Manufacturers, brands, skins, maintenance, stands, sticks, michrophones and other accessories for congueros can be discussed into this forum ...... leave your experience or express your doubts!
Is there something I should use to condition the conga skins on my congas? I heard one guy say to put lanolin lotion on your hands and rub a bit of that in - anyone else know different?
Well, from time to time (especially in the hot season) I pour a little amount of sunflower oil on the conga heads, rub it slightly in with a piece of cloth and let it dry - in the SUN ! (for ab. 1-2 days). But I have also used lanolin creme, -slightly more expensive, doing the same thing, I guess
Peace&oil,
There's a really thick lanolin called Lansinoh which I've been using. I put some on my hands, rub them together till they are HOT! then rub it into the head. Some people go overboard with head care, but it takes very little to keep them conditioned.
A cuban friend of mine told me to rub rubbing alcohol on the head and leave in the sun for 1 hr every 2-3 weeks. This loosens the head and proved to bring a more resonating glowing sound. If I told him about that lotion he'd say that'd be crazy. After all, he grew up in HAVANA CUBA. Send some feedback.
I'am Cuban American born in NYC and taught buy a Cuban drummer. In Cuba they use Palm oil a finger tips worth on the skin and then rub it in with your hand in circular motion and then let the sun shine on the shin head for half hour and heat up the skin then work it again with you hand. I have been doing this for over twenty years, and I have been using it for made hands it great. You can find this PALM OIL in spanish it's called MANTECA COROJO in a Botanica store where they sell religious articles. Good Luck.
MANTECA DE COROJO FOR ME IS THE BEST FOR YOUR HANDS AND THE DRUM HEAD.......THIS WAS GIVEN TO ME BY SUCH GREATS LIKE EDDIE BONGO,GIOVANNI HIDALGO HIMSELF,JERRY GONZALEZ,AND CACHETE MALDONADO. I USE IT EVERY TIME BEFORE I PLAY AND AFTER.MY HANDS ARE SOFT LIKE BABY'S SKIN.AND I HIT HARD.GOOD LUCK