Regardless of how well an instrument is put together, and what art work is done to add to its appearance, the materials used are the most important aspect in the sound of the instrument.
Every type of wood resonates differently, this cannot be changed.
The materials are the primary determinant in classifying an instrument in a quality category. After this the quality of the craftsmanship plays a big role.
Lenke and African mahogany (Malinke: dialla) are extremely hard and dense tropical woods, found predominantly in Guinea and Mali. Traditionally these two woods were used for the construction of a djembe.
The djembes (category 1) at djembemoves:
- can be identified from their colours (lenke is mostly a brownish/yellow, dialla a dark red), and the pattern in the grain of the wood.
- have been hand selected from various wood suppliers in Conakry.
- are all of the same highest quality, the onlys reason for any price difference is the size, which affects the costs of the materials and assembly time, and the decoration, if any.
We use African goat skins with no tears or blemishes, but with varying thicknesses. The thickness of the skin will have an effect on the overall sound of the instrument, normally the thicker the skin the “fuller” and “warmer” the sound, but such words are dependent on the person listening. Thinner skins are often easier to play, with less wear and tear on the hands, but normally also sound “drier” and “sharper”. Please remember these are natural products – every one is different.
It is also possible to use other animal skins for assembling a djembe. Antelope was also often traditionally used, and calf skins are sometimes used, although these skins are much thicker than that of a goat, with a corresponding effect on the sound. We have calf skins in stock, and can also mount a calf skin on the djembe of your choice.
All of the djembes listed at djembemoves have goat skins from Guinea unless otherwise stated. None have been treated with chemicals.
