The repique is the clarion of the bateria, calling all players to “Hey! We’re about ready to blow the doors off!”. The caixa is attractive to many samba players, but of all the Brazilian percussion instruments, the repique calls to the souls of some. It reaches in and grabs your heart and doesn’t let go. You know who you are.
In a private lesson with Jorge Alabe he told me that the samba swing comes from the repique. The repique lays the swing out for the caixa players. You are playing for each other.
The head is 12” in diameter and the shell is 12” deep. The hardware is IVSOM’s brassy color, which adds a nice touch of style. The shell is made of galvanized steel, which will arrive somewhat shiny and will dull over time.
What this drum lacks in looks it makes up for 10 fold in sound. The steel has a clear, ringy “crack” that you don’t get from aluminum. Also when you play on the shell of the drum the sound is a nice metallic ping.
Heads
The drums arrive at your door with with IVSOM single ply plastic heads which are 5 mils thick. I usually replace these with REMO Diplomats. Which are also single ply plastic heads but 7 mils thick. Other people like a little thicker head, the REMO Ambassador. These are also single ply plastic heads, but about 10 mils thick. Try experimenting with different things and see what you like.
Sticks
Repiques are played with different stick combinations. It all depends on the style.
Rio style samba the repique is generally played with a wooden stick in one hand. Your dominant hand has the stick, and the other hand plays slaps, tones, and ghost notes.
Bahian styles players commonly have a stick in each hand but they’re long, flexible, plastic sticks. They have various names like “whippy sticks”, or “wappers”. Their flexibility lets you play rim shots on every note.
Straps
When playing Rio style samba, players use a shoulder strap. The repinique will hang in front of you in a jaunty angle. The angle works out well for hitting the slaps with you hand and getting consistent rim shots with the stick-hand.
When playing Bahian style, repique players use a waist strap. This way the drum will hang straight in front of you hanging quite low, between the legs. This position is better for playing matched grip with whippy sticks.
IVSOM puts extra thought and intention into his products. A machinist by training and a percussionist by passion he blends these skills to create high quality, well designed and well crafted instruments.
5.73 lbs
