GUITAR Products Guide

Toca Freestyle Bali Red Djembes $29 Toca Freestyle Djembes are the perfect companion for any percussionist. These djembes are extremely light weight and durable, and offer powerful tones. Because these little babies feature synthetic shells they are perfect for musicians who want a virtually indestructible drum for traveling and rowdy jam sessions.

Toca Freestyle Snake Print Djembes $29 Toca Freestyle Djembes are the perfect companion for any percussionist. These djembes are extremely light weight and durable, and offer powerful tones. Because these little babies feature synthetic shells they are perfect for musicians who want a virtually indestructible drum for traveling and rowdy jam sessions.

Pearl Basic QRS Multi-Stand For Congas & Djembes $179.99 Pearl's all new QRS Multi-Stand represents the most exciting, most innovative hardware design in years, specifically for the percussionist of today. The Quick Release System allows easy, one handle mounting of a variety of different percussion instruments with no loose wingnuts, bolts or washers to ever keep up with again. You can mount practically any combination of instruments on the QRS stand and take full advantage of a multitude of adjustment possibilities which add up to the most sturdy, rock solid percussion stand on the market today. At the heart of the new QRS Multi-Stand is an all new spring loaded swing handle that offers one touch, secure clamping, for practically any instrument with an appropriate standard 2 hole mounting bracket. Specialty brackets are also available for attaching bongos and cowbells to turn the QRS Multi-Stand into the only stand you might ever need. The new QRS Multi-Stand offers complete height adjustability, 2 removable, fully adjustable drum supports mounted on its leg supports, and each leg of its ultra-sturdy tripod extends, allowing you to tilt the stand in any direction to achieve set-up possibilities never before available with traditional stands. Use the QRS Multi-Stand to mount your Congas, Timbales, Djembes, and Bongos in any combination imaginable. The all new QRS Multi-Stand is a percussionists dream come true.

Rhythm Tech Eclipse Djembe RT5511 $195.99 Eclipse Djembes are made of durable Asian hardwood. The 10" head size and strap make for a light, versatile drum that's easy to transport and fun to play. Perfect for the beginner or player on the go. Available in black and natural.

LP Djembe Bag $69 The LP Djembe Bag offers padded protection, is constructed of durable nylon, and has adjustable shoulder straps. The LP Djembe Bag has an outer pocket and is sized to fit all LP Djembes.

Toca African Black Mamba Style Djembe Drums $63 Introducing Toca's new African Inspired djembe drums. These djembes are made of beautiful mahogany wood and are adorned with authentic African carvings. At over 40% off these are hard to pass up!

Toca African Manjani Style Djembe Drums $63 Introducing Toca's new African Inspired djembe drums. These djembes are made of beautiful mahogany wood and are adorned with authentic African carvings. At over 40% off these are hard to pass up!

Toca Synergy Vryheid Style Djembe Drums $44.99 Introducing Toca's new Synergy djembe drums. These djembes are made of beautiful mahogany wood and are adorned with Tribal Wave Paint. At over 40% off these are hard to pass up!

Toca Synergy Vuur Style Djembe Drums $45 Introducing Toca's new Synergy djembe drums. These djembes are made of beautiful mahogany wood and are adorned with Aztec Carvings and a Deep Red Stain. At over 40% off these are hard to pass up!

X8 Ivory Elite Pro African Djembe $209 X8 DRUMS is extremely excited to offer three new models of Elite Pro djembes. Custom designs that you won't find anywhere else in the states. You can only get them here!! This latest batch of djembes will knock you out with their aesthetic beauty and superior sound quality. We have a limited number of each model. There are true collectors items in this batch. Comes with a free Pro Gig Bag!

X8 Midnight Elite Pro African Djembe $209 X8 DRUMS is extremely excited to offer three new models of Elite Pro djembes. Custom designs that you won't find anywhere else in the states. You can only get them here!! This latest batch of djembes will knock you out with their aesthetic beauty and superior sound quality. We have a limited number of each model. There are true collectors items in this batch. The Midnight Elite drum has a solid black shell with a matte black finish. The rope has custom red speckle weaved throughout.

Pearl Elite Djembe 12 1/2 $349.95 The Pearl Elite Djembe features superb musical quality and professional durability at a surprisingly affordable price. Constructed of hand-selected aged Thai Oak wood, its unique shape employs a narrow throat which creates incredible bass tones not possible with other 12 1/2" djembes. Its contour crowns are extra thick for durability and consistent tuning, while its triple-bolted tuning plates add strength and prevents bowing under extreme tension.Elite Djembes from Pearl Percussion include water buffalo skin heads for that warm, traditional djembe tone, a rubber base ring to protect the bottom of the shell and eliminate the buzz caused by metal rings, and polished steel hardware.

X8 King Cheetah Elite Pro African Djembe X8-Cheetah $209 X8 DRUMS is extremely excited to offer three new models of Elite Pro djembes. Custom designs that you won't find anywhere else in the states. You can only get them here!! This latest batch of djembes will knock you out with their aesthetic beauty and superior sound quality. We have a limited number of each model. There are true collectors items in this batch. The King Cheetah is representative of the rare breed of the species, only seen in nature a handful of times. Like the feline, this djembe is a speciality item, constructed to deliver pristine performance for the most advance players and a smooth purr for beginners showing promise in the art of hand drumming.

LP Galaxy Giovanni Djembe 12 1/2 $479.99 LP Galaxy Giovanni Series Wood Djembes are the finest djembes in the world today. Modeled after the African djembe, a tribal drum known for its amazing dynamics, the Galaxy Giovanni Djembe from Latin Percussion produces an extraordinary array of tones. It is a beautifully crafted djembe drum made of fine ash in the traditional shape and accented by a fabric band decorating its waist. Its clear finish brings out the vivid grain of the wood and enhances its frequency range, while the select goatskin head offers superior resonance and tone.Also features gold tone hardware, 12 1/2" diameter head, and LP's Comfort Curve II rim, which makes playing easy on the hands. Includes tuning wrench and lug lube. Matching congas and bongos available.

Toca Synergy Freestyle Djembe Bali Red $49.99 This Synergy Freestyle Djembe from Toca is lightweight - great for drum circles and kids of all ages. Features a seamless synthetic drum shell (made of PVC), goatskin head with a traditional nylon rope tuning system, and protective rubber bottom. Get the same quality bass tones and highs found with traditional wooden djembes. Take this light weight djembe drum from Toca Percussion to the beach or anywhere you want to go. Includes a handbook with tuning and maintenance tips plus practice exercises for your Toca Synergy Djembe.

Toca Synergy Freestyle Djembe Snake Print SFDJ-9SP $49.95 This Synergy Freestyle Djembe from Toca is lightweight - great for drum circles and kids of all ages. Features a seamless synthetic drum shell (made of PVC), goatskin head with a traditional nylon rope tuning system, and protective rubber bottom. Get the same quality bass tones and highs found with traditional wooden djembes. Take this light weight djembe drum from Toca Percussion to the beach or anywhere you want to go. Includes a handbook with tuning and maintenance tips plus practice exercises for your Toca Synergy Djembe.

X8 Bougarabou (Cherry Stain) BGM-Afr $199 This dark red stained bougarabou is carved of thick mahogany hardwood and produces huge thunderous tones. Each bougarboo is quite hefty and solidly built with a cow skin head to deliver big every time. Bougarabou drums are normally played with only the hands in a standing position. They have a full, deep, rich sound which can be heard for miles and is effective at all dynamic levels. They produce a kind of bass melody in the total rhythm. in other modern drumming situations, they are often used to back up djembes and tammas in a percussion group.

X8 Drums Logo Mini Djembe X8-MiniX8 $29 These djembes are great for any occasion! Real goatskin heads & top grade mahogany shells are standard on this Hand Painted 4" Mini Djembe drum. So small and portable you can take this djembe drum almost anywhere. Each one is hand carved & hand painted, with "low-stretch" alpine rope with braided cores, and authentic goatskin heads.

X8 Hand Painted Mini Djembe X8-Mini-Dot-Paint $29 These djembes are great for any occasion! Real goatskin heads & top grade mahogany shells are standard on this Hand Painted 4" Mini Djembe drum. So small and portable you can take this djembe drum almost anywhere. Each one is hand carved & hand painted, with "low-stretch" alpine rope with braided cores, and authentic goatskin heads.

Pearl Elite Series 12 1/2 Fiberglass Djembe $299.99 For players looking for a Djembe with more volume and brightness, without losing the versatility and great tone these instruments offer, look no further than Pearl's Elite Fiberglass Djembes. Their precision, hand-formed fiberglass shells with specially contoured shape, and genuine goat-skin heads provide the widest dynamic range possible. Their tone offers rich low end, and their unique suspension-type center ring and polished steel Contour Crown hoop produces unmatched sustain.

Pearl Elite Series 14 Fiberglass Djembe $335.99 For players looking for a Djembe with more volume and brightness, without losing the versatility and great tone these instruments offer, look no further than Pearl's Elite Fiberglass Djembes. Their precision, hand-formed fiberglass shells with specially contoured shape, and genuine goat-skin heads provide the widest dynamic range possible. Their tone offers rich low end, and their unique suspension-type center ring and polished steel Contour Crown hoop produces unmatched sustain.

Pearl Primero Mini Conga $40 Pearl Percussion mini's are miniature versions of Primero Djembes, Congas and Bongos. Constructed from durable gel-coated Fiberglass and finished in 3 vibrant colors. Fully tunable and highly transportable. they're perfect for intimate gigs, picnics or for the young player who requires a manageable size while getting started in the exciting world of Hand Percussion.

Pearl Elite Series 12 1/2 Oak Djembe $335.99 Pearl's Elite Wood Djembe is perfect for both the professional player as well as the occasional drum circle enthusiast. Djembes are well known for their versatility, offering great highs, a rich full bodied tone and beautiful low end presence. With origins from western Africa, Djembes have become extremely popular today, showing up in all types of musical performances, from unplugged acoustic shows at local clubs, to stadium tours with some of the biggest names in music today. Pearl's Elite Wood Djembe shell is pure 100% aged Thai Oak, featuring a smooth hourglass shape for a warm traditional tone exclusive to this instrument. Thinner, ultimate quality, true Goat Skin Heads help the Pearl Elite Wood Djembe to produce an extremely wide frequency response, allowing the drum to be the most versatile of all hand drums. Pearl's polished steel Contour Crown Rims take the pain out of playing by offering a smooth edge, and solid steel claws and hardware provide great tuning integrity.

Tycoon Percussion Fantasy Tiger Series Djembe 12 $319.95 Constructed of carefully selected aged Siam Oak, Tycoon Percussion Fantasy Series Djembes are beautiful and powerful drums.These djembe drums feature heavy duty deluxe rims, 3/8" diameter tuning lugs, and hand-picked premium quality goat skin heads that produce rich bass tones and crisp high pitched slap tones. Multiple Layers of Super High-Gloss Coating Carefully Polished to Attain Mirror-Like Finish. Mounting Stands Available. Matching Congas and Bongos Available.FREE Tycoon Jam Pack included (Retail Value of $117)

Pearl Fits-All Conga Stand $65.99 If you have the need to mount a variety of different drums, or just want a stand that does it all, there is no better choice than our PC-900 All-Fit Stand. The PC-900 holds Congas, Djembes, Cajons, and countless other drums with ease. Its widely adjustable tension strap design and individually telescoping legs, provide height and angle adjustments that open up a wide array of set-up positioning possibilities. Individual sliding drum supports are also provided on each leg support, and can be positioned inside or outside the drum's base for super sturdy mounting and grip of virtually any hand drum.

Sageman Kalimantan Carved Djembe Drum 16x8 $89.99 These 16"x8" (height/head) line carved djembe drums have been part of the Sageman drum family since 1997. These drums are precision lathe cut from one piece mahogany. Authentic top quality goatskin head and Sageman's new stretch resistant rope ensures years of musician quality sound. Sageman's line carved djembes come in a dark or blonde finish. Pictured here is the blonde finish. All Sageman drums carry a 30/90 day warranty that covers the head (30 Days), workmanship, and defects (90 Days).

Sageman Line Carved Djembe Drum 12x7 $49.99 These 12"x7" (height/head) line carved djembe drums have been part of the Sageman drum family since 1997. These drums are precision lathe cut from one piece mahogany. Authentic top quality goatskin head and Sageman's new stretch resistant rope ensures years of musician quality sound. Sageman's line carved djembes come in a dark or blonde finish. Pictured here is the blonde finish. All Sageman drums carry a 30/90 day warranty that covers the head (30 Days), workmanship, and defects (90 Days).

Sageman Traditional Line Carved Djembe Drum 24x12 $175.99 These 24"x12" (height/head) line carved djembe drums have been part of the Sageman drum family since 1997. These traditional looking line carved drums continue to be popular with customers at the wholesale and retail level. These drums are precision lathe cut from one piece mahogany. Authentic top quality goatskin head and our new stretch resistant rope ensures years of musician quality sound. Our line carved djembes come in a dark or blonde finish. Pictured here is the darker finish. All Sageman drums carry a 30/90 day warranty that covers the head (30 Days), workmanship, and defects (90 Days).

Sageman Traditional Line Carved Djembe Drum 28x13 $249.99 These 28"x13" (height/head) line carved djembe drums have been part of the Sageman drum family since 1997. These traditional looking line carved drums continue to be popular with customers at the wholesale and retail level. These drums are precision lathe cut from one piece mahogany. Authentic top quality goatskin head and our new stretch resistant rope ensures years of musician quality sound. Our line carved djembes come in a dark or blonde finish. Pictured here is the darker finish. All Sageman drums carry a 30/90 day warranty that covers the head (30 Days), workmanship, and defects (90 Days).

Sageman Traditional Line Carved Djembe Drum 20x10 $139.99 These 20"x10" (height/head) line carved djembe drums have been part of the Sageman drum family since 1997. These drums are precision lathe cut from one piece mahogany. Authentic top quality goatskin head and Sageman's new stretch resistant rope ensures years of musician quality sound. Sageman's line carved djembes come in a dark or blonde finish. Pictured here is the darker finish. All Sageman drums carry a 30/90 day warranty that covers the head (30 Days), workmanship, and defects (90 Days).

Gambia Travel Advice – The ‘Bumster’

The Gambia is an ex British colony situated on the west coast of Africa, just 6 hours flying time from London. I have lived in The Gambia on and off for over six years (running a cultural music school) and I rate The Gambia as being one of the best holiday destinations in the world.

The Gambia is such a colourful country and it is known as 'the smiling coast' to those in the know. The music is wonderfully rich and almost everywhere you go you can hear African local drums, the djembe drum, playing in the distance. For many years, however, it has been set back by an ongoing problem; that of 'bumsters'. Bumsters are local people (mainly young men) who prey on the ignorance and good-naturedness of tourists to extract money from them and it is often fuelled by the need to obtain drugs or alcohol. I've travelled to many countries in the world but I have never seen tourists hassled so much and so intensely as I have witnessed in The Gambia. It is a problem with its roots buried in the social structure of the country and it is a problem that will not easily be removed.

That aside, however, it is still a great place to travel to and the following advice should make the average tourist more resilient to the ways of the bumster.

You are particularly vulnerable to scams in the first few days of your holiday, when your skin is untanned and the local bumsters know you are new in the country. As you develop a sun tan and an attitude and air of confidence, you will get less hassle from the small operators, but you are still very vulnerable to expensive scams and practised conmen.

Be particularly careful over the 'really nice stranger' scam, many will play a very long waiting game ( several years) to gain your confidence before attempting to take advantage of your generosity.

They will use letters, send cards, make phone calls and use emails and faxes, they will use friendship, concern, love and sex and they will do whatever it takes to maintain a relationship with you with a view to extracting money from you. DO NOT give out your email address unless you want to be faced with many months of persistent approaches.

Sometimes a local will approach you and say “It’s me, Lamin, the gardener from your hotel” – They know that Europeans will do almost anything to risk offending someone but you have to be savvy to this approach. A great tip here is to say “ah yes, Lamin, didn’t I lend you fifty Dalasis yesterday? Where is my money?” You will receive a very curious look followed by a swift departure!

It is very difficult to sort out the genuine people from those who make a living at this.

Devotion to the daily religious practises of Islam is most definitely not a guaranteed sign of honesty, but some will use this as a subtle way of convincing you that they are genuine. Some of course are genuine, which makes it even harder.

The best advice, however, is to quickly learn to say “NO”!

About the Author

About the Author: Mike is the owner and webmaster of an West African Culture business where you can find African Wood Carvings and Fair Trade Ethnic musical instruments

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