Schalloch Aluminum Darbuka Review

Recently I was testing out my new Schalloch aluminum darbuka with a guitar-playing friend, who was playing an acoustic guitar instead of his Fender. It wasn't long before he switched to his electric guitar; neither of us could hear him over my little $50 hand drum!

This particular darbuka has an 8"-diameter head, with a clear blue Mylar skin that looks nice and feels strong and, unlike the natural skins often used on darbukas, is pretty much impervious to temperature or humidity changes and won't lose its tune. Similarly the aluminum body will not shatter, unlike the more common ceramic drums. Basically this darbuka is a hassle-free drum that's perfect for a busy performer or amateur who doesn't want to fiddle with tuning any more than necessary.

As my little story highlights, the tone and volume from this darbuka is substantial. The bass notes are boomy and strong, providing the foundational low end for solo or group performance. Rim hits resonate high and crisp, and slap notes cut through pretty much anything else that's going on sonically. I was surprised at the quality of the darbuka's sound and its versatility; played well, it can provide a solid rhythmic base for a variety of musical styles, or it can be used as an exotic complement to a standard drum kit.

A few minor issues with the drum were noticeable. The aluminum body, while sturdy, is on the thin side and might be dented if dropped from even a small height. While in overall good shape, my darbuka arrived with a few small dents and scratches. While it holds its tune, even under heavy playing, getting it tuned enough that rim hits don't sound slightly dissonant can take some time and effort.

But no $50 instrument is going to be perfect, and really, few are going to be a better value than the Schalloch aluminum darbuka. It's a worthwhile investment for a professional drummer or a casual player just looking to jam.