Toca 9" Freestyle II Djembe -SC

Beginners and intermediate players - This is fantastic.

As a drumming group facilitator I want to have drums in my collection that sound great, look great, are durable and don't cost a lot of money. This drum is the perfect drum for anyone who is looking for any or all of these things.

Pros: It looks great for a start, it actually looks even better than in the pictures. Because the drum is rope tuned and has a better head than a lot of the other synthetic drums the tone is much richer and vibrant. For only being 9 inches it has surprising depth and warmth. For anyone who plays the djembe at a high level this drum is a wonderful addition to your sound world and gives a different dynamic that a larger drum would not be able to create.

Cons: The fact that the drum is plastic is the only con I can think of. I want it to be made of wood to have more of an authentic feel, alas! I think this drum is fantastic - very few bad things to say about it.

Conclusion: This drum is brilliant, especially at such a low price. Small? Yes, but it packs a punch. Would love to play the larger model too - worth looking at as well.