Source for high-quality conga skins? - Thinner on tumba, thicker on quinto?

[Tuco]

Hola everyone,

Can someone point me to a source for unbleached, high-quality skins? On the thick side . . . I'm having a problem with overtones and ringing on my congas. Just need one set for congas and maybe one or two skins for some other African drums I'm restoring.

Not Asian water buffalo obviously, but real calf / cow / steer from the Americas. If you want to keep it low-key for some reason, just send me a personal message. Thanks!

Some people have said use a thinner skin on a tumba and a thicker skin on a quinto . . . I've also heard it the opposite way. Is there any general rule, or just personal preference?

[Diceman]

Talk to Isaac. Search under mule skins on this forum.

Good luck
Diceman

[Tuco]

Thanks. I know Issac and have some of his mule skins already. Was hoping for some thicker cow

[caballoballo]

Try Timba Percussion,you would have 3 different thickness to choose from, steer hide is what they have.

[Tuco]

I can give Timba a try, but I know they went out of business at the end of 2006. Still, they might have some skins left. Thanks.

[Bacalao]

I've recently bought some quality steer 18" round natural hides from stern tanning. You'll have to contact them through e-mail or phone, I actually placed an order with Jeff. This is the site: http://trophygametanning.com/percussion.htm

I have absolutely no complaints about the skins except that it took 3 weeks to get skins, due to the fact that it was the heavy season for them. I will defintely recommend them for Quality and they will work with you if you have certain spec's. They do not have a price list on their site but they will tell you the prices over the phone or e-mail you a price list as in my case. Example, in my case 18" round natural steer skins were $36 each + shipping.

Hope I could help!

[taikonoatama]

I can give Timba a try, but I know they went out of business at the end of 2006. Still, they might have some skins left. Thanks.

Actually, they aren't going out of business after all. Spoke with them on March 10, 2007 and drums and skins are available.

[Tuco]

Bacalao: thanks for the link to Stern--that's promising. Prices reasonable too.

taikonoatama: I can give Timba another try, but I personally talked with Timba's manager, Silvia, in January. She they the laid off the workers and were liquidating their tools, but yes, had a few inventory items left. But instead of discounting their remaining inventory to clear it out, they actually increased their prices to maximum list price . . . I assume to sqeeze out the last dollar. That put me off, so I passed. But as far I as know, they are history as a business enterprise. Too bad, nice drums.

[taikonoatama]

taikonoatama: I can give Timba another try, but I personally talked with Timba's manager, Silvia, in January. She they the laid off the workers and were liquidating their tools, but yes, had a few inventory items left. But instead of discounting their remaining inventory to clear it out, they actually increased their prices to maximum list price . . . I assume to sqeeze out the last dollar. That put me off, so I passed. But as far I as know, they are history as a business enterprise. Too bad, nice drums.

Like I said, I talked to Timba (Silvia) last week, on March 10, and they are not going out of business after all. We spoke about it all for a good 20 minutes. The story is that after word got out that they were going down they got a flood of new orders and these convinced them that they needed to give things another go, this time cutting out the distributors and selling everything direct themselves to maximize profitability.

[Tuco]

I stand corrected!

Glad to see Timba is going to give it another shot. With some marketing, they should do alright. Direct sales are the way to go.

[blango]

I can hook you up with the nicest of Cow hides. I sell them under the name Slappy skins.

With all respect, these are by far the nicest skins around, i hand select them myself (over 30 years of playing experience)

From thin to thickass, all even and with minimal flaws, etc.

From California - Slappy Cows make Slappy skins!

[Derbeno]

I can hook you up with the nicest of Cow hides. I sell them under the name Slappy skins.

With all respect, these are by far the nicest skins around, i hand select them myself (over 30 years of playing experience)

From thin to thickass, all even and with minimal flaws, etc.

From California - Slappy Cows make Slappy skins!

You posted similar reviving old threads, are you the owner, their agent or paid to endorse??
This is np, just wanted to know out of curiosity

[KKonga]

Blango---How can we get some info on slappy skins? Price, etc...
KK

[blango]

Re: slappy skins:

My name is Tony Sternad, im a percussionist in the Cuban Folkloric tradition. I live and play in the Bay Area.

I've been playing congas for over 30 years, and am very lucky to have studied with the fattest of cats.

My current teacher and guiding brother is Sandy Perez, of AfroCuba de Matanzas.

I sell skins, simply because I can get the best ones any of my friends have seen.

Im not sure why its so hard to get good skins, but i'm happy to fill a need.

Any question or pics feel free to call,

Tony

707-812-8812

[blango]

Several people have asked for pics and pricing for the California Cow hide 'slappyskins'...

They come in 18", 20", and 22" ranging in price from $45 to $60 plus shipping.

They will be hand selected to check for even thickness, color and grain, as well as for cuts and flaws.

the following pics are some of the drums i play every day, so enjoy the view, i wish you could hear these sing!

Tony

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... skins0.jpg