Replace my new-to-me Fiberglass Tocas? - with one nicer drum?

[Mr.Grumpy]

Hi all! I am new to the forum and new to drumming in general. I have owned a Djembe for a couple of years and got a set of bongos for last Christmas. Good times. I don't dedicate as much time as I should to either but thought that I might enjoy picking up the Congas as a more main-stream percussion choice. To that end I got a fairly well used set of Toca fiberglass drums with 10 and 11 inch heads. And a DVD. Now, I know that the guy on the DVD has TOP OF THE LINE drums. I do not. My drums sound NOTHNG like other congas do. They ring and ping and sound more like steal drums than congas and why would any one market a set of a quinto sized drum with a conga sized? Shouldn't it be the other way around if you have only two drums?

Any way, I am thinking that they have the original heads and I was thinking about changing them. Until the one guy in the one store that actually carries conga heads told me that the 11" head alone would be like $70! I can get a whole goat for that kind of money! Plus he insisted on putting OEM heads on it and then started talking about putting other OEM heads on it like LPs. He also talked about putting Remo heads on them. Well putting stock (sucky) heads back on for what he's going to charge me is unappealing. Putting Remo heads on is unappealing (I have a Remo Djembe and a "real" Djembe and based on the way they sound compared to each other I don;t think tht I want a Remo Conga too). Should I bother re-heading these drums?

I could sell/trade these things and spend the dough on a new(ish) set of 1" larger entry level drums OR get one (1) new(ish) mid-range drum with the money.

So there we are: the questions,

Should I bother re-heading my Toca Players series 'glass drums?
With what? From where? At what cost?
Should I dump them and get a pair of 11"-12" Entry level rums?
What kind?
Should I dump them and get one mid-line Conga and practice on it and expand my collection over time as my skilz progress?
What kind?

One last thing: what do you all think about re-skinning with goat skins?

Thanks for helping a NooB!



Edited By Mr.Grumpy on 1201752205

[Congadelica]

Groundhog Day. sorry ,
But I was exactly were your at 12 months ago but different make of drums . I now own a set of meinl classics with steer and mule skin fitted . those 10 and 11 heads are for pure novice TBH . 11 3/4 "conga and a 12.5" tumbadora is the way to go buddy . baby steps at first read a s much info form this forum as you can learn a little Folkloric maybe , but most of all Have fun . I love it.

Marco


Welcome to our world of Congas brother.

[burke]

Goat is WAY too thin!

If you search 'skins' you'll get a gazzillion hits in the forum but the short version is: avoid factory "hand picked" water buffalo. Re-skinning with mule from Issac or cow from Moperc (up here in the frozen north) will make any drum - even a crappy set sound a lot better - and warmer.

Generally - fibre glass is ringier (but also louder and cuts) wood is warmer - however note the word 'generally'.

Also depends on which Toca - like all brand name drums they have low ened and higher end stuff.

Anyway I'm sure other guys with more experience than I will chime in.

Welcome to the bestest conga site in cyberspace!

Darrell