About My Drums:
My Jembes are meticulously hand carved in Guinea, West Africa, in the traditional style - from a solid log of specific African hardwoods preferred by master drummers. The carvers are carefully selected for their knowledge and craftsmanship and are fairly paid. All my drums are professional quality musical instruments, not "tourist curiosities," and are guaranteed to your satisfaction.
To assure the absolute finest workmanship and uncompromising functionality in my Custom Jembes, I start with “shells” rough-carved in Guinea and finish building the drums here in my Vermont workshop. Years of experience as a sculptor, blacksmith, and drummer have provided me with the insight and technical skills necessary to transform ordinary drums into extraordinary musical instruments. I use only the finest materials available, artfully blending the best of old-world and new-world technologies to create beautifully crafted and elegantly functional instruments which beginners and professional musicians alike will appreciate.
MATERIALS:
Rings
I use high quality Steel (5/16 inch for the top rings and 1/4 inch for the bottom ring). Each ring is custom made to fit the drum perfectly. These rings will last forever! They won't bend or loose their shape, unlike the thinner and softer “Re-Bar” often used in W. Africa.
Rope
I use ultra high quality 4 mm "climbing" rope. It has a tensile strength of 1,034 lb. This rope does not stretch, so you know when you are tightening your drum, you are stretching skin, not rope!
Skins
I use goatskins from Guinea, West Africa with the hair still on them. keeping the hair on the skin helps to prevent them from drying out and becoming to brittle, which would adversely affect the skin's sound and strength. No chemicals are used to remove the hair; I shave the skins after mounting them on the drum or just before.
Wood
The shells are carved from a single piece of African hardwood (Lenge, Akajou, Haddie, Dougoura, Dimba, or Djala - the woods preferred by master drummers in West Africa). I individually hand pick each shell, paying close attention to its overall shape (proportions), tap tone, quality of carving, soundness of the wood, and beauty. I work on each shell individually, tweaking the proportions to yield the very best sound. Lastly, the shells are seasoned in my shop and thoroughly conditioned before heading.
It is important that your drum be comfortable for you to play. The top edge of the drum must be well rounded and the steel rings that hold the skin on must be well out of the way of your hands when you play! These are some of the details that make the drums that I assemble fairly unique and sought after.
As a drummer and a drumming teacher, I have seen and played, literally, thousands of drums so I know what distinguishes a 'run-of-the-mill' drum from a professional quality musical instrument that is a joy to play. I am an artist and a craftsman. I have a master's degree in sculpture and have taught sculpture, 3-D design, and drawing in colleges and universities across the country. I have worked professionally as a blacksmith, cabinet maker, furniture maker, carpenter. Simply put, I have years of experience making things that are beautiful and elegantly functional.
