Frames made out of wood, steel, aluminium or plastic?
-wooden frames are perfect for Pagode ensembles or all who do not want to tune their Tamborim too high, because these frames are not sturdy enough for high tuning. The advantage of wooden Tamborims is their light weight and warm sound.
-steelplate frames are suitable for high tuning, their weight is moderate. They have a kind of ringing sound since the thin frames tend to resonate.
- alunimium frames are, - if thick enough, suited best for Batucadas. They sound very dry but weigh a little bit more than Tamborims with wooden frames.
- frames made out of ABS or other synthetic materials are perfect for beginners who don't want to spend too much money. They are low priced because the manufacturers use the cheapest frame together with very simple hooks etc.
how many tuning hooks?
A good Tamborim actually does not need more than 6 hooks to be tuned well. More important is the position of the hand that holds the instrument: if you hold it from the outside with both thumb and little finger the gap between the hooks must fit to the size of your hand.
If you hold it only with your thumb outside of the frame the position or amount of hooks has no importance.
how important is the weight?
It is very difficult to build a sturdy Tamborim that is suitable for high tuning and not too heavy. You will always have to make a compromise between weight and sturdiness. A heavier Tamborim with a thick frame sounds better, but especially beginners want to play a light weighted instrument. So if you want to play the turning technique on a high tuned instrument you should not care about a few grams more or less! If your playing technique is good the weight is not important.
how high should the frame be?
In Brazil high frames are favoured, whereas Europeans prefer low frames. If you have small hands and would also like to play Tamborim figures with your fingertips on the inside of the head, then you should choose a low framed instrument.
Which head?
The normal synthetic head is good enough for everyday playing. Goatskin heads sound nice in Pagodes, holographic heads are nice to show off but sound dull and tear very easily!
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