congaplace.com

Posted: **Sun Apr 25, 2004 9:04 pm**

Dear Congaplace friends, I'm a rep. for JCR Percussion -
maker of JCR Bells. I now have a limited supply of
high quality hand selected Mule & Cow Rawhide from
Colombia. If interested, please contact me
at FunkyTradition@yahoo.com
for details, pictures, etc...

~ Isaac ~ FunkyTradition

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

Posted: **Mon Apr 26, 2004 1:50 am**

Funky , thanks for that. I will contact you soon. You say limited quantity, do you get replenishments? I would suppose you do.
I ask because I will not be able to purchase immediatley, about a few weeks?

T

Posted: **Mon Apr 26, 2004 10:10 am**

Hey Funky Tradiiton, welcome to Conga Forum. I guess these Cow & Mule rawhide are not pre-mounted? The location of your store is up in the Bronx, correct?

Posted: **Mon May 03, 2004 6:19 am**

The shipments are apx. 3 or 4 times a year, and
sometimes there's a short dry spell between them.
Of course if you live in the Bronx, You know JCR.
Its near Yankee Stadium.

Isaac
"FunkyTradition"

Posted: **Mon May 03, 2004 6:23 am**

I'm not exactly new to the congaforum, but had trouble
logging in with my previous registrations.
I think I first logged on in 2000.

Isaac Hersh " Funky Tradition "
funkytradition@yahoo.com

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2004 2:34 am**

Cool Isaac. :cool:

So do you play too?

Ok Ok, I'll e-mail you when the funds come in.
T :cool:

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2004 2:41 am**

RayBoogie wrote:Hey Funky Tradiiton, welcome to Conga Forum. I guess these Cow & Mule rawhide are not pre-mounted? The location of your store is up in the Bronx, correct?

Ray, its not so bad mounting them!! Thats if you have extra hoops of course. Or you could be adventerous and use the one that came with the drum. I like to have extras around, heck I've got about 3 skins(united rawhide) sitting around waiting.
I just recently mounted for a LP classic segun. Also about a dozen mounted, unmounted(hoops gone) LP , Gon Bops whatever. Sometimes I think I need go through it all and sort it out.. toss the ones I don't need etc. I use used bongo skins(without hoops) for my change(dinero) holder!!:D

If you need help, I'm sure we can help you out.

T

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2004 3:01 am**

Anyone want to comment on mule skins?? Tone etc??
T

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2004 3:19 am**

I'd like to echo Tonio's question. Although I seem to remember some people stating that Mule is "the best", I can't remember which qualities were superior?
- tone?
- texture?
- response?
- etc?

just curious... cjk

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2004 3:37 pm**

The skins I've got are mule and also cow.
Both are from Colombia. The cow is awesome
also and different from the cow hide available
here. It must be a regional thing, as in plants
and tobbacco flavors and all natural things.
It's nice to upgrade to mule, but I'm sure
that one's technique is the biggest factor in sounding
good. A good instrument does'nt hurt.
On my card I have a quote in very small letters
that sums up my philosophy as a percussionist.
" Nothing is good unless you play with it" - P. Funkadelic

~ Isaac ~

ps. I can also get rings made for whatever size
you might need.

Posted: **Wed May 05, 2004 1:48 am**

Isaac, I like your philosophy, however I can't play with a skin that I have no means of demo'ing.

I do agree that one's technique matters more!!

To expand on CongaCaja's questions -- IMO buffalo(like LP) you need to crank it up through out a gig. They don't last to many years(depending on how you play etc.).And has a muted open tone. but sharper(crisp?) slaps that cut through a band. US Cowhide is warmer-open tones have more decay and slaps are nice and has a pop sound. They take longer to break in but stays nice for a long time.

We don't know any characteristics of mule. Could you or anyone else explain?

Does JCR use cowhide or mule on the congas? Guess I could check out some JCR congas depending on your answer.

CJK-hey your set they have hoops too.

Thanks T

T

Posted: **Fri May 07, 2004 11:57 am**

Hey Isaac, I'm planning on a trip up north, in the next month or so. I live in Atlanta, but have family in Wilmington, DE, where I was born. Do you have your address posted somewhere, and/or phone?

Peace to all you skin spankers

Ray
:cool:

Posted: **Fri May 07, 2004 12:02 pm**

JC, what's your view on "skins", overall. My question is this: take an experienced conga player that feels he/she could get an appropriate response, from the skin, no matter what type was mounted on the conga. Having said that, what type of skin would everybody go running to the store to purchase, because it's the best choice? (for sound, and wear)

Ray

Posted: **Thu May 13, 2004 4:23 am**

Helll all,
I now have some of the same quality Colombian skins
pre-mounted to the standard LP sizes:
for quinto - 11", conga -11.75", & 12.5" Tumbadora.
Theres a variety of thickness, and many mule skins
also premounted.
Personally, I've only had one mule skin - on my Tumbadora. Its a Galaxy fiberglass and what I can tell
you about is this: I got it from JCR in 1999, and it
seems to be getting better with age, rather than the opposite.
I prefer a thicker skin to remove the ringy sound you get
with fibreglass. This skin has a dark golden brown and oily look
and is very strong and resiliant compared to other skins
I have. I'm looking ahead to years of use out of it still and I love the sounds - which seem cleaner and more distinct. I'm going to put a similar head on my conga. I can't say if mule is
better soundwise. It may be harder on the hands, so you have
to get your technique down to deal with it. It's tighter
structurally, than cow. (less porous), making it feel firm.
Another funny thought I have is that from my experience the
uglier the skin, the better they sound!
Last week I realized one of my dreams and had an opportunity to play in a band featuring two of my heroes in Latin music
- Nicky Marrero and on Vocals - Jimmy Sabater. I've been plugging away for about 14 years and finally feeling OK
about my sound. Its a lifelong process. I hope to talk to
many of you again in the future and please don't hesitate to
call if you're going to be in the NY/NJ area.
~ Isaac "Hersh" Gutwilik
(732) 432-0609 cell: 732-236-8148
funkytradition@yahoo.com

Posted: **Thu May 13, 2004 6:56 am**

I have always been partial to Mule skin one for the sound it gives and the longevity. I have a mule skin on my requinto for 20 years with no cracks or splits in the skin. Of course I treat it on occasion with african palm oil and sun to melt it in. Cowhide does give a warm sound and Buffalo gives a warm sound but a bit brighter warm. Mule gives a crisp hard sound, a dry sound, with no overtones. That has been my experience with mule skins......JC JOHNNY CONGA.... :;):

congaplace.com

MULE SKIN