Repairs

Wooden Roots has a full djembe repair workshop and we can bring your djembe back to life but depending on the circumstances there could be limitations to this. We get many many emails on people asking us to repair their djembes or dunun with an expectation that it will sound like one of ours. We would like you to read through these questions before getting in touch.

How old is your drum?

If your djembe is over 5 years old and you have not played it for many years, then chances are that the skin and rope are no longer re-usable to our standards. Unless we can physically inspect and see the drum (photos do not pick up lots of issues) we will quote you for a new skin, new rope and labour.

Does tuning your drum make no difference with the sound or you are not getting what you expect?

If you keep turning your drum and it makes no difference to the sound, it could be that the rings are too big and the skin is simply “slipping” and the entire system is not working properly. We can attempt to re-size the existing rings or we will replace the rings with high quality stainless steel and most likely change the rope to ensure that the tension is kept on the drum and the tuning system can work correctly.

Why do we need to change the rope?

Repairing a djembe is very labour intensive and if we are unable to guarantee the rope it could and does regularly snap during repair when it is not up to standard. Wooden Roots rope is a highly calibrated recipe that has been formulated over the last 15 years and is what we use on all of our custom build djembes. We know it can handle the high tensioning needed to be able to support top quality, well respected djembes.

Does your drum not sound the way you remember?

There are many factors that lead to this. Lack of playing your drum, a split in the skin, the tuning system not working or cracks in the wood. We can overhaul your drum and change all the components and fill the cracks in the wood but unless it is of ultimate sentimental value this can be costly. Often times it’s better to come into our shop and find that you can buy a brand new drum for the price of repairing your old one. We are not suggesting that you throw your old drum away but that you share it with a friend or family member that is just starting out on their drum journey or you keep it as an ornament and enjoy the memories. Of course if you still wish to repair your priceless instrument then you should expect to pay modern day and current market prices associated with the repair.

Should I be looking to upgrade?

A djembe is an instrument that you should enjoy playing like any other instrument. Whilst it unfortunately does not have the same commercial value as a Western instrument it should certainly be treated as such in our eyes. We have djembes in stock to suit all playing levels and all budgets and perhaps its time for you to upgrade your djembe and have it help you take your skills to the next level.

Is this a chance to change my drum completely? Ask yourself what are you looking for in the repair?

Have your skills changed? Are you looking for a particular sound? Are you looking for more comfort when playing? Is the bearing edge hurting your hands when you play? Are you looking for a height adjustment or a rubber foot to prevent your drum slipping on

How long will it take to repair my drum?

Most repairs take approximately THREE weeks from receiving the drum, which can either be dropped off in person or shipped to us. Rest assured that as soon as it’s finished we will get it back to you so that you can get back to playing it.

Why does it cost so much to repair?

If the drum came from us originally we know that all of the components are good and basic repair will cost £225.00. Typically the drums that we get in for repair do not come with the same quality or better components. The materials are cheaper in quality therefore cannot withstand a re-heading that we can guarantee the workmanship of. For example, if the rope needs to be changed on your drum the cost would be approx £35.00 for the vertical rope and £15.00 for cradle rope plus the labour to install it on top of the cost of repair.

Wooden Roots operates as a Limited Company from registered & insured premises. We offer a guarantee on all work done as well as being able to provide you with a full invoice breakdown of all parts and labour assigned to your build. We do not undercut or compromise any of our materials, quality or services in order to make the price cheaper. Typically once your djembe is repaired by us and components have been changed, future re-headings will cost less and so will act as an investment in your instrument.

WHAT NEXT?

Give us a call. Let’s chat it over and see what makes the best sense for your situation. Photos and pictures are great as a guide but we will ultimately need to physically see the drum to provide you with an accurate quote and estimates remain just that until we can validate the required repairs.