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As I always use a different Bongó to gig, yesterday I took the Dandy out to play in a new club called Spice. To be honest the Macho bearing edge was killing my hands since it is made flat as an iron pot instead of round like most Bongos. I wonder what the hell is Lp thinking while making their Bongos ? That flat bearing edge does not produce the toki tiki toki sound of a well executed martillo. Lucky my friend conguero is in love with the Dandy and will be sold to him shortly. Does anybody else in this forun owns the dandy ? I rememberthe the struggle with the hembra skin mounted too high, may be since mine is from the first production run have the flat bearing edge and may be the issue have been corrected on newer sets.

I got one - also from the first batch - and I agree with you. I had the same problem with the heads too high but the water trick fixed that. Then I changed the skins, to goat & cow, but still wasn't satisfied. I kept thinking that I just prefer old bongos to new ones and I put it aside planning to strip it and make it look more like one that belongs to me. Now I think I will just pass it on to someone who will play it. I really like the size of it and it is easy to hold and not too heavy. I don't notice the problem you mention with the bearing edge & I do like the big hembra sound. But I can't get the sound that "Dandy" does. Could it be me?

Hola psych, Yes I changed the skins a couple time looking for that elusive old school sound from the Hembra and it is very close right now. IMHO the 8.5 " & 8 5/8 " Hembras have a better tight sound specially if the skin is thick . Also a cilindrical shell tend to sound bigger than the common tapered type shell.