Djembe Repair: Replacing broken head, restoring, and demo!

This is a djembe restoration project recently completed that I wanted to share!
I found this djembe on my local classifieds being given away! The original owner figured if the skin was toast then the drum was worthless. Let’s see if it’s truly lost, shall we?
Acknowledgements:
Huge shoutout to Nick Zwack of World Wide Drums! His videos were tremendously helpful in learning how to replace a skin, tuning tips, and other practical help when doing the Mali Weave. What an amazing resource. Go check out his channel! 👉 / @wwdrums
RUclips user maximbrekht for his video “djembe skin twist”. This was a very elegant and simple solution to skin overhang, and really worked out great! Thank you for making your video!
Big thank you for my brother, Eric, for helping me set up microphones to record the djembe, and also for mixing the final product for the sound demo.
Also, huge thank you to David & Joachim for their help on the final jam at the end of the video! That was fun!
Last but not least, thank you to all the featured artists for their free contribution to helping RUclips get great background music! Please check them out and support them!
All background music credits, with timestamps below:
Link to source: • No Copyright | Calm Ja...
Music with links:
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A Night Alone
Artist: TrackTribe | Track: A Night Alone
Download MP3 - support.google....
Jazz & Blues | Calm
TrackTribe playlist: www.youtube.co....
Almost A Year Ago
Provided to RUclips by RUclips Audio Library
Almost A Year Ago · John Deley and the 41 Players
Almost A Year Ago
℗ RUclips Audio Library
Released on: 2014-11-10
Bet On It
RUclips Creative Commons license.
Artist: Silent Partner | Track: Bet On It
Download MP3 - support.google....
Silent Partner playlist: www.youtube.co....
Jazz & Blues music playlist: www.youtube.co....
Calm music playlist: www.youtube.co....
Bluesy Vibes
Provided to RUclips by RUclips Audio Library
Bluesy Vibes · Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions
℗ RUclips Audio Library
Released on: 2014-11-10
Book Bag
RUclips Creative Commons license.
Artist: E's Jammy Jams | Track: Book Bag
Download MP3 - support.google....
E's Jammy Jams playlist: www.youtube.co....
Ersatz Bossa
Ersatz Bossa by John Deley and the 41 Players is part of the RUclips Audio Library (www.youtube.co....
Artists: John Deley (goo.gl/4AQvi8) and The 41 Players (goo.gl/v3NbFF)
George Street Shuffle
George Street Shuffle by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: incompetech.com....
Artist: incompetech.com/
Free Download: bit.ly/3ChqAwx
Home for the Holidays
Artist: TrackTribe | Track: Home for the Holidays
Download MP3 - support.google....
Jazz & Blues | Romantic
TrackTribe playlist: www.youtube.co....
Jazz & Blues music playlist: www.youtube.co....
Romantic music playlist: www.youtube.co....
Just As Soon
Just As Soon by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: incompetech.com....
Artist: incompetech.com/
Free Download: bit.ly/3tgp8q1
Long Stroll
Long Stroll by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: incompetech.com....
Artist: incompetech.com/
Free Download: bit.ly/3prxs4Y
Nighttime Stroll
Nighttime Stroll by E's Jammy Jams is part of the RUclips Audio Library www.youtube.co....
Artist: E's Jammy Jams - goo.gl/tuVmjd
Genre: Jazz & Blues - goo.gl/zB252s
Mood: Romantic - goo.gl/YgchnG
Soul and Mind
Provided to RUclips by RUclips Audio Library
Soul and Mind · E's Jammy Jams
℗ RUclips Audio Library
Released on: 2016-04-26
Auto-generated by RUclips.
The Night Falling
RUclips Creative Commons license.
The Night Falling by JR Tundra from RUclips Audio Library · bit.ly/32TUZyy
Together With You
Artist: JR Tundra | Track: Together With You
Download MP3 - support.google....
Jazz & Blues | Romantic
JR Tundra playlist: www.youtube.co....
Jazz & Blues music playlist: www.youtube.co....
Romantic music playlist: www.youtube.co....
With a Stamp
With a Stamp by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license
Artist: www.twinmusicom...
Free Download: bit.ly/3pqZv4y

[@GillianBrady-i8d]

Hey there! Thanks so much for your videos! Just wondering if it's possible to remove a skin, re-soak it and re-install it on the djembe? I got someone to replace the skin on my drum as I had little time before a flight & they didn't do the best job so I want to re-do it myself before I shave the hair and tune it, just wondering if that's possible or will it ruin the skin to re-soak it?

[@NuDrums]

Thanks for the comment! So glad you liked the video. The answer is yes! You can re-soak and repeat the process as many times as needed. I would apply a leather dressing though to keep the skin oiled and supple, as too many soaks can cause the skin to feel a little dry. Have a nice day! -Nolan

[@deidera5526]

What is the cost of the skin?

[@NuDrums]

This particular skin I pulled off a vintage drum head that I got with an old B&H Ajax set. A new calfskin can be purchased through online djembe or drum stores for around 20 USD. www.drumfactorydirect.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_92_102_161&products_id=324