congaplace.com

Hello Folks;
I'm a restaurateur of vintage drum set. Not too long ago I noticed an ad on CL about a conga. For a mere $10 I thought I could not go wrong.
Did not know what I was getting into it but decided to learn a new facet of percussion
Since then I have discovered so much about congas and quintos and tumbas etc etc.
I happen to have stumbled across a vintage Gon Bops super quinto in oak. There was quite a bit or repair needed as the staves separated as soon as I removed the bands.
Anyway having fixed many vintage drum and being good at working with wood I was able to repair it almost to factory condition.
The finish is a combination of shellac and final coat of lacquer. Hardware was cleaned using Evaporust.
I have completed the restoration but I'm at an impasse in regards to skin. It seems like every brand has their way of measuring the skin.
So Any suggestion on how to go about?
I 'm posting some pictures to give you an idea of what i have.

Hi.

Very good work so far.

About the skin, you just have to measure the diameter of the mouth (the top) of the drum. Yours should measure 9,5" or 9,75", if it's a Gon Bops requinto.

If it measures 9,75", you can chose the facility and order a ready mounted 9,75" superquinto head from Gon Bops (models California or Alex Acuña), see here : http://www.gonbops.com/products-category/congas/

But everyone here, including me, will tell you it's more fun to mount a skin by yourself. Assuming you've have kept the old one to use the flesh hoop.

There are lots of places and sites where you can order some conga skins. Depends on where you live : USA, rest of America, Europe, Australia, Asia ?

Tell us more, and then we can help you better.

Just my 2 cents.

Chtimulato thank you for the reply.

Yes I do have the old skin ( it was ripped) and after soaking it in water it unfolded and I have the metal ring that was in there.
I figure I would need a skin round of at least 17", but what I do not know is the thickness needed.
I found a calf rawhide on line for drum application but when i got it it felt too thin compared to the old skin I had on.
So the question is Calf? Mule? Goat? thickness?
I live in Los Angeles area.

Thanks a bunch

Best is mule. Then, horse, cow/steer/bull. Or bison (american bison, not thai water buffalo).
Since it's a requinto, you don't need a thick skin imho.
Since it's an old Gon bops with only five lugs, you don't need a thick skin either. Unless you reinforce the inside with backing plates, but there should allready be some on Gon Bops (where the side plates are screwed).

There are lots of skin suppliers in the USA. Try manitopercussion or Artdrum. Type these names in a browser. Or browse this forum, and you'll find some links.

You've done an outstanding job on that restoration, congratulations! if you are going to mount your own skin, which I highly recommend, then the truth is that you don't have to worry about the size of the head. I do recommend mule especially if you are shooting for a more old school traditional Rumba tone, minimal ringing.
Here is one that I restored, shellac finish.

Thank you guys for your input.
At least now I know Mule skin is my target. Will follow your direction and keep you posted on my progress