Name: Schizolbium Parahybum (Falsa Balsa, Bacurubu).

Growing Region: Brazil and Mexico.

Availability: Available with FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) certification.

Weight/Hardness/Density: We didn’t find specific numbers, but this stuff is very light, open and not dense, which is what we expected from something called “falsa balsa”.

Cost: 30% less than Maple.

Comments: The tree grows to 130 feet in height. The leaves can grow to 6 feet in length, making it one of the largest compound leaves in the world.

Timbre/Tonal Color: Given the weight/density of this drum, it is surprisingly higher in pitch than our maple drum. Slightly “brittle” sounding. It has a focus on the mid and high frequency range, has a “muffled” sound to it, and is dry giving it a vintage vibe.

Dynamic Range : Consistent. No change in the character sound of the drum from pp (very soft) to ff (very loud) volume.

Tonal Range : The fundamental pitch is quite a bit higher than our maple drum. Plumajillo also has a HUGE sweetspot. This drum kept it’s character sound to with 1.5 inches of the hoop!

Tuning Range: Quite small, limited tuning range. It wouldn’t go as loose or as high as maple.

Resonance/Decay: Short principle note. Clean with little overring.

Cross Stick: Small area in which to get a good cross stick sound. The pitch is higher than maple. Stick selection made a big difference in cross stick sound. Light sticks yielded NO decent cross stick sound.

Volume: Slightly louder than maple on the cross stick, and equivalent to maple when played on the head.

Sensitivity: Good sensitivity.

Comments: An odd drum given its big sweetspot, yet tiny cross stick area. It felt a little “stiff” to play. A drum for specific uses, not as a workhorse.

By Greg Gaylord & Robert (RB) Bowler.

Photo credit Frankie Frost