Tuning

[hillsi]

Hi guys, Im a pretty new percussionist/conga player although have been a kit drummer for some time. I have recently got hold of some congas but am having real difficulty tuning! I have a 10.5 and 11.5 set. I am getting a really nice sound out of the 10.5 but am struggling with the 11.5. I cant seem to get rid of the ringing! even though the lugs appear to be equal? which is driving me crazy! any advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks

[bongosnotbombs]

This came up before, just because the lugs are equal does not mean even tension across the head of the drum as the skin might not be an even thickness...

Some people recommend tuning the skin until you reach an even pitch at each lug, I've done this with bongos, never had to do it with congas.

[Whopbamboom]

As I've found out, the material of natural skins may not stretch completely evenly, unlike plastic drum heads. It can complicate things a little bit.

A lot of ringing can also be due to other factors... one of the biggest seems to be the thickness of the skin.

What exactly are your congas, and what are the skins on them?

[hillsi]

I have the Gon Bops (dw) tumbaro series, the heads are the ones which came with them.
Many thanks for your advice

[Whopbamboom]

I am not familiar with the skins on those. Anyone know what those ones are from the factory?

[yambu321]

THEY USE THAI WATER BUFFALO SKINS FOR THE TUMBAO SERIES, NOT LIKE THE CALIFORNIA SERIES THAT USES COW HIDE.

[Whopbamboom]

Get rid of the waterbuffalo skin and put on a nice thick skin, that will probably help reduce the ringing.