Tambora (Dominican drum)

In many countries, especially the Dominican Republic, tamboras were made from salvaged rum barrels.

The second type, as made by modern companies, is bolt-tuned with conga heads.

This kind usually has metal or wooden rims to hit as a filler for rhythms, sounding, if one strikes it correctly, something reminiscent of a wood block.

In merengue tipico, known also as perico ripiao (the oldest form of merengue), the tambora has a significantly large role, playing many different types of rhythms and variations on those rhythms.

Timbales were introduced into the genre by Dominican percussionist Ray "Chino" Diaz.