Tuning Lug Bumpers, Vinyl

[KING CONGA]

Here is a picture of my Skin on Skins with the Bumpers I made.
These work better than any that ive seen so far, they actually don't look too bad because of the clear Vinyl.
If you decide to make some be sure to have a very sharp knife as it was a bear to cut, you will also need an exacto knife to make it a bit easier.
I've included a mini Blue Print for anyone that might be interested in making their own.

Cheers.
K.C

[Derbeno]

KC,
Looks great. Where did you get the Vinyl tube from?

[jorge]

How long does it take you to tune and detune the drums? Can you adjust the tuning mid-song?

[KING CONGA]

KC,
Looks great. Where did you get the Vinyl tube from?

Home depot, bur really, ant hardware should have it. The vinyl is thick so be sure to have a sharp knife as well as an exacto blade. Good luck

[KING CONGA]

How long does it take you to tune and detune the drums? Can you adjust the tuning mid-song?

Not a problem. The bumpers are designed to pull right up which allows for quick tuning and de tuning
You will love them, guaranteed.
Cheers.
K.C

[ABAKUA]

Here are mine which I made years ago, tight fitting and easily removable for tuning/de-tuning.
I have a set I used for years with the LP gear and the ones in the pics below are slightly longer as the LP rubber bumpers (built in with washers) did not work with the Meinl lugs, the Meinl lugs stick out and come down further than LP so the LP ones wont work. Also, the Meinl bumpers are hard plastic, so will still damage the drums, on a lesser scale however. I just knocked up a whole heaps of these and they work great, I have them for all my drums now.

[jorge]

Is it reasonably easy to tune the drum with 1 hand while you are playing with the other hand?

[KING CONGA]

Is it reasonably easy to tune the drum with 1 hand while you are playing with the other hand?

Only if you are really good

[jorge]

I don't think I am that "good", looks like it would take 2 hands to do it easily. To me that is a deal breaker, tuning while playing is a normal part of performing, we do it all the time. Maybe the bumper could be modified so it can easily slide up to allow tuning, then fall back down by gravity. Or maybe half the vinyl tube on the drum side could be removed from the washer down, leaving just an outside flap of vinyl on the outside to protect the other drums. That way the flap could just be bent up to tune.
I have been using smaller diameter clear plastic tubing on the threaded bottoms of the lugs for almost 30 years, since the bottoms of the lugs often damage the other drums and also can stain your pants. But my system doesn't protect against damage or stains from the washers.
Having just finished helping my friend repair and refinish 2 of his 4 old Cuban congas, and having dents from the hardware on most of my own congas and little black stains from the lugs on all my pants, I can tell you well designed bumpers would be very valuable.

[docarroyo]

Check my post from 2009 "Conga Shell Protectors"

[KING CONGA]

Maybe the bumper could be modified so it can easily slide up to allow tuning, then fall back down by gravity. Or maybe half the vinyl tube on the drum side could be removed from the washer down, leaving just an outside flap of vinyl on the outside to protect the other drums. That way the flap could just be bent up to tune.

That's just how it's designed. If you need to tune simply raise the protector, tune, then lower it, that's it. It would litterally take you less that one seconds to lift it.
Try it, it's certainly worth the small investment.
Cheers.
K.C

[Gallichio]

Looks great.

[KING CONGA]

Here is my Matador with lug guards.
Notice how I did not make a slit on the part that goes on the actual lug, this assures that they will not be removed accidentally.
Cheers.
K.C

[Mike]

Now a guy is selling these:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Invisible-Conga- ... 235577cc24

The point here is that due to the nylon ties used here, you can put the hose onto the lugs without having to disassemble them.

[KING CONGA]

They can easily be made for next to nothing.