What makes this steel tongue drum so unique?
The Fusion Drum is a revolutionary world novelty in the music scene. It combines steel and wood, can be played meditatively or passionately and sounds wonderfully harmonious - something you rarely find on the market in this professional quality. And you can drum enthusiastically on the high-quality root wood veneer. With the Fusion Drum, you have three instruments in one: a steel tongue drum, a drum and a cajon, which you can easily transport with the practical handle.
On the one hand, the Fusion Drum consists of the typical resonance body made of thick steel. Eight reeds have been sawn out of the large steel body, which are carefully tuned to each other. The exceptionally long-lasting sound, which resonates softly and gently, is intensified by the sound hole on the side.
On the other side, a wooden membrane is embeddeed into the wide opening of the metal body. It functions as a drumhead, so you can use this side as a drum and jam on it. If you prefer to play rhythms like on a cajon, you only have to fix the snare wire with the magnet in the inside of the Fusion Drum and you can start drumming with the typical snare effect.
Each Fusion Drum is handmade in Germany and impresses us with its innovative construction, high-quality materials, precise workmanship, beautiful metal finish and, of course, its sound.
What does the Fusion Drum steel tongue drum sound like?
The Fusion Drum produces a particularly long-lasting vibration thanks to its large resonance body with a 2.5 mm thick steel body, which creates a harmonious, almost floating sound carpet that is comparable to a high-quality metallophone. You can play the reeds tuned to D minor with your hands/fingers, the supplied medium-hard felt sticks or your own mallets, which optimise the percussive sound. The velvety tones unfold at the slightest touch. These smooth as well as the powerful sounds can be felt throughout the body as the finest vibrations and create inner peace and relaxation.
By turning the reed drum over, the burl veneer side is in front of you. Put it on the floor, on your lap or between your legs and start playing! Depending on how you strike the wooden membrane, you will produce bongo or conga-like sounds. Whether you want to play rhythmic-passionate or quiet-melancholic drumming, there are no limits to the joy of jamming.
If you attach the snare wire, which consists of 20 metal spirals, to the inside of the Fusion Drum with the help of the strong magnet, you can drum with the typical buzz of a cajon. However, the wooden side should only be played with the hands, as the mallets could damage the veneer.
The Fusion Drum is tuned to 440 Hz and can also be delivered with 432 Hz if required. You can also order the instrument without handle, then it fits perfectly into a snare drum bag. Just write us an e-mail.
Because the sound spectrum and the possibilities of use are so versatile, the Fusion Drum is a flexible instrument that can be used in yoga, meditation, sound therapy as well as in day-care centres, schools, on trips or at a campfire.
What is the story of the fusion drum?
Although the steel tongue drum is similar in shape and material to a handpan or hang, its origins probably go back to slit drums. Slit drums are found in numerous cultures around the world and their use is as varied as their construction. They were and are used in religious ceremonies, in orchestras, at dance events or as signalling and message instruments. From the combination of wooden slit drums and steel handpans, Jom Doble and Felle Vega have independently developed the steel tongue drum.
The instrument craftsman Bülent first came into contact with such a steel tongue drum during a serious crisis. He suffered a hearing loss during a burnout and was plagued by annoying ringing in his ears. When he heard the spherical tones of a steel tongue drum, the tinnitus vanished and the delicate vibrations he could feel all over his body calmed him down. Fascinated by this instrument, Bülent began to experiment. He used a jigsaw to saw note tongues into an old expansion tank of a heating system and tried to find the perfect, soft sound. At first, the notes sounded weird and unpleasant. But meticulously he kept trying until he was satisfied with the healing sounds that brought relief to his ears.
Why is the price of this steel tongue drum so high?
For the perfect and particularly long-lasting sound, Bülent uses specially thick steel, while for the woodskin side he selects first-class precious burl wood. In addition to the sourcing of the exclusive materials, the manufacturing process is also particularly complex and time-consuming. Bülent spends two to three days building a fusion drum in his workshop in northern Germany. To protect this instrument from humidity, the steel shells receive a rust protection and are painted twice by hand with a colourless industrial varnish. The steel reeds are pre-lasered by Bülent, then carefully sawn out and precisely tuned. He fits the wooden veneer exactly, because it has to match the sound of the fusion drum. Finally, the steel shells have to be welded together. A lengthy process that should be paid fairly.
The price also includes two drumsticks made of felt and a snare wire with a strong magnet.
Tuning: D-Moll: D, A, Bb, C, D, E, F, A4
Standard Tuning: 440 Hz (on request 432 Hz)
