Timbal - Purchase advice

Tips and information to keep in mind when buying a timbal: size, material, rim... All you should know before buy your instrument.


Which size?

Timbals are available in various sizes,- in order to find out which timbal is the right one for you, you should regard following aspects:

• If you are mainly interested in achieving a strong bass sound, you should choose a timbal with a diameter of 13" or 14". The timbal typical strong opens and slaps are also easier to achieve with a larger diameter.
• We therefore recommend to choose your timbal as large as possible!
• A height of 70cm is suitable for a person up to 1,68m, if you are larger than 1,78m you should get a timbal with 90cm height, - 80 or 85cm is a good inbetween.
• You should also consider in which position you want to play your timbal, - at the height of your hips or rather lower.

Wood or aluminium?

Decision criteria are weight, sound and visual appearance.

• the weights differ depending on the manufacturers, but in general one can say: aluminium timbals weigh less than wooden timbals, but nevertheless are able to sustain the impacts created by extremely high tuning.
• the sound of aluminium timbals is sharp and rather dirty. Wooden timbals have softer overtones and less sustain.
• aluminium timbals always have a polished, shiny finishing.
• wooden timbals are offered in various colors with a shiny or matt surface.

Which rim?

The most timbals are equiped with a rounded comfort rim. With a good playing technique you will also get along with a simple rounded 4-6mm iron ring, which on the other hand is not applicable for higher tuning.