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So I'm just crossing over into intermediate land in my skillset, and I own a very decent aluminum doumbek, I do not now the brand there is no label on it or the head, its just a simple aluminum drum, with a decent sound, not the best, but decent.
I feel like I want to start saving for my next drum though, several guys around here have Remo Drums, and those are nice, and I do like the sound of one of the solosit drums, but I'm wondering if there are other better choices for the money. So I'm wondering where you guys buy "Professional Quality" drums, I'm the type who would rather only buy something once.
So the Kobi Hagoel drums caught my eye, does anyone have experience with these, where did you purchase it?
If you could include links with your recommendations that would be GREAT.
Thanks
Josh
I feel like I want to start saving for my next drum though, several guys around here have Remo Drums, and those are nice, and I do like the sound of one of the solosit drums, but I'm wondering if there are other better choices for the money. So I'm wondering where you guys buy "Professional Quality" drums, I'm the type who would rather only buy something once.
So the Kobi Hagoel drums caught my eye, does anyone have experience with these, where did you purchase it?
If you could include links with your recommendations that would be GREAT.
Thanks
Josh
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Los Angeles
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Tue, June 9, 2009 - 2:02 PMIMO if you like a slightly more 'wet' sound than the average Egyptian, the Kobi would be a good choice.
Or go get one of these Raquy signature Egyptian standard sizes... She's probably got the best drums available in the USA as far as quality control goes, and you'll have a 99.8% chance of getting a decent if not very good drum, as opposed to the crapshoot that is ordering direct from Egypt.
www.raquy.com/store/dumbeks.html
There's the Souhail Kaspar signature (out of stock) and also the Hossam Ramzy signature as well. Those are both Sumbati size (9 inch head as opposed to 8.5) fyi... The next level up is Kevork, and you kind of need to know someone that is traveling to Lebanon to get one for you... Made to order! And they're pricey. -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Tue, June 9, 2009 - 2:06 PMThanks for the info, just for reference by slightly more 'wet' sound, would that be kinda like the deiffernece between the Remo drums and a regular aluminum drum?
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Tue, June 9, 2009 - 2:12 PMI love my Emin. It has its quirks. There are other drums just as nice that are not quite as expensive, like the signature series of Raquy, Sohail and Ramzy. I like them. They have their quirks, too. I like Koby's drums; note the one I laid hands on was even more ringy than my Emin. I think they are priced a little cheaper than Emins, but maybe a bit more than the above mentioned signature series drums. -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Tue, June 9, 2009 - 2:16 PMYea, wet would mean ringy, to me. For the dryest, think of hitting a big wooden percussion block with a big wooden stick. For the wettest, think of hitting a copper bell (those engraved copper drums from Turkey with a fiberskyn head. I have one.)
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Tue, June 9, 2009 - 2:16 PMI just looked at the Ramzy signature drum, looks like around $450 or so before shipping, is there a place in teh states that has them for cheaper, I remember Souhail's were in the same Ballpark as Raquy, and he is local, I could probably even go pick on of those up when they are in stock, which is somethign to think about, since it seams shipping drums is not cheap.
Do you have a link to these Emin Drums? -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Tue, June 9, 2009 - 2:21 PMgoogle Emin Percussion. They are priced about the same as the Ramzy drums. -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Tue, June 9, 2009 - 3:08 PMWhen you want a signature drum, you order direct... that's the way it goes - I'd hate to see what those prices would get up to if there was a middle person involved. This has happened with the Kevorks...
And that's probably the best description of wet vs dry I have seen yet. I liked my Kobi, but not enough to hang onto it, it was too wet!
The remo drums, I would call them 'dry' but not 'extra dry'. I have an ergo and I only use it out at the Ren Fest here with acoustic instruments. It's kind of subdued next to aluminum and clear plastic head, so if you want to cut through a wall of drum jam, or in a band with synth keyboards, go for the aluminum ones. -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Tue, June 9, 2009 - 4:37 PMwow lots of things to take in guys, the more I read and look at online shops the more pleased I am with my current aluminum drum. thanks again for all the input. -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Tue, June 9, 2009 - 6:41 PMDon't rule out the Kobi until you have a chance to sit down and play one. My Kobi has been my "other drum," and I play the hell out of it every day!
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Tue, June 9, 2009 - 6:40 PMI have an electric blue Kobi drum. It is eye catching, but it has a couple of characteristics you might want to consider.
1. The side of the bowl of the drum is more rounded rather than a straight slant. I have small hands and this rounded bowl is not ergonomic for my double kas and left hand finger rolls. It always feels like there is a lump in the way.
2. The drum is naturally tuned more to B/Bflat. That is fine if you play alone. Most of the Egyptian doumbeks are tuned to C. When I was with the Elias Lammam student ensemble, the Kobi drum clashed so badly with the kanun, ney and other doumbek, I was almost tossed out of the house with the drum. It is too big a tuning to adjust from B to C. But it worked very well when I was with a klezmer group with Bflat clarinets.
3. Very nice warm doums.
4. The finish makes touchups of dings and chips very easy with permanent marker.
After going around the block many times, I have settled with an Emin and a Hossam Ramzy drum. The Souhail drum is my car drum since it is fairly replaceable. I also have 6 flower pots stands I acquired along the way. If you are in the bay area, please let me know, and you can try all of them out (pot stands as well...).
Su
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Tue, June 9, 2009 - 9:37 PMI just got a schedule from Donavon regarding Cairo Carnival. He will be there along with Alex Spurkel, Jamie Papish, and others which should give you an excellent opportunity to actually play several of the drums already mentioned. Another resource might be Diamond Pyramid Imports in LA who usually have quite a number of drums to try.
It's not like you are in the hinterland and have to buy over the internet. Hopefully, you know by this time what you want to sound like. -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Wed, June 10, 2009 - 1:33 AMyeah, y'all cats on the west coast are spoiled rotten, you know that?
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Wed, June 10, 2009 - 10:39 AMYep I'm playing with Donovan's class Sat and Sunday, if your there say hi, I'm the tall kinda fat guy, lol.
-Josh -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Wed, June 10, 2009 - 12:19 PMI think its interesting and I myself occasionally get caught up in the signature series drum craze. The pro hand drummer in town usually plays a mid east ceramic he also can play a metal mixing bowl like nobodies business. I think its really the skill, I have seen beginners pick up really quality drums and they sound horrible and i have seen seasoned drummers pick up the crappiest drums ever and they sound great. A mjor difference between inlaid is noticable though -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Wed, June 10, 2009 - 1:21 PMJamal told me a year ago that he broke that drum putting it in the car at the airport. He dropped it. Sad. He was coming back from a trip to Africa and it has been all over the world with him. Last time I saw him play at the SMU Meadows music school recital last fall, he was playing an Egyptian-looking inlaid clay drum with a fishskin. And yes, he can make a pickle bucket sound like a Kvork. :-) -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Thu, June 11, 2009 - 5:43 AMHey Todd, I guess Ramzy heard you recomending Emin over his drum because I got an e-mail this morning saying his drum is now on sale for 255 pounds..... (of course that still is $500 with the shipping included, so it still not much of a deal ; ) -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Thu, June 11, 2009 - 6:28 AMI'm not dissing Ramzy's drum, by any means. I just like my Emin :-) -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Thu, June 11, 2009 - 7:20 AMTodd: Oh, I know that! But, please keep doing that so we can get the Ramzy drums for less that $400! ;)
P.s. I like your Emin too! -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Thu, June 11, 2009 - 7:34 AMSpeaking of Ramzy drums, I read somewhere that he orders lots of clay drums for his studio work, and rejects some as not good enough. However, they are supposedly still outstanding drums. I'd be happy with one of those. :-) I want a clay sumbati or doholla for working with melody and tribal style music.
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Thu, June 11, 2009 - 5:44 AMForget the Ergo unless you're playing in a clown train. But seriously, why anyone would pay $250.00 for that piece of molded cardboard is beyond me. Get a GEF through Rocky as other's have suggested. I've got one and its fine. That way you know someone has at least considered the sound quality of the drum before you purchase it. -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Thu, June 11, 2009 - 9:08 AMwho is rocky? did you mean Raquy? or is this another source? -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Thu, June 11, 2009 - 9:15 AMI heard Rocky Balboa was not that bad of a drummer. Not as good as Raquy of course ;) -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Thu, June 11, 2009 - 12:45 PMhe screams Adrian as he beats the drum to death -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Thu, June 11, 2009 - 6:45 PMWind & Fingers said: "he screams Adrian as he beats the drum to death"
YES! (laughing my arse off!)
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Thu, June 11, 2009 - 2:31 PMHa! Rocky =Raquy. Must have been early or something for my brain.
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Fri, June 12, 2009 - 8:21 AMI got me a Kobi drum and it's one of the best things I ever did. I can't say anything bad about its ergonomics (especially compared to those Remo drums with thick cardboard shells) and I love its tonal range. I get a much more precise tek tonality and its doums are warm and full, so especially as a solo drummer it's a more complete sound. It came nicely tuned with perfect head alignment (I like the head; probably about the same as skyndeep without the silk-screened pattern). See you at Cairo (never found any drum there I just had to have but lots to play with)! -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Fri, June 12, 2009 - 3:30 PMThe Kobi drums come with a Renaissance film head... It's warmer and has more midrange than the SkynDeep does, also a different texture.
While I am by no means defending Remo - lord knows they have a lot to answer for as far as their peculiar take on "world" percussion and graphics IMO they're not by any means bad sounding. They are what they are, they have a sound which I have found to be better in some instances than the less than subtle aluminum drums. They are just as 'ergonomic' as any regular Egyptian tablah. AND they bounce if dropped, without breaking. An inlay 6 lugger would have lost the inlay, if not cracked the rim... the Ergo got a little scratch on the rim where it hit the pavement. The Ergo line would be a better deal and more competitive at 1/3 less street price overall, for sure.
And as far as consistency of build - so what if it's cardboard, it was modeled after the sound of a low-temp fired clay shell with fish head, THE old school Egyptian sound where the shell is as dead as possible - they are almost exactly the same right on down the line... which, unfortunately, you can't say about any of the Egyptian cast aluminum drums in the past 5-odd years... Well, maybe Hossam's, maybe not.
Those entry level 6-bolts that go for around $90 online in the US currently are f'n horrible compared to the equivalent from 1994-98... -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Fri, June 12, 2009 - 6:48 PMI agree that it is not a bad drum. They sound good. I do think it is a little bit pricey for what it is, though (and why the awful colors?). -
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Fri, June 12, 2009 - 9:58 PMWhy the awful color? Acid flashback.
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Mon, June 15, 2009 - 7:41 AMI got to play an old drum from 1994 the other day. How'd I know? The drums' only had one owner, the man who let me play it. And, it had an old head, hardly played at all, that had 1994 on it. It was in an old case, padded leather, that beats the crap out of the nylon windbreaker material used now. It was a thick aluminum shell, with no visible bubbles on the inside. It was almost as heavy as my Emin. It had an ugly vinyl cover, but it was in practically new shape. This drum had hardly seen the light of day. And it sounded great!
Two things about modern day shells: One, they are thinner than they used to be. Two, most are made from recycled aluminum. You can tell from all the bubbles, the dark grey color, and slag (partially burnt black shit) in the material.
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Sun, June 14, 2009 - 9:23 PMCraig, thanks or letting me play your drum, I really appreciate the opportunity, I also got to play a Souhail drum, and its turns out my friend Andy has a Ramzy drum, I had no idea. So I got to play all 3 this weekend, they were all very nice!
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Re: What is a good NEXT Drum?
Mon, June 15, 2009 - 6:53 PMWell I have a Kobi and a Hossam as well as some no name Alexandrian ranging from 4 bolts to a Doholla. I find the Kobi is a great multi purpose drum with a deep doum and high taks. I use it a lot in situations where there is not a lot of other percussion around. It's a real workhorse. You can hear a bit of a demo here
www.youtube.com/watch
The Hossam is a museum piece, being Hossams old touring drum. Rarely leaves the house. My hands are too small to get the most out of it because it has a very wide rim. I think my drum teacher Jamal Zraika has played it more than I have. You can hear a demo here
www.youtube.com/watch
If I'm performing with professional musicians I'm normally asked to play the doholla.
If I am specifically asked to teach drumming, which only happens once in a blue moon, then I'll use either the 4 or standard 6 bolt depending on how I feel.
