Does Alma change sound

[Bongorific]

Hi Guys
Does an reinforcement ring...Alma? change the dynamics of a drum. ???

Peace


Bongo

[Omelenko]

The "alma" or "arma" prevents the conga from going out of round. I would not buy a conga that does not have one. The alma was a concept originated by Gonzalo Vergara in Cuba as early as 1948. Your top of the line congas all have "almas", Skin on Skin, Junior Tirado, Matthews, JCR's, Timbas. I know Moperc does not put alma on his congas and that keeps me away from them. Valje and Gon Bops never did either, that's why with time they went egg shape. Alma is the way to go,no doubt. Saludos, Dario

[Bongorific]

Thanks Dario,
Mine is a Mariano Gon Bop Tumba....silver and red lable it Has a arma.. Nice drum just not getting the sound I want out of it. I have original head that is still in good shape and I had Silvia at timba fab me one too.I ask for a thiner head than I sent her. Old Gon Bop was stamped Medium on bottom. Both seemed thick to me and I reset new head which fit quite well when I got it. So I"m seating very well just not getting tone I was looking for. It sound better now that I re-seated it but I'm disapointed. Maybe I'm playing too loose . I hate to crank a new head up to Maximum right off git-go. ANY SUGJESTIONS? (13 inch) I have a flesh ring now that I could take from older head and retuck a new skin but it would be my first attempt.............

Peace


Bongo

[Tonio]

Bongorific, are you not getting the slap tone or the open tones don't seem right?
A new head does take a while to settle "break in". But you can tell if the tone you want is going to be there soon. At least for me, I can tell after a bout a week or about 10 hours on it.

T

[caballoballo]

Omelenko, there should be no problem for Michel at Moperc to install the arma in his Congas if it is a client request. Should not be any problem for a great artisan like him to make a simple structure like the arma.

Giging tonight again,we have 6 gigs this month.

[bongosnotbombs]

I know Moperc does not put alma on his congas and that keeps me away from them. Valje and Gon Bops never did either, that's why with time they went egg shape. Alma is the way to go,no doubt. Saludos, Dario

Not really a fair comparison, Moperc constructs their congas in an entirely different fashion than old Gon Bops and Valjes, different woods as well. Also I have to believe that other technologies have improved since the last Valjes and GB's were made, what like 20 years ago?

As far as almas go, I have'nt had one, they seem to have their purpose and many of the top quality drums seem to have them, there are also many that do not. There are many fine vintage drums around that never had an alma. Personally having an alma or not is not a make or break decision for me, but thats a personal decision.

[caballoballo]

BNB.I agreed with you a 100%. I am not a Conga Player never have. I prefer the freedom to improvise that the Bongo has into the salsa band. Are you the one who is going to buy a Moperc Bongó ? The thickness of the ash wood on the macho is about 3/4 " and the Hembra is 5/8" I don't think they need and arma to prevent warping.

[bongosnotbombs]

I think it's Tonio that is buying a set of Moperc bongos, the salsa model, I am probably
going to order a set of 2 congas from Moperc, the conguero series in a month or so, and that cool cubano bongo in maple keeps calling to me.

I don't know why Moperc doesnt use an alma, I can guess its because they carve their staves, similarly I don't believe Isla uses almas either, they also carve their staves...

I do have a set of bongos from Resolution being made and a quinto, I will check the quinto to see if they have an alma, Resolution are basically Valje......

I've never heard of a set of bongos needing an alma, I think its because the lugs tighten from the bottom ring on bongos? That keeps the pressure in a straight line. Its the lug plates pushing inwards on congas that can potentially cause damages.



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1186373291

[Omelenko]

Bongos don't need "almas". I have every kind of bongos,from Mongo's Vergara,to Pan Con Queso and Ismael. The macho in bongos takes a "pergamino head" (thin head) and alma is not needed.
On congas is a different story. If Michel from Moperc, who bases all his creations on Cuban design,he should consider putting "almas" on congas,this feature will prevent the conga from going egg shape 20 yrs. down the road. I've seen many old school Gon Bops and Valje go out of round. An out of round conga is a turn off for me. I have 2 Vergaras about 50 yrs. old that are completely round and that's because of the "almas".
In my opinion,if I was going to spend over $500 in a conga drum,I will demand for it to have an "alma",it will be a wise decision down the road.
Saludos, Dario

[Whopbamboom]

Anyone have a photo of what these "alma's" look like?