buying a djembe - wood/skin or fiberglass/synthetic?

first off, i'm not sure if this belongs here, but i looked around the forums for another place for it, and the music forum doesn't seem right (there is only talk about listening to music not playing it)

i'm going to buy a djembe soon and i'm debating whether i should get a traditional wooden rope-tuned djembe with a skin surface or a fiberglass key-tuned djembe with a synthetic surface. some people might think this is a moronic question, since traditional is usually better, but i have to take into account a few things:

1. i travel a lot and want to bring the drum with me everywhere. i know wooden djembes are hardy and i take care of my instruments but i also use them HARD. a fellow i used to go with had a wooden djembe and when he came from the south to the north the skin snapped and he had to wait ages to get it fixed.

2. i live in the booniest of boonies, and were the wood to crack or the skin to snap on the drum i would have no way of getting it fixed for a very long time. this would simply be a drag

3. i have very little money, and am saving for the drum, but i am not sure how much i will have left over to fix it if it has problems. some would argue that like a pet i shouldn't get a drum if i can't take care of it- and that's true- but let's say i would like a golden retriever instead of a pug- because they are less prone to illness.

i think i've stopped making sense, so... any input?

 

synthetic would be good in your case - very easy to tune and temperature isn't an issue like with animal skin. you're either sacrificing feel or reliability, although i think the higher end traditional drums can hold up well. the booniest of boonies may call for the more practical solution

 

i would say get a djembe that is wood/skin.. that is key tuned instead of rope

 

I was playing with a Djembe Player in the SF Bay Area. He used synthetic one for the simplw fact that in this area the weather changes drastically and rapidly. For synthetic you only have to turn a key to adjust. For skin you use a blowdryer. If you are plannin on playing outside and on a camping trip type situation I think synthetic is your best option.
Peace Out,
Rev J

 

thanks everybody for your input!

i can't wait to get mine... i just want to make sure i'm getting the right one

 

I always liked the sound of wooden ones better, but the feel of synthetic ones...sounds very cheesy, but just like the magic wands in Harry Potter, the djembe must pick you.