I'm a fan of roto toms. If you buy and then don't like them, you can always view the $50 as the price of an education.....
That's my outlook too. While there is often the temptation to overuse something exotic when you first get it, truly, any instrument is worth it if you have the room and it's cheap !
I have to say, I kind of agree with that. It is an odd question to ask. What if we all said "nah !" ? You have a kit so drums obviously play a part in your music. Can
you see a use for them ?
I have a funny relationship with Djembes. I love congas, bongos, tablas, all kinds of drums from Africa, Asia, South America and rather exotic places. But although I've used them and recorded them, I've never been sold on the idea of djembes. My percussion playing mate was a djembe addict and it was only in deference to him that I even used them. Even in the school I work in, when we're doing music with the kids and the djembes are out, I'm always thinking "these things sound so shitty !"
I'd use one. Not often though. I once saw an Australian reggae band {a 3 piece !} use one. The band members were genuine Aborigines. I'd never heard one before {an Aborigine, an Aborigine reggae band or a didgeridoo} and I can't say I was overwhelmed with desire to have one. A didgeridoo, that is.
They are, but.....I don't know, there's something about them. Maybe it's because I've recorded them and just liked the sound.
Now there's a sales pitch !
Yeah. They're different in pitch to usual drum toms which for me adds a certain musical scope to the drum department. It's like, with my drum kit at home, I have a small set of timbales that I always set up to the left of the highest sounding tom when my drumming friends come to record. I leave it up to their ingenuity as to whether and how it will be utilized in the song. Sometimes I hear it a lot, sometimes, hardly at all. But it's a voice in the mix.