Remo 14″ Fiberskyn
Sweetwater, USA
Has the half-moon cutout.
See this drum →What to look for
- Size12 to 15 inches. For daily practice, no more than 14 inches.
- A grip cutout in the frameMake sure the drum you order has one, and not a thumb hole, which will not work for the advanced techniques. Makers use different names for it: Cooperman say arch grip, Remo say half-moon cutout. Both mean the same thing, and either is what you want.
- SkinFiber, goat or calf. Fiber holds its tuning through humidity. Natural skin reacts to it.
Where to buy
To start on
Cheap, simple drums that get you playing.
Remo 12″
Thomann
Has the half-moon cutout.
See this drum →Remo 12″ Renaissance
TamTam, Spain
See this drum →Medium level
Sala Muzik FTB-440
Turkey · fiber · tunable · 40 cm
Ask about the depth of the cutout before you buy: what is the narrowest width of the frame at the grip?See this drum →Professional
Built to order, and they take time to arrive, so order early.
Zelazek
Poland · natural skin
One of the two I trust for natural skin.
Say you are my student.See their upright drums →David Roman
Berlin · natural skin
The other one I trust.
Visit the maker →Cooperman
USA · fiber
Their Velez series is built around the arch grip.
Say you are my student.See the drums for my group →DoubleYou
Poland · fiber
Say you are my student and ask for my preferred models, with the arch grip.See their upright drums →Pagonis
Greece
Makes them too. I have never played his drums, so this is not a recommendation.
Visit the maker →I have refused to accept commissions on my students’ drum purchases. Every maker listed here is one I believe is worth considering, with any limits stated plainly.