Replacing pandeiro head

[ElMosca]

Greetings to the Orchestral, Ethnic & World community.

I have owned an (entry-level) 12" RMV pandeiro for several years and am currently dissatisfied with its sound. The "jingles" sound nice and dry, but the sound of the head is a bit off.

I am thinking of swapping the synthetic head for a new one, maybe a natural skin one. Can I use a regular drum kit head (i.e., a tom-tom head) on it? I would really hate to (special) order anything from overseas, because I want to keep the price down.

Thanks in advance for your advice,
++aldo

[Johnny Favorite]

Brazilian pandeiro?

[ElMosca]

Originally Posted by Johnny Favorite

Brazilian pandeiro?

Yes, thanks for the bump. (Is there another kind of pandeiro?) (can I use a remo head?)

[Johnny Favorite]

Sorry, don`t know if there`s any other kind, just wanted you to know that these are cheap instruments. I mean, not that it matters, you can see samba schools and pros playing the same cheap RMVs, what I`m trying to say is that I doubt you could do worse than with the regular skin. If you don`t find one that fits or sounds good, PM me, I can see if I find a new skin around here.

[ElMosca]

Originally Posted by Johnny Favorite

Sorry, don`t know if there`s any other kind, just wanted you to know that these are cheap instruments. I mean, not that it matters, you can see samba schools and pros playing the same cheap RMVs, what I`m trying to say is that I doubt you could do worse than with the regular skin. If you don`t find one that fits or sounds good, PM me, I can see if I find a new skin around here.

I see what you're saying. I guess I'm asking for too much, because I'm tuning the stock head waaaaay down, in order to get close to the "Marcos Suzano" sound, but the tuners fall out before I can get that low.

Obviously, Suzano is using hide heads and I'm not, so I had the crazy idea of getting some fiberskyn (or however it's spelled) head from a tom onto this puppy. But, yes, these are cheap instruments, so I am prepared to pay more for the head than I paid for the entire instrument when I bought it (US $45, IIRC).

Thanks for replying.

Cheers,
++aldo

[Johnny Favorite]

I`ve seen Suzano a couple times, he uses leather heads.

[saciestudio]

Positively not gonna have leather sound off plastic heads. The samba school pandeiro sound has mostly "jingle" (the brazilian name is "platinela"). The leather is used more as a emulated drumkit where you get the platinelas as hihats and the fingertips as kick and snare.

Guess pandeiro is originally Arab/African. It figures in the Bible!

From wikipedia.pt translated in babelfish

History of the pandeiro Since the neolithic period that the instrument sufficiently is known and popular in Asia, Africa and Europe, having however the possibility of already existing in the paleolithic period. In all the great civilizations of the past, of Increasing the Fertile one to the Egipto, passing for Greece and Rome, the pandeiro especially appears represented with vulgarity in return of the Mediterranean. Its use remained until a actualidade in the majority of the regions of the world arriving to reach orchestras, in the execution of the Precious opera, of Weber. In Portugal it is known as pandeiro, pandeireta (smallest) or adufe. In Brazil, when I cry it appeared it, in the end of the passed century, the pandeiro lode to give the final touch to the marcante and brejeiro rhythm, initially executed to the piano and instruments of rope and blow. Of beginning, the pandeiros were manufactured of simple form, without select technician. Today, some manufacturers if perform with care its confection, using membrane of goat skin to obtain themselves, in the pandeiro, the serious sounds of the deaf person and platinelas of noble metals to reach a shining and necessary sound. The used pandeiros more have diameter of 10 counts, however they also exist with diameter of 10.5, 11 and 12 counts. As the size of the hoop, the number of platinelas varies of 5 the 10 pairs. Pandeiristas exists for all the rincões of Brazil, either acting in sets of cries and of samba, in orchestras, and until that simply they load its pandeiro where wants that they go, touching in musical meetings. In the history of the MPB, the illustrious pandeiristas have been many. In the Brazilian Carnival the instrument is very used. The pandeirista many times plays the instrument while a sambista dance in its front. Also revolving acrobatics with the pandeiro are seen.

[ElMosca]

Originally Posted by saciestudio

Positively not gonna have leather sound off plastic heads. The samba school pandeiro sound has mostly "jingle" (the brazilian name is "platinela"). The leather is used more as a emulated drumkit where you get the platinelas as hihats and the fingertips as kick and snare.

Right. That's the sound I'm after....

..its confection, using membrane of goat skin to obtain themselves, in the pandeiro, the serious sounds of the deaf person and platinelas of noble metals to reach a shining and necessary sound. ...

I love Babelfish. "The serious sounds of the deaf person" meaning "the deep sounds of the surdo drum."

Anyway, thanks for your input. I should just get an tom head and experiment, if I want to improve on my cheapie, right?

Cheers,
++aldo

[saciestudio]

"I cry" for "choro music" s*cks too, but translating by myself would be too much work for an old thread. Happy that you read the reply.

Don´t know about ton heads....if not expensive, try it, just don´t expect to sound as leather...

[harbinger]

I'd send an email to the guy who runs pandeiro.com and ask for advice.

As for plastic heads, the cooperman pandeiros are offered with a cloth covered mylar head that can come close to the low tuned suzano thick hide skin sound, especially if you dope the back up with some tape, but it's not the same.

Pandeiros aren't that expensive. If I were you I'd just try to get one off of ebay. Or shell out the bucks for the real deal mailed right to you: Pandeiro.com :: Shop

expensive, but worth it. I love the pandeiro.

[harbinger]

Originally Posted by ElMosca

I see what you're saying. I guess I'm asking for too much, because I'm tuning the stock head waaaaay down, in order to get close to the "Marcos Suzano" sound, but the tuners fall out before I can get that low.

Try putting a buttload of masking tape on the back.

[ElMosca]

Originally Posted by harbinger

Try putting a buttload of masking tape on the back.

Thanks, that's great advice (and thanks for the pandeiro.com link, also).

Cheers,
++aldo