Motherland MusicDrum Service&Repair

Motherland Music specializes in West African drum repair including talking drums, djembe, doundoun, peg drums, bata, doumbek and many other types of world percussion instruments. If you have a drum with a broken skin head we will be happy to give you a quote on fixing it.We have a full service workshop with a knowledgeable and helpful staff of drum mechanics. We will help you access the full potential of your musical instrument and give you options on what repairs or improvements will be best for your budget. We look at the structural integrity of your drum, wood density and thickness, the cut of the body and shape of the edges, ring size and fit, and the tuning qualities. We strive to personalize each job we do by giving your drum a special sound in tune with the music it was made to play.

If you can bring or send your drum to our workshop in Culver City, CA, we guarantee we will fix it and make it sound better than ever. We are able to fix cracks or replace whole sections of a wood drum body, fix or replace tuning systems, carve wood shells to a smooth and even thickness and help you determine what thickness and type of skin will produce the sound you want. In effect we don't just repair drums; we remanufacture them.

For the last ten years we have helped local professional and amateur musicians in the Los Angeles metro area maintain and make improvements to their drums. We have a reputation of high quality workmanship at reasonable rates and fast turn around time.

The following is a rate chart for the most common drums we work on and a basic breakdown of the work we can do.

Djembe

Djembe - The authentic African djembe is a very unique drum and has an amazing range of sounds. Because of this it has become the most popular hand drum in the world. Soon it will be the most widely used hand drum, surpassing the conga. To imitate the traditional language, the djembe was developed with a high-tension tuning and wide tonal range. There are certain aspects of its construction that are required to achieve an authentic sound and a well working drum. Many djembes have been manufactured in the last ten years for the world commercial market--not all of them skillfully crafted musical instruments capable of producing decent sounds. However, most of the ones lacking certain fine points in their construction can be reworked into very respectable drums. It is Motherland Music's duty and goal to help in fine-tuning and remanufacturing all drums into higher quality instruments.Every African djembe is unique. The prices are based on an average size and typically constructed drum. There are always exceptions and your drum will have to be inspected by our mechanics for a final repair quote. 

1. Basic repair:
2. Replace skin&tune djembe .............  75.00 - 100.00
3. This includes old skin removal and replacement, reshaping of rings, minor edge truing, minor wood repairing, initial and secondary tuning of skin. Price varies with drum size and tuning system.
4. Cutting, resizing and custom fitting of existing rings  .......   20.00 for two top rings.......   10.00 bottom ring                   
5. Fixing cracks in wood shell ...............   10.00and up
6. Cutting top, bottom or both edges so drum stands level and plumb ........... 5.00 bottom .... 15.00 top
7. Replace rope on rings ......... 20.00 one ring, 30.00 both ......... with cloth replacement........  25.00&35.00
8. Tension rope replacement ..................   30.00  
9. Tension&ring rope replacement ................  50.00 ..........  with ring cloth........ 55.00
10. Tuning ............  pull diamonds  5.00,    pull up&downs 30.00
11. Ring replacement ...............  custom fitted  10.00 .........   general size ring  8.00 

Conga/Peg Drum

Conga - This Cuban style drum has been the most popular hand drum in the U.S.A. for the last sixty years. There are many in circulation with varying shell designs and tuning systems. The conga is usually made with staves; strips of wood cut and shaped to fit together to make a tall, wide belly drum. It also usually has metal tuning hardware attached to the side of the drum. The most common repairs with the congas are cracks in the shell from mishandlingand loss of metal hoops, and head replacement.

Motherland Music Repair Shop is able to rebuild the most dilapidated conga into a good working instrument or tweak and fine-tune ones in better shape to bring out their best qualities. We import our cowhides from Cuba and Africa and carefully select the one that will best suit your drum.  

1. Skin replacement&tuning ................  75.00   Includes rim and ring adjustment, edge cleaning&smoothing, hook and nut oiling, general   inspection and recommendation of any drum maintenance and improvements.      
2. Repairing cracks .................  Varies depending on amount and sizes ........... 10.00 and up.
3. Refinishing of wood ...............100.00 to 200.00, Varies depending on type and finish of drum; includes   removal of all hardware, sanding, oiling and, clear coat finish and putting drum back together.
4. Rim replacement, Motherland type ....................   45.00
5. Ring replacement  .................  8.00
6. Hook replacement, Motherland type .............  4.00    
7. Lug replacement,  Motherland type .............  8.00 hoop replacement ........ 30.00

Peg Drum Repair.... Most drums from Ghana and sabars from Senegal ..................  80.00

Includes removal and replacement of skin, adjustment of flesh hoop, minor edge work, tuning 

Other options are:

1. Peg replacement ........  Sabars and large Ghana drums 4.00/each,  small Ghana drum    2.00/each.
2. Rope replacement ..............   15.00

MOTHERLAND MUSIC2921 La Cienega BlvdCulver City, CA 90232 (310)838-5008