Remo Samba Choro Pandeiro with Brass Jingles Goat Brown 10 In x 1.78 In

Fast shipping. The instrument itself seems well made. I'm a beginner so I'm not sure how to rate the instrument overall. It seems to be a good instrument to start with, it feels a bit heave though. I like the fact that is synthetic with a more natural sound than nylon heads.

Each Pandeiro has its own different sound, there is not a certain way a Pandeiro should sound. Whether you like one or the other is a matter of personal preference. This one has a wonderful skin that gives a powerful low tone free of unwanted overtones. The pitch is very easy to bend while playing, and it can be bent a lot. It is very expressive. The skin is rough to the touch at first, but it softens very quickly and then you may like the feature because the right hand won't slide while stroking. The jingles (or "pratinelas") are neither too loud nor too bright, they sound rich but contained. The overall sound of this Pandeiro is beautiful, elegant, and authentically brazilian. Because of the low tone of the skin and the contained sound of the jingles, this Pandeiro fits best in a comping role where it provides more basic grooves than ornaments. When its time to solo arrives it will surprise with its consistent an expressive pitch bending, but the jingles will never sound sizzling bright. If you want bright jingles, you can get the same Pandeiro with chrome jingles. I haven't heard that one. (I have several pandeiros with different sounds, and this one complements very well my collection.) The weight is 540 grams, a little bit on the heavy side, but not too heavy to disqualify it. The quality of the construction is excellent. A wonderful instrument, expensive but well worth it.