Remo DJ-0012-PM- Djembe, Multi-Colored

Remo designer series is best djembe especially earth collection

Our church has a 16" Remo with the Acousticon Shell So that's the only brand I had played up close before. Its a great Drum but over $300 with a stand. My 10 year old son (who has been playing regular drums for about a year) liked the one at church and decided he wanted wanted to learn to play Djembe so he could play with the church praise band. The 12" was the perfect size for him and got it really better sharp and mid-range tones than the larger Remo, which is more expensive than this model. He played his first performance after practicing for a week and it sounded great without a mic. The sharper tones cut through the guitar and bass that was going through the PA. Overall, I really think the price point and quality were good. The 16" obviously has more bottom end but you have to be selective about where you hit it close to the rim to get the same mid tones the 12" gets regularly. For a little over $200 with a stand, its a nice instrument that will last if taken care of. Its also not so heavy that my son can't carry it himself (with the handy strap).

I knew very little about Djembe drumming when I purchased this product. Now that I'm in a class with an instructer with over 40 years of playing I would not recommend this product. Those interested in the full scope of African drumming should purchase a traditional drum with the help of an individual who know's something about African drumming. The sound of the Remo might be appropirate for a more experienced lead drummer in a pop culture band but not for traditional African drumming. I'll be trying to re-sell this product:-(

Nice instrument for the price tag, you get what you pay for, it's made of fiberglass, but once again is included in the price.