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by **+pablo+** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:29 am

Well, if any one remembers my postings on an internal mic for my cajon, I finally got around to my congas! “Solved” the problem of fabricating an internal bracket when I acquired some 1 inch thick rubber. At this thickness, the rubber conforms nicely to the curved inside of the drum, is still stiff enough to mount some mass to, and provides a shock mount. Cut blocks to 2 1/2 x 6 inches. As before, the assembly uses a metal mic base, three screw mount from Radio Shack.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... block1.jpg

by **+pablo+** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:30 am

I drilled the metal mount holes out to accept a slightly larger size screw: 5/32” drill for a #8 screw.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... _drill.JPG

by **+pablo+** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:32 am

Position base/mic to rubber block and match drill so all is in line with block.
Block is drilled to match the drums existing holes where handle use to be; no drum drilling yet.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... mount4.jpg

by **+pablo+** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:33 am

Finished block assembly.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... mount3.jpg

by **+pablo+** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:35 am

Using existing holes where handle use to be; no drum drilling yet.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -drum1.jpg

by **+pablo+** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:35 am

Mount assembly with gold tone ‘furniture’ allen recess screws found at Ace hardware. Nice matching touch

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -drum2.jpg

by **+pablo+** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:36 am

View with head removed

Edited By +pablo+ on 1161578690

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -drum3.jpg

by **+pablo+** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:38 am

In using existing handle holes, the mics end up at ~4 ½ inches from head: not sure if this is close enough…

Edited By +pablo+ on 1161578582

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -drum4.jpg

by **+pablo+** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:39 am

Unlike the internal mic for the cajon (see prior posts), I’m not quite ready to drill out a hole in my drums to accept a flush mounted connector. So as an interim step, I ‘milled’ out channels in my floor board so the bottom of the drums will not crush the mic wire.
For the conga, the channel is slightly longer cause I move the drum around a bit more; the Tumba just ‘sits’ there. One could argue that with the conga tilted while playing you don’t need wire clearance. But with the drum at rest, it’s not laying on the wire. Does any of this make sense?

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... board1.jpg

by **+pablo+** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:47 am

Finished installation: conga and tumba micked up. It's an easy reach to hook up the cable inside each drum. Heck, they are already upside down when taking them out of a gig bag.

Little rat tails sticking out. No stands to dork with, very clean.

Now, just to let everyone know, I haven’t sound checked these yet. For all I know it could sound like *^%#. But May Randall can’t be that far off. If anything, I think the mic position will have to be jacked with. Maybe closer to the head...

Edited By +pablo+ on 1161579112

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -final.jpg

by **CongaTick** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 12:36 pm

Pablo,

You're a craftsman, bro. Very clean work. And I daresay, an idea I've alwasy thought was the right way to mic the tubs, but never had the courage to do. Very interested in your sound check results. Please post as soon as you're able.

by **onile** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:18 pm

Alafia Abure Pablo!
I hope that you are well and in an abundance of blessings!

I saw another conquero who had executed this idea once before, great job and obviously one that would be greatly used if you could market it!

One thing however, being the type of person that I am, I'm always looking for ways to 'streamline' the effort. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you would have to turn the drum upside down, connect your XLR cable, and then set the drum down (the drum may wobble a bit because of the cable coming out from the bottom though).

I know, it's a scary thought, and one that you mentioned you aren't ready to do (don't blame you!), but one that if you consider it, would make a great deal of sense (convenience). The conguero that I mentioned had this idea in play used this as well.

It appears that XLR cables are what you will be using, now if you were to drill yet another hole, just below the mic mount (previously, the handle holes), then you would need two additional components. An XLR connector (see pic), and a short cable to connect to your mic and the XLR connector.

This would allow you to just take your drums out of the case, set them up, plug them in and you're in business!

I really want to try your idea, but with the additional suggestion, for convenience sake!

Great idea, thanks for sharing your creativeness with us!

Suave!
Onile!

Edited By onile on 1161968188

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

by **+pablo+** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:01 am

Onile, sorry so slow in replying. As to turning the drum upside down to connect cable, for LP gig bag the drum is already upside down when unloading. At least that is how it is when I unload my drum.

I like the looks of that flush mount XLR: it looks like the back side is a plug in vs. having to solder wires. Where did you find it? Musicians Friend has a 3 ft XLR mic cable which is short enough to route inside the drum and tack in place with some peel and stick cable ties.

by **+pablo+** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:02 am

Here are some pics clarifying the cut in my ‘floor board.’ The cable sits in the groove, not being crushed by the drum.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... cable1.jpg

by **+pablo+** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:03 am

another view...

Edited By +pablo+ on 1163811851

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... cable2.jpg

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