Michael Pluznick » Instruments

Introducing the new MP Eco Pro 12″ and 13″ wood djembe drums

admin — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 05:14:49 +0000

After field testing and working closely with the Drum Factory and Ed Balma in Ubud, Bali for over a year we now have two new beautiful prototype MP Eco Pro wood djembe models ready for the market, a 12 " and a 13" (6ocm and 65cm) ! They will be distributed in the USA by X8. It's been a long and windy road bringing these drums to fruition but here they are. [...]

Coming Soon! Toca Stage Series Pro wood djembe. Review and long term test by Michael P

admin — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:07:55 +0000

On a recent trip to Ubud, Bali Indonesia to visit the Bali Treasures company, also known as the Drum Factory I was able to get my hands on the new Toca Stage Series Pro wood djembe for a long term test. This is the factory that makes them for the Toca in USA. Not only that, I was able to pick which drum I wanted to get! [...]

It’s not the drum it’s the drummer

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:16:38 +0000

It’s not the drum it’s the drummer!

What makes a drum have that special sound? Is it the wood? The place or country it is from? The goat skin or what the goat ate? Just what is it? About 10 years ago I was at a Mamady Keita workshop trying to pick out a djembe from a local seller there who was displaying his goods outside the workshop. I asked Mamady, what do you [...]

My Shekere (Sekere) I made in Micky Hart’s Museum

admin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:55:45 +0000

MIckey Hart of the Grateful Dead consigned me to make him the “ultimate” Sekere (aka Shekere). This one took me about two minths and 4,000 or so beads more or less. I also made one for Airto as well. These days I am not making too many Sekere’s as it takes up so much time to make one. This one travels in Micky Hart’s traveling African Museum. To learn how to play the [...]

My hand made Shekeres: Shekere Art by Michael Pluznick

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:43:49 +0000

http://www.myspace.com/rhythmsofbarab…

This is the shekere I was hired to create (make) for Mickey Hart formerly of the Grateful Dead. It took me hundreds of hours to complete this one and only! It now travels with Micky Harts traveling percussion museum.

Buying a new drum?

admin — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:29:32 +0000

People often ask me for tips about buying drums. Here’s some advice to give you a head start.

Great places to buy drums:

Drumskull Drums

Rhythm Traders

You can call Drumskull and ask them any question(s) you want about their drums. I have been dealing with them for 20 years and their drums are always spot on. It is really important to get a drum that is “rigged” right. Rigged means how it is [...]