If you are curious about steel drums, the Panda Drums brand offers an interesting entry point. In this review, we’ll explore what makes it special, how it works, and whether it might be right for you.
What is the Panda Drum?
At its core, the panda drum is a steel tongue drum – a round steel instrument with “tongues” (carved shapes) attached to specific notes, which you play with mallets or your fingers.
In particular, the “Plus 11” model offers 11 tones (in 11-inch size) and is designed for versatility: casual gaming, relaxation, music-meditation, and family use.
It comes with accessories such as mallets, a carrying bag, and a book of songs.
On their website, they emphasize its use for calming vibrations, “wonderfully harmonious tones,” and alleviating tension and anxiety.
First Impressions: Build, Package & Sound
From packaging to unpacking, the Panda Drum feels well presented: the instrument comes in a protective case or pouch, containing clubs and introductory material – making it gift-friendly.
The finish is polished, the cut tongues are clean and the overall feel is solid. Audio samples (in videos and reviews) highlight a bright, bell-like tone with decent sustain and clarity. Some reviewers described the sound as “captivating”.
One benefit: Because the scale is fixed and tuned, you don’t need to worry about tuning each tongue yourself — good for beginners.
Strengths: What It Does Well
- Accessibility: You don’t need formal musical training to enjoy it. Many users report being able to play simple songs, improvisations and feel a sense of flow.
- Relaxation & mindfulness: The tone, the ease of playing, the portable format make it well suited for meditation, yoga, sound-work or stress relief.
- Gift & family friendly: With extra accessories and an intuitive layout, it works well as a gift for kids, family or friends.
- Customer feedback is strong: On platforms like Trustpilot the brand has many positive customer reviews — users highlight both sound quality and customer service.
Potential Drawbacks & Considerations
- Sound/Range limitations: While the Plus 11″ has 11 notes, it still has inherent limitations compared to full melodic instruments. Some users on the forum note: “They sound good, but they are single-note snare drums.”
If you’re seeking deeply rich overtones, complex harmonic layering, or professional performance hand-pan quality, this might fall short. - Pricing vs. expectations: Given the cost, some buyers expected premium instrument behaviour; while many are satisfied, others feel they could get something similar cheaper. See discussion in the same forum:
- Shipping / delivery caution: A few users report longer shipping or delays. From Trustpilot: “The shipping process took 16 days… tracking was confusing…”
If you need it by a certain date (gift, event) then allow buffer time. - Scale tuning and context: One reviewer noted that a version they received was at 432 Hz tuning, which might matter if you are playing along with other instruments or standard tuning.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Buy It
Great for:
- Beginners wanting a fun, musical, calming instrument.
- People looking for a tool for relaxation, meditation or family music time.
- Gift-buyers seeking something unique and elegant.
Less ideal for:
- Professional percussionists or music producers looking for full range/harmonic richness.
- Users on tight budgets who might be willing to compromise on accessories and brand for lower cost alternatives.
- Anyone needing a very quick delivery or precise tuning/instrument matching (check shipping & model details).
Verdict & Rating
Overall, the Panda Drum Plus 11″ presents a strong package for its intended audience. It’s a sweet spot for fun, accessibility, and aesthetic appeal. If your goal is fun, relaxation or family music, this is a good choice. If your goal is professional performance, you may want to explore further down the scale or alternative instruments.
I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars — a solid, recommended pick, with the caveats mentioned above.
Final Thoughts & Buying Tips
- Choose the size that matches your needs: 6″/8-tones for very casual/kids, 11″/11-tones for general use (this model), higher sizes for more tone range.
- Play it with both mallets and fingers — you’ll get different tones and textures.
- Think about where you’ll use/play it: at home, outdoors, in meditation space — environment affects how it sounds.
- Ensure you check shipping details, return policy and read recent user reviews to confirm satisfaction with latest batches.
- If you’re buying as a gift, consider ordering early and maybe include a practice/learning session or tutorial to get the recipient started.
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