When in the hands of a skillful player, there is no doubt riq (aka Riqq) is one of the most magical instruments out there. From the complex finger rolls to different playing positions and techniques, the 9″ frame drum features a vast sonic versatility like a whole percussion orchestra.
Well, for the ones that don’t know, Riq is a type of tambourine with a traditional goat or fish skin stretched over a 9″ wooden frame. It features 5 double cymbals on the wooden frame, allowing the player to create many different sounds.
The home countries of Riq these days are Turkey, Lebanon, and Egypt, as these countries have the top makers, players, and instruments.
I guess you are already interested in buying a riq to create those magical sounds. But, which is the best Riq, and what should you look for when buying one? Let’s dive deeper to figure out the best Riq in the world.
Nakhle Riq
If you are interested in eastern percussion instruments, for sure, you must have heard the name Elias Nakhle. Located in Lebanon’s instruments producers market, Nakhle is a relatively new yet one of the top Riq makers worldwide.
Riqs by Nakhle is famous for its rich sound with unique reverberate and tak sound. Most famous percussionists in the Middle East and around the world prefer Riqs by Nakhle for their performances on stages for the tight taks and deep dum tones along with great shimmering hand-made jingle sounds of these instruments.
The standard Nakhle riqs feature 5 or 6 pairs of hand-hammered cymbals with 5 tuning screws. The dimensions of the standard Nakhle Riq have a height of 5.5 cm with a diameter of 23 cm. Every Nakhle instrument has the signature of the maker as proof of authenticity.
Cooperman Riq
Cooperman is a U.S.-based percussion instruments workshop founded back in the 1950s. Since then, the company has manufactured high-quality customized hand drums and percussion instruments for globally famous artists.
Well, you might think this is an Eastern instrument, so it is better to buy one from there, as western instruments can not compete with authentic quality. But, that is not true because Cooperman offers top-quality hand-made percussion instruments.
The Cooperman Artists Series Riq is the top model with 5 pairs of double-row hand-hammered jingles either made from bronze or brass. They use the Cooperman internal tuning system, which holds the tuning extremely stable even in harsh conditions. A removable pin system for jingles allows the users to experiment with different jingle combinations.
The Cooperman tuning system is inspired by the internal tuning system of Master Kevork, which you will learn about in the next section. Coming back to Cooperman, this system increases the skin tension by pushing it outwards while allowing the use of natural or synthetic skins.
What’s special about Cooperman riqs?
The skin is secured on the frame, which resembles the traditional Egyptian Riq. This mechanism also does not disturb the hand while playing, which is a problem with the Kevork system. However, the challenge is that if the skin gets damaged and needs to be replaced, you will have to take it back to the maker.
These riqs feature a 23.2 cm diameter with a 5.4 cm of height. The average weight of the instruments is around 750 grams. Cooperman prefers to use Remo Weatherking Clear or Remo Renaissance heads, which we, as Ethnic Musical store, also prefer, recommend, and sell (Riq with Remo skin).
The relatively larger diameter is excellent for a better drum sonority and allows the plate for experimentation with different techniques. At the same time, the short depth provides a better grasp and easier jingle access.
The Cooperman Riqs are famous for their strong and articulate tak drum sounds and outstanding balance between the jingle and drum sounds. The shimmering effect of the jingles accompanying the percussion sounds amazing.
So, yes, Cooperman Riqs combines the traditional approach with some modern touches, creating a great instrument overall.
Kevork Riq
Master Kevork Krikor Kazanjian is a true legend when it comes to Middle-Eastern percussion instruments. The Armenian-Lebanese artisan instrument maker produces the highest quality instruments every player desires. However, his instruments are scarce, as he produces limited amounts every month. Well, he used to, as he is retired now.
Master Kevork is the inventor of the modern Riq, as he innovatively created the Kevork tuning system, which solved a big problem with the instrument. Traditional riqs have round wood frames with fish skin glued to the frame, which sounded magical but got out of tune quickly with moisture and external conditions.
A tunable Riq with replaceable skins.
He hid the tuning screws inside the frame, so there was no sacrifice in terms of looks, either. His instruments were always unique with their sound, looks, ergonomics, precision, and flexibility.
Master Kevork’s Riqs often come in two dimensions; 23 cm and 25 cm diameters. The 23 cm version features five sets of jingles, while the latter features 6 sets. His riqs have replaceable skin and jingles making the instruments quite versatile and durable.
The problem some players find with the Kevork Riq is that the bearing edge is not in line with the frame’s outer part. The idea here is to allow some space for the counter hoop, but some players find it uncomfortable.
Although he is retired now, the riqs of Master Kevork are still found in some music shops. They are among the top quality riqs you can find with their fantastic construction, magical sound, innovative designs, aesthetic looks, and sonic versatility.
Other Notable Brands and Riq Makers
Of course, there are also high-quality instruments provided by other makers besides the big three. Eli Huli from Israel, Emin Percussion from Turkey, Gawharet El Fan from Egypt, and Remo from the U.S.A. are the first names that come to mind.
Egyptian Riqs are considered some of the best, and the first tunable Riq with a counter hoop was invented and used by EgyGawhara, who was the partner of the brand Gawharet El Fan the famous Egyptian darbuka maker.
Here, with this amazing video, you can hear and compare different Riqs from various top-notch makers to have a better opinion.
Let’s recap
So, these are the best Riq makers around the world, with their unique approaches and designs contributing to the Riq culture. If you want the best Riq possible and hypnotize the listeners with magical sounds, you can check some of the instruments by these makers.
They are not always easy to find and are pretty expensive, but these are the best Riqs around, so be ready to pay some bucks for them.
PS: As the Ethic Musical store, we offer some top-notch Turkish, Arabic, and Egyptian Riqs. Our vast collection features many instruments with Kevork tuning systems, Remo heads, Gawharet El Fan products, and many more. Top-quality construction and sound guaranteed.