I have been playing the Ashiko for the last three weeks and have been so impressed that I cannot wait to make one in your workshop. The quality and performance of this drum is simply the finest .
My spouse and I both constructed Ashiko drums in 1999, just after we were married. I chose the cherry wood; she, the western red cedar. The drum frames (if that's the correct word) were provided to us at a three-day Rhythm drumming retreat. We were shown how to do all the ring and lace work and to soak, apply, dry and scrape the heads, which were goatskin, I believe. We loved the entire experience and the Drum Brothers (and Drum-Dad) instructors were very knowledgeable and patient. We continue to play our Ashikos to this day (2008), even though we have now added a djembe and a frame drum.