The Complete Handbook of Frame Drums

I've been playing riq for twenty years, and honestly, this is the first reference that doesn't talk down to you or pad the word count. The chapter on head replacement alone is worth it — the step-by-step on heat-gun vs. soaking methods saved me from ruining a $200 goat head. I'm ordering a second copy for my percussion studio's reference shelf. This is a book that respects its subject.

Gave it three stars because the technical info is genuinely good, but the writing is, uh, dry as dust. The measuring and tuning tables were usable, but I felt like I was reading a maintenance manual for a commercial dishwasher. It does do what it promises — I fixed a buzzing on my daf after following the troubleshooting steps — but I wish there was a bit more musical context or even one photo. As a professional percussionist, I value substance over style, but a little style wouldn't hurt.

I bought this as a hobbyist, and it's honestly a bit much for me. The business chapter and the deep dive on shell resonance are useful background, but it's clearly written for someone running a shop or a repair bench, not a person who just wants to play at home. The glossary and FAQ were the most helpful parts for a beginner like me, but I skimmed a good half of the book. If you are a professional, this is for you; if you are a casual player, this is not.

As someone who runs the percussion department for a university music school, the business chapter alone justified the cover price. The margin estimates on wholesale vs. retail allowed me to negotiate my annual riq order much better, and the maintenance schedules have become our standard procedure for the rental fleet. Four stars because I wish the future trends chapter had a bit more depth, but I've already recommended this to two colleagues.

Great reference, but the PDF formatting note about ASCII characters applies — readers are lucky it's plain text, but honestly, a few more diagrams and photographs would have helped the tuning section. What it lacks in pictures it makes up for in precision. The comparison table of the single-headed drums (bendir, daf, tar) by shell depth and tensioning system is worth it. It's not a page-turner, but that's not why I bought it. For the information, it's a solid four stars.

I repair a lot of frame drums in my shop, and the troubleshooting chapter for shell warping has already saved me from having to return a whole batch of imported bendirs. The advice on humidity control and what actually causes cracking was spot on. I dock a star because I'd have liked more specific advice on sourcing replacement jingle material, which is harder to find than the book's 'contact your regional supplier' takes into account. Still, an excellent addition to my workbench.

For a handbook from a reference press, this is exactly what I needed. The definitions of 'bearing edge' and 'counterhoop' are actually world-standard, not the loose language you see on most retail sites, and it cleared up years of confusion about riq vs. tar. The tone is neutral and academic, but I do not mind that. It worked well as a textbook for my high school percussion elective. Four stars, not five, because the print edition is glue-bound and won't lay flat on my music stand. Annoying for a handbook.