Kostya LaPasha
calfor@ncsu.edu
Tupans
Light weight and small, these tupans won't break
your
back, but I'd not recomend dancing on them. The dacron
lacing is
durable, and has little stretch.
I make these custom, to order, and don't always have
materials on hand, so I can't promise real fast turn around
time.
Currently I'm sticking with the 16"
diameter size, but depth can be adjusted to your own
taste (deeper than 14" will cost more). I finish the wood
"natural"
(rather than painted). Stain color
can be adjusted to your taste (I like the reddish
brown,
but color can be adjusted from pale yellowish-blonde to dark
chocolate
brown). I've become
prety happy with the REMO Fyberskin III FT/F1
synthetic
heads -- these are the extremes of thickness that REMO makes in
these heads
(not commonly
stocked at most places) and gives a distinct
difference
in sound between the two heads. Most of the synthetic head
tupans
I've made tend toward the
"Bulgarian" style with the tensioning hoop extending
past the head face. I have made some synth-head tupans with
the tensioning
hoops recessed over the
head rim so the tension hoops only extend a little
past
the head face -- I am not convinced of the durability of this hoop
design
(flush) and would not recomend
it if you do alot of rim shots or drop your drum
alot
-- but this design makes the tupan more comfortable for those used
to a
"Macedonian" style tupan.
"Bulgarian" style with synthetic heads:
diameter: 16 inches
depth:
13 inches (10"-13" works fine)
shell:
5/16 inch birch face cylindrical plywood -- stained and finished
with lacquer
or urethane
tension hoops: solid maple --
stained and finished with lacquer or urethane
beater head (heavy): REMO
Fyberskin
III F1
switch head (light): REMO
Fyberskin
III FT
lacing:
single laced with 1/8 inch dacron
2 metal sling rings
central nylon carry loop (between the sling
rings)
weight is aproximately 5.5 lbs (according to my
cheap scale) - 8 lbs including case
Case: Humes & Berge "Tuxedo" 13x16
padded
nylon, black
$400 (US) (packing and
shipping
extra)
"Macedonian" style with goat skin heads
diameter: 16 inches
depth:
13 inches (10"-13" works fine)
shell:
5/16 inch birch face cylindrical plywood -- stained and finished
with lacquer
or urethane
head hoops: laminated,
multi-ply
maple
beater head (heavy): goat skin
switch head (light): goat skin
head "twigs": LDPE or Delrin
lacing:
single laced with 1/8 inch dacron
2 metal sling rings
central nylon carry loop (between the sling
rings)
weight is aproximately 5.5 lbs (according to my
cheap scale) - 8 lbs including case
Case: Humes & Berge "Tuxedo" 13x16
padded
nylon, black
$400 (US) (packing and
shipping
extra)
"Bulgarian"
Style - synthetic heads
"Macedonian" Style - goat skin heads
More pics of recent (2001.07.17) tupans,
case,
sticks...
Kostya LaPasha
calfor@ncsu.edu