Schlagwerk RTS51 Frame Drum

Very good start point fo frammedrumming

This is a lovely framedrum. 20' is a good size to start. I know many beginners including myself want to have extra deep sound and are drawn to big framedrums. Honnestly 20' is the maximum size you want to start with. (and maybe smaller if you are not very tall). Above that there is a risk of unnecessary pain by lack of good positioning, at least if you get into regular practice.

Anyways, that was my first tunable framedrum and i was quite comfortable with it. I like the brightness of the sound (this is a matter of personal taste), it is perfect for playing lapstyle or free hand. You cannot play in upright position with this one, it's not designed for that (well... you can a little but please dont try to learn upright position with that). The cross bars behind are giving you the possibility of using beaters for a more "shamanic" kind of play, and you can place optional jingles there too.

The skin has a regular width and is a symetric cut around the spine, witch is a must.

I am glad to keep it in my drum collection, for it has a specific sound color that really has a place in my palette.

I dont like the black nylon belt around, it looks cheap and is not comfortable to touch. A cotton or softer synthetic tissue with a little decor would have radically changed the look of the drum. And I dont enjoy the big markings from the company on the skin, hopefully i got rid of them.

So in a nutshell, while the looks could have been improved for less than an euro, it's good for lapstyle, free hand style and beaters but not upright position, the sound is really excellent to me, and i have a very good feeling on the skin, witch is something i cannot explain clearly but is related to the texture and how my fingers are bouncing off it.

Tried the 23" schalgwerk and bought this one but go for the bigger in case you have big hands

I'm a cello player but I like instruments I recommend this one because it's tunable, and has inner crossed woods to hold it with (watch out the others might not have one even if it is shown in the pictures!)

I'm glad with the purchase but I honestly liked the 23" one although it's bigger and heavier, but mainly the products are well done and of high quality! I'm choosing to buy 1 or 2 new ones :)

Fantastic

Super sounding and adaptable. I've bought several schlagwerk products -- super company. Love this frame drum and will buy another.