Djembe Repair

Rhythm House Drums is well known for custom hand drums.  All the experience I have gained in building the drums from the ground up has lead me to a great understanding of what it takes to pull a specific sound out of any drum. There is no aspect of repairing a djembe that I have not explored.  From the shape of the bearing edge to the thickness of the skin, to the shape of the djembe, and the way a particular skin is mounted, down to the fit of the metal rings and stretch of the rope  I have been reheading and repairing djembes for over a decade and have customers from all over the US send me their djembes for repair.

Whether it be a crack in the shell, a split head, torn rope, a buzzing sound when you play, skin that’s slipping through the rings, or a bearing edge that hurts your hands, I’ve got the experience and materials to fix your drum and transform it into the djembe it was meant to be.

If you happen to be local to the Waynesboro or Charlottesville, VA area – come check out my shop.  I’ve got a nice selection of rope and skins and can show you in person what repairs I recommend and why.  If you aren’t so lucky to be with a few miles from me, you can feel comfortable knowing that I will take the best care of your drum while it is in my possession.  I’ll send photos of the areas I have concerns over and make suggestions as to what needs to be repaired in order to give your djembe the longest life and best sound going forward.  You only send payment once I have confirmed all repairs are made and your drum is ready to ship back.

If you feel I’d be a good fit to work on your djembe, here are a few things you might want to note before sending it in.

* Make sure to pack it in an appropriate sized box using plenty of padding.  I’ve had great success with FedEx, UPS, and USPS.  Make sure to get insurance on the package.  It doesn’t cost much extra.I have yet to file a claim for a drum damaged in shipping, but it could happen so get insured!I insure all packages I send back out.

* In the box, be sure to send your contact info, and note any repairs or problems you are having with the djembe.

* Keep in mind that I do a lot of repairs and can’t always ship it back out in a week.I normally ask for 2-3 weeks but can rush a job if needed.

* Please contact me before sending a drum my way.  I love getting random packages, but a heads up is always preferred.

Repair costs can vary depending on what needs to be fixed.  Typically I start a standard rehead at $85.00.  This includes a new skin and tuning.  A complete rebuild (New skin, rope, rings, bearing edge work and oiling the shell / minor crack repair) typically runs around $175.

Also keep in mind that I don’t repair ONLY djembes.  I also work on congas, ashiko, dunun, powwow drums, taiko, etc.  I’ve seen some unique drums in my years of doing this, and have the experience to bring your drum back to life!