative synthetics produce djembes that are much lighter in weight than their wood counterparts. These fiberglass djembes are also very durable and can withstand weather and temperature conditions that would be damaging to a wood drum. Fiberglass djembe drums have a distinctly bright and crisp sound and are typically louder than wood djembes. For these reasons many professionals buy and use fiberglass drums on the road in amplified environments where the drum must cut through a loud mix and may be subject to adverse weather. Another benefit is that due to the volume sensitivity of the fiberglass shell these djembe drums make it easier for beginners to produce a wider range of tones without solid playing technique which may take many months to develop
Fiberglass and its derivative synthetics produce djembes that are much lighter in weight than their wood counterparts. These fiberglass djembes are also very durable and can withstand weather and temperature conditions that would be damaging to a wood drum. Fiberglass djembe drums have a distinctly bright and crisp sound and are typically louder than wood djembes. For these reasons many professionals buy and use fiberglass drums on the road in amplified environments where the drum must cut through a loud mix and may be subject to adverse weather. Another benefit is that due to the volume sensitivity of the fiberglass shell these djembe drums make it easier for beginners to produce a wider range of tones without solid playing technique which may take many months to develop
Your decision to buy a wood or a fiberglass djembe drum is both a matter of taste and a matter of purpose. You may like many be drawn to the beauty and tradition of the hardwood hand carved djembe drum. However you may also be someone who wants the lightweight durability and easier playability of the fiberglass djembe drum.
Whichever choice you make WeDjembe has a selection of excellent quality hardwood and fiberglass djembe drums at affordable prices from which to choose.