Dealer in the Spotlight: Stiggelbout Slagwerk
Today’s dealer in the spotlight is Stiggelbout Slagwerk in Groningen. This store will help you to make the right choice from the overwhelming selection of instruments in their store. They sell a great selection of Schlagwerk percussion instruments and cajons and Vic FIrth sticks.
You can find the compete history and story of Jaap Stiggelbout below the pictures. Visit the store at Ulgersmaweg 27, 9731 BJ, Groningen or take a look at their webshop here.
THE STORY OF ‘STIGGELBOUT SLAGWERK’
In 1983, Jaap Stiggelbout started his company out of a fascination with wood, sounds and rhythms. In the beginning he made small percussion instruments, then xylophones and log drums. Later, bass drums, tube bells and frame drums followed. Many of his first instruments are still in use today.
In order to have a more complete selection, he began purchasing instruments from other suppliers.
Jaap was always fascinated by the djembé. Around 1985, Jaap got his hands on a djembé for the first time. The group Africa Djolé from Guinea came to the Netherlands and the first djembés spread over the country. Jaap tried to build such a fantastic drum by hollowing out a tree trunk. First all with hand tools, later with the help of a lathe. By experimenting a lot, he learned the effects of different shapes like a narrow pipe, a long or short pipe, of small or large playing surfaces, and the sound characteristics of different woods.
In 1988, the company established itself with a store in the Folkingestraat in the center of Groningen. From there contacts arose with Africans from Mali, Ghana and Senegal. Starting from the formula "Percussion instruments from all over the world" the store developed into a meeting point for musicians from all over the world like Curaçao, Iran, Congo, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Latin America.
In 1989 Jaap goes to Ivory Coast and Ghana for the first time. Many trips will follow to these countries and to Guinea, the origin of the djembé. The wholesale trade becomes an increasingly important element of the business. Stores and enthusiastic resellers are supplied with djembés and other instruments.
In 2010, the company moved to the edge of the city of Groningen with plenty of parking space. The customers can see, hear, feel and try the instruments in the store. In this new building, Stiggelbout combines store, workshop, web shop and stock.
