My new Schalloch tumba

[Victorius]

Hey there!
I've already bought my new 13" tumba - schalloch 410. As there is not so many schalloch threads I post some pics and my humble opinion about it:D
I was looking for something to play with my old Meinl woodcraft conga. I had Pearl Elite quinto but it was 31" tall and this meinl is about 28,5" so played as a tumba was uncomfortable. I decided to sell my quinto and I bought new tumba. I choose Schalloch 410 'cause I've heard it is pretty nice sounding drum in medium price range - It is indeed! My friend has new Meinl ash woodcrafts so I compared his tumba with mine and difference was very very little! Meinl sounds a little bit clearer but schalloch price is 1/2 of meinl woodcraft by the way Schalloch is owned also by meinl
Tumba is with traditional 5mm rim and 8(!) 10mm lugs. It's made from rubberwood and has water buffalo as most of thailand drums but almost doesn't ring! My Pearl was ringing like a christmas bell in comparison to this schalloch.

Drum unfortunately has a small defect: on one or two places on hardware where lug is connected with a rim (hmmm how it's called in english? - on a pic) there are dots - it looks like rusty dots, but it isn't... maybe a chrome plated problems??? Except this small thing I'am very happy with this tumba

some pics:

[Mike]

by the way Schalloch is owned also by meinl
Tumba is with traditional 5mm rim and 8(!) 10mm lugs. It's made from rubberwood and has water buffalo as most of thailand drums but almost doesn't ring!

Congrats, Victorius, that looks like a decent Tumba.

Now I am stunned : EIGHT lugs! Wow, that should hold any skin in place, and tension is evenl around the shell, bravo!
Is it a very thick water buffalo skin you have? Tose can sometimes sound really good.
I did not know that Schalloch is owned by Meinl

And about the corrosion: I would not worry about that, you can take some polishing stuff like Neverdull or something.
But certainly this sturdy hardware will stand the test of time. If this lug are a pain somewhere for you, you could try to return it. I could live with that, considering the specks and scratches on my vintage LP quinto I am soon about to enjoy. But it is a different with new drums of course, you are generally careful about the finish etc.

So have fun with this big-sized mama!

Mike

[SalseroBoricua71]

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[maelopr]

There's a store here in Bayamon (Pure Sound) that has a set just like that one, eight lugs 12 in.conga and 13" tumba, so it does seem to be a tumbadora...the shape of these drums is just like LP, the round belly. I think they were for around $600 for the set, nice drums for sure...

[Victorius]

Is it a very thick water buffalo skin you have? Tose can sometimes sound really good.

No it isn't very thick (2 - 2,5mm) but thicker than was on pearl elite quinto(1,5 - 1,8mm). I am going to reskin my both drums with El Greco mule skins in the nearest future, but I didn't chose skin thickness yet... Any suggestions?

And about the corrosion: I would not worry about that, you can take some polishing stuff like Neverdull or something.

I am not going to bother myself this small defect now - It doesn't disturb me as much!

Hi Steven! I'm sure it is 13" they have this line in three sizes 11",12" and 13" And I'm not sure if smaller drums have also more than 6 lugs! I know this is unusual but personally am glad

more pics

[Mike]

Is it a very thick water buffalo skin you have? Tose can sometimes sound really good.

I am going to reskin my both drums with El Greco mule skins in the nearest future, but I didn't chose skin thickness yet... Any suggestions?

Excellent choice, El Greco´s products will deeply satisfy you.
I would advise a not too thin skin for a tumba, about 3mm thickness should do nicely. The hardware seems to be strong enough.
Cheers
Mike

[Victorius]

And what thickness you suggest for a conga? - this old meinl woodcraft I play it like a quinto.

[Mike]

And what thickness you suggest for a conga? - this old meinl woodcraft I play it like a quinto.

Probably 2 to a maximum of 2.5mm. But I think it would be a good idea if you asked El Greco in the first place!
I do not know what skin thickness suits the Meinl woodcraft best, if it has many overtones or not, if you want a dry quinto sound or not. That all affects the choice of your skin.

[KING CONGA]

I've already bought my new 13" tumba - schalloch 410.

Victorious Conga-tulations on your great looking drums. I can't help noticing that you drums do not have almas on them I would strongly recomend that you have some made so that in time your drums will not go out of round. By the way, do you know what the difference is between the 410 Schalloch's and the 420 series

[ABAKUA]

Looking great!

[Victorius]

do you know what the difference is between the 410 Schalloch's and the 420 series

420s have golden hardware - I don't know any differenc more.

You said almas... what exactly it is and how to do that? Personally I saw congas out of round specially in winter (cold winter) they becames like eggs

[KING CONGA]

You said almas... what exactly it is

An alma is a steel ring that is placed on the inside surface of the conga just bellow the leading edge, it does wonders for the drum keeping it in the right shape as time progresses, maybe someone has a picture on hand so that you can see it more clearly, hope that helps, happy drumming.

[Whopbamboom]

Is an alma truly easy to add to an existing drum, or is this something that should be in place when the staves are assembled? I'm thinking of the possible taper on the inside of the drum when I ask this question. I haven't taken my heads of to look, so would like to know how easy this procedure might be (assuming one can locate a good metal fabricator who won't damage the drum when working with it)...

[burke]

That is a great question and one I have been meaning to ask. How does one get an alma inside a conga thats already together - the only way I can think of is to have a band with cut in it that can be squeezed, to go in then screwed in place. But perhaps there is another method?

[congamyk]

that's not the quality of drum I think of when I hear Schalloch.
Very nice drum - I didn't know they had a pro series.