Pros:
It is a good introduction to this type of instrument.
I like to practice rhythms and patterns on it.
It is small. You can easily take it out into the garden in the sun.
There was a nice small bag with it and some mallets.
I like to use "Thomann GSG20m Glockenspiel mallet" and I recommend buying them too.
The drum is very Indian sounding..
It's like raindrops after the monsoon - pure love n' harmony, hippie yeah!
Cons:
If you expect it to be concert tuned then this is not the right purchase.
If you want to play with a band, then it would be better to find something that is 440 Hz.
Mine was 444,7 Hz and that is close enough for me.
It is very Indian sounding..
If you don't like Indian sounding stuff then this is not the right one for you.
The mallets that came with it are a bit too soft, I think.
I bougth some other small mallets and I like those better..
They are called "Thomann GSG20m Glockenspiel mallet".
And now the fun part:
The Thomann Nataraj tongue 8" C-Major is pentatonic, so please call it "the Raga Bhopali" :)
On a piano that would be:
C4, D4, E4, G4, A4, C5, D5, E5
C4 is at 12 o'clock, just over the red part of the sticker.
Then it's
D4 at 6 o'clock,
E4 at 9 o'clock,
G4 at 3 o'clock,
A4 at 10:30
and then we go to C5 at 13:30
D5 at 19:30
E5 at 16:30..
You can play it as it is or adjust or tune it with some strong magnets from the inside.
This tounge drum is not made for being tuned, but I like to change the sound sometimes.
I bought neodynium magnets that are 5-8mm in diameter x 5-8mm tall and made for a chessgame or something.
Some of the tounges needs more than one magnet to be tuned.
Start near the edge of the drum (from inside) and move the magnet(s) bit by bit inwards.
Remember that the magnet(s) must be placed centered between the parallel lines (or holes) of the tounge,
like if there was an invisible line between them for a magnet-train :)
If you don't hear the little shades of tones well, then use a free chromatic tuner app from your phone.
I am very glad I bought this little drum.
Now I hope that I made your choice easier :)
