congaplace.com

Posted: **Fri Dec 14, 2007 2:26 pm**

Is it worth changing the stock skins on my Meinl LC's or is that money better invested towards saving up for a better set of drums?

What skins would you guys recommend?

Posted: **Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:59 pm**

Yes - Mule - Isaac (fellow Canadian BTW [Ex-pat]) search ebay
or steer (don't know where)

Posted: **Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:06 pm**

If You are happy with the drum but not the dull sound of those pesky Thai Thin as fook waterbuffalo heads as I was with my meinl Marathon classics .

Well I d say go for it . I fitted a Mule on my 113/4 conga , and Texas steer rawhides to the Quinto and Tumba. Incidently I fitted the steer heads 2 weeks ago now , And Im more than happy with after a session I did today. Te drums have been transformed ,It realy is worth keeping the Meinl in my opinion.

That said Ill be buying some new drums in the new year ,but keeping the Meinl which are very good warm sounding now I changed the heads. and the slaps have a much potent crisp crak sound now too.
If you search the forum you will find information on this subject , some of the info I found here was very good .

Marco

Posted: **Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:30 pm**

We have a skin supplier list

http://www.congaplace.com/cgi-bin....;t=2817

seeing as you are in Canada, Michel at Moperc may be good for you to get new skins from.

moperc.com

I've heard Canada has pretty strict customs and may have quarantine laws which might apply to a natural product, especially ones from cows. So it could be to your advantage to get Canadian skins.

Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1197666821

Posted: **Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:02 pm**

glj wrote:Is it worth changing the stock skins on my Meinl LC's or is that money better invested towards saving up for a better set of drums?

What skins would you guys recommend?

glj,

Keep the Meinl LCs. IMO, they're some of the most attractive looking congas (traditional rims, Cuban shape and natural color) in that price range.

If I had more room in my home studio and didn't already have my hand-me-down Toca fiberglass "beater" tumbadoras (w/ Remo Fiberskyns), I'd seriously consider a set of Meinl LC conga and tumba as my "beater" tumbadoras.

I have a very high regard for Meinl. They have the integrity to disclose that the wood they use on most of their tumbadoras and bongos are "rubber wood" instead of the marketing, word-engineered "Siam Oak" (gimme a break!!!) Ditto with their skins: buffalo skins vs. natural rawhide (gimme a break, again!!!)

Changing the skins should make a tremendous improvement in the sound of your Meinl LCs. Your slaps should become crisper. IMO, the skin is the most critical component of the tumbadoras. The bottom line is: The skin produces the sound. The tumbadora body is "just" a sound chamber, although its 2nd most critical component.

For skins, I'd highly recommend buying either from Mario Punchard of Islas Percussion (for steer) or JCR c/o Isaac Gutwilik (for mule). You can't wrong with either one. I've got JCR's mule on the macho of my bongos and they're awesome: loud and crisp!

I've read from our Forum good reviews re: cow skins from Michel Ouellet of Moperc. However, since I personally, don't have any actual experience with them, I'm unable to make an honest and fair recommendation either way.

Best of luck,

Edited By umannyt on 1197666340

Posted: **Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:58 am**

Agreed, those Meinls are great for most uses. I would change the skins too. Im a big fan of Meinls rubberwood tubs. They are solid and sound much nicer than oak. It sounds a bit like maple, to my ear.

For salsa or amplified music, I would go with cow hide, and not bull unless you get them from Mario at Isla, as he plains them to the desired thickness. On the west coast, at least, most every pro uses cow.

Id use mule only if i plan on using it for folkloric music, or unplugged latin jazz. Mule makes a very nice skin for a macho of a bongo, or of a bata (if you can get one a bit thinner)

The key is to get the right thickness for you.

Hope that helps,

Tony

Posted: **Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:59 pm**

I got curious cause of this post and sent an email to Moperc.

They use cow (and said it was the best - that might stimulate some discussion!) - $50 a pop and $20 for shipping to Nova Scotia - I'm guessing thats a flat rate.

Thats pretty good - I've been burn several times bringing stuff up from stateside with "brokerage fees" and other shipping rip off crap - so my next purchase will be from Moperc.

Posted: **Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:51 pm**

I just ordered a cow skin from Michael at Moperc.

Since this will be the first time I ever changed a skin; are there any tips that would help?

Thanks,
GLJ

Posted: **Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:03 pm**

There was really good thread awile back on that:
http://www.congaplace.com/cgi-bin....hl=skin

congaplace.com

Changing Skins - Is it worth changing skins