Growing Region: Central to North Africa.

Availability: Currently listed as vulnerable to EXTINCT in parts of its native Uganda.

Weight/Hardness/Density: Compared to Sugar Maple, Bubinga is 18% heavier, 88% harder, 28% stronger.

Cost: Twice the cost of Maple.

Comments: The World Conservation Monitoring Center lists Bubinga as "vulnerable to extinct" in Uganda, but lacks sufficient data to give more than an "unknown" status in Central African Republic, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, and Democratic Republic of Congo (ex Zaire). After our current stock runs out, Drum Solo will no longer be using Bubinga, due to this status.

Timbre/Tonal Color: Bubinga has a warmer sound than many of the woods we have tested. It is rich and warm with dominant mid-range frequencies, yet its fundamental pitch is higher than Maple.

Dynamic Range: Doesn't change character sound from ppp to fff.

Tonal Range: Has a small sweet spot extending approximately 1.5 inch from the center, allowing for numerous sound options.

Tuning Range: Favors a looser tuning. Bubinga goes low, but loses overtones when tuned high, becoming more mono-tone.

Resonance/Decay: Less over ring than Maple. Cross stick is resonant in several positions.

Cross Stick: Rim shots spread the tone. A slight amount of dampening can eliminate the head ring from rim shots. Rim shots are also less focused than on a Maple drum. With a change in stick position, the cross stick has a change in pitch range similar to that of Maple

Volume: Slightly more volume at fff and with very hard hits it doesn't choke out as quickly as Maple.

Sensitivity: Great snare response at ppp. Good response overall.

Comments: Bubinga is more musical sounding and flexible than our Maple control drum.

By Greg Gaylord & Tommy Donlinger