I have a few tabors I rely on. I have one of the EMS mid east drums Renaissance
10 x 11. This is similiar to the one in Arbeau. This is a nice sounding drum,
but the rim is deeper than I would prefer making it a little hard to play. I
also have a custom made Cooperman. This drum has a slightly larger head, but is
far shallowerer. This drum did not have a snare on it. Both of these cost a
good deal more than what you are looking for. Lastly I have a little indian
made drum sold at Colonial Williamsburg as a childs toy. This drum is far
closer to what many modern playters are using. (My usual drums are monsters
compared to what I often see played). Now this little drum, which is about 20
USD, has no snares and no ears to tighten it. Both of these are readily
repaired. I simply slipped a piece of gut snare string under the rim. The
tension of the rim usually holds it pretty tight. It is twice the length it
needs to be, so it is folder over, making two snares, with enough excess that I
can pull it tightif it gets too slack. To tighten the tension of the drum, I
took a dowel of small diameter, and cut it into little lengths 2 inches each or
so. I then slid these into each of the rope "v"s, over one rope, under the
next, and then use it to twistthe ropes tighter.

This provides a surprisingly useful little drum and is far more traditional
than using a Native American or frame drum.

On the other hand, if you want a frame drum, I recall that Kelichek offers
one that he calls a tabor. It is, I think, in your price range.


Ron Carnegie


----- Original Message -----
From: Aaron Walden
To: tabor_n_pipe@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 8:12 PM
Subject: [tabor_n_pipe] tabor selection


I have a 12" E-M-S tabor, and it plays beautifully (I like the
resonance), but its diameter is just a little too large for me to use
comfortably.

I'm wondering what might be a good alternative in a smaller drum. I
want a shallow one and under about US$30. I can get a 9" version of
the same drum off of eBay for around $30. I'm debating between this
and perhaps a native American drum.

Any suggestions or experience to be proffered?

Aaron





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