darbuka.orgby Ibi Malik

Reading a Darbuka Listing: Sizes, Specs and Model Names

What a listing means by head size, Erzincan engraving, Vinlex and hand-hammered — and how to read model names and grades.

10 questions answered

BUY-094 When a listing says “17-inch darbuka,” is that the head size? #

No — and this catches people out constantly. On Egyptian drums that inch figure is almost always the drum’s height. A “17-inch” or “17.5-inch” classic Egyptian drum has a head of about 8.75 inches (22 cm), and an 18.5-inch sombaty takes about a 9-inch head. Darbuka Planet says a 17-inch-tall Turkish drum takes about an 8.62-inch head, and a Turkish drum of 16 inches or shorter takes about 8 inches. Always find the separate head-diameter figure before you buy.

BUY-095 How do I measure my drum so I order the right replacement head? #

Take the old head off and measure the inner diameter of its metal hoop — the ring at the bottom. You can’t do it accurately with the head still on the drum, so don’t try. Darbuka Planet’s common sizes are 8.75" for classic and New Generation Egyptian drums, 9" for sombaty, about 10.25–10.5" for doholla, and 8–8.62" for Turkish drums. Amazon buyers have reported heads arriving “too small” for their drum, so never assume one brand’s head will fit another brand’s shell.

BUY-096 What does “Erzincan” engraving mean on a Turkish darbuka? #

It’s a traditional Turkish hand-engraving style, named after the Erzincan region and applied to copper and aluminium shells. Sellers credit the style’s popularity to an engraver known as “Crazy Fiko,” who died in 2013. It’s decoration: it adds cost and beauty, not sound. One way to tell the real thing is that hand engraving varies from drum to drum, while a machine-stamped pattern is perfectly uniform.

BUY-097 What’s a vinyl, leatherette, or “Vinlex”-covered darbuka? #

A metal drum — usually aluminium — wrapped in a leatherette or vinyl-type covering. Meinl’s black HE-3000 and Agean’s Vinlex models are the examples you’ll see. Sellers say the covering protects the shell from scratches and oxidation, gives you better grip, and damps the ring slightly for a warmer, less piercing tone. Those sound claims come from retailers, and the effect is modest. Treat it as a practical, good-looking finish.

BUY-098 What does “hand-hammered” mean, and is it better than cast? #

A hand-hammered drum is shaped or finished from sheet metal by hammering, and you can see the hammer marks on the surface. It’s common on the lighter Turkish drums. A cast drum is poured into a mould, so it’s heavier and thicker — the typical Egyptian build. On Musiker-Board, one player’s advice was that among cheap drums a hand-hammered one usually beats a machine-pressed one. But hammered and cast are two different builds, not two rungs on a ladder. Neither is better overall.

BUY-099 What are Gawharet El Fan’s Sombaty, New Generation and Innovation models? #

They’re model families, not finishes. The retailer Arab Instruments describes them like this:

  • Sombaty: about 18.5 inches tall and just under 13 lb, aimed at vocal accompaniment.
  • New Generation: about an inch smaller and 3 lb lighter, with a crisper tone for studio work.
  • Innovation: the smallest, under 17 inches and under 9 lb, with bright, cutting projection for live and outdoor gigs.

Each family then comes in a long list of finishes.

BUY-100 What is Gawharet El Fan “Export Grade”? #

It’s Gawharet El Fan’s top line. The maker says these drums are made in Cairo, hand-selected, and built only by master craftsmen with at least 10 years’ experience, and that Export Grade models are clearly marked on the product page. They’re sold through official channels only: the website, the Nasr City store in Cairo, and Virgin Megastores in Egypt. So an “Export Grade” drum from a random marketplace seller deserves a hard look.

BUY-101 Who are Gawharet El Fan’s authorized resellers? #

Its official reseller page lists these:

  • the official website
  • a flagship store in Nasr City, Cairo
  • Virgin Megastores in North Africa
  • Zuhal Müzik (Turkey)
  • Sala Muzik (USA)
  • Nile Rhythms (UK)
  • Philippos Nakas (Greece)
  • African Drumming (Australia)
  • Koizumigakki (Japan)
  • Delaram (Iran)
  • shops in Slovakia, Cyprus, Hungary and China

The list changes, so check it yourself before you buy. A shop that isn’t on it may still be selling genuine drums — it just can’t give you the maker’s guarantee.

BUY-102 What normally comes in the box with a new darbuka? #

At the very least, the tuning key — Meinl, for instance, puts one in with every darbuka. Many Egyptian drums also come with a padded bag and a spare synthetic head; that’s common with Gawharet El Fan, the Mid-East Alexandria, Masterwork and Kırmızıgül. When you’re comparing prices, compare what’s in the box too, because a bag, a spare head and a key are worth roughly $70–$150.

BUY-103 Do Meinl darbukas come with a warranty? #

Meinl’s darbuka listings on Amazon advertise a 2-year warranty. The specialist Egyptian and Turkish workshops vary, and plenty of them give you nothing beyond the retailer’s return window. Ask about warranty and transit-damage cover before you pay, and ask twice on an import.