Hi all. I purchased a set of new dms-bina tablas from a friend of mine who is a distributor. He had them shipped by boat and I got to take a look at them immediately out of the crate, so this is how they would appear if you ordered directly.
As far as looks both pieces are really nicely made and have no finish flaws, the copper stamp design is nice. The tabla is made of very dark sheesham, much heavier than any of the tablas I have played at school. The head is nice and even, and there was already a string in place in the inner edge. The top of the shell was well rounded and the head seats perfectly. There is one small braid that seems too lose but oh well. The only problem I noticed was that one spot on the head is consistently flat, and I figured it might be the head tension but it's actually because the gatta are mismatched and some are much smaller, which I never noticed till today. Seems like a rush job. .
Now the tabla head was nice and tight for the first week or so, but of course it slipped a lot and I had to eventually add 2 more straps for a total of three per gatta, to get to C tuning. Same with the bayan, I had to add 4 dowels to get to a decent tension. Very clear na/ta with at least 10-12 seconds of sustain, and it has fairly good projection. The bayan sounds good but not as good as I thought it would, I just re tightened it and it's much better and the feel is ok.
It's been about 4 months since and I've been playing almost daily and maybe 4 times per week at the least, and they're definitely breaking in well but it's cooling down and I cannot raise the pitch any further because there is not enough tension in both drums. So right now I am removing the slack, got the bayan done and sounds much better but the tabla I'm only half way through, it's really a tough job (with bare hands).
I would say it was a decent deal ($400, with cheap case and rings) for their best set even though they cut a few corners, though I would probably custom order them from someone else if I could do it over again.
[quote]swansong (Sep 22, 2003 12:17 a.m.):
< He had them shipped by boat and I got to take a look at them immediately out of the crate, so this is how they would appear if you ordered directly.>
IMHO - Never have tablas - or any musical instrument shipped overseas by boat! You're lucky they're in one piece. Nine times out of ten if the insects don't get them the mold will. Sealed packaging will keep the insects and moisture out but keeps the heat in and hasten the growth rate of mold and likely split the shell.
<The top of the shell was well rounded and the head seats perfectly.>
Who told you that a well-rounded head was preferable?
<. . the gatta are mismatched and some are much smaller, which I never noticed till today. Seems like a rush job. .>
For $400. the least you could expect are matched gatta
<. . . I would probably custom order them from someone else if I could do it over again.>
Thanks for taking the time to give us your assessment. Always ask about the return policy. Still, the best policy is if you have any doubts whatsoever don't give anyone your money until you've seen what you're getting. There are way too many junk instruments being sold for four to five times thier worth if they're worth anything at all.
Aanaddha
" Who told you that a well-rounded head was preferable?"
Well I don't know about you but I've never seen an oval or other shaped drum head, and I prefer mine circular anyway. .
"For $400. the least you could expect are matched gatta"
Well I was just starting and I was so focused on the actual sound and feel (everyone's advice) that I neglected the cosmetics, though that may have just been naivete. It's not like the guy I bought them from was trying to cheat me, he just received the shipment and we looked at them for the first time together. BTW- he ordered about 10 sets with cases, which could only be shipped by boat. I would opt for air myself, I totally agree about avoiding the harsh conditions.
"Thanks for taking the time to give us your assessment. Always ask about the return policy. Still, the best policy is if you have any doubts whatsoever don't give anyone your money until you've seen what you're getting. There are way too many junk instruments being sold for four to five times thier worth if they're worth anything at all.
Aanaddha[/quote]"
. .Others please take a minute and review your instruments and/or describe your experiences with any vendor, we need to publicize these things to keep each other from getting ripped off. . You do get what you pay for usually, but in this type of blind transaction many people will not hesitate to take advantage of you. Do as much research as you can before trusting anybody, this forum is full of useful information and useful links. .
[quote]swansong (Sep 22, 2003 02:52 p.m.):
" Who told you that a well-rounded head was preferable?" . . .Well I don't know about you but I've never seen an oval or other shaped drum head, and I prefer mine circular anyway. . ">
YES, the head itself should be PERFECTLY-circular or PERFECTLY-rounded. .I thought you meant the shape of the chat was rounded off at the lip towards the gajara. .
". .OTHERS PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE AND REVIEW YOUR INSTRUMENTS AND/OR DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH ANY VENDOR, WE NEED TO PUBLICIZE THESE THINGS TO KEEP EACH OTHER FROM GETTING RIPPED OFF. . YOU DO GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR USUALLY, BUT IN THIS TYPE OF BLIND TRANSACTION MANY PEOPLE WILL NOT HESITATE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU. DO AS MUCH RESEARCH AS YOU CAN BEFORE TRUSTING ANYBODY, THIS FORUM IS FULL OF USEFUL INFORMATION AND USEFUL LINKS. ."
