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Posted: **Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:49 pm**

I have a pair of the LP Giovani ash bongos with the factory LP skin heads, and have a tuning question.

I tune them so that:

1) I get the same pitch when struck next to each lug
2) I get a nice "bark" without ringing
3) The pitch interval between the macho and the hembra is a suitable interval

What I do is, starting from "loose", I tighten all four in a clock-wise motion just enough for me to start getting a pitch out of the head when I tap it with my fingers. Then, I adjust various nuts (by tightening further) however I need to in order to bring all lugs up to the same pitch when I tap with my fingers next to each lug. Then, once the skin seems to be getting the same pitch all the way around, I start to tighten the lugs all the way around in a clockwise motion, until the total pitch of the head is satisfactory, and I'm still getting the same pitch at each lug.

So, I FEEL that I'm tuning them correctly....

BUT, sometimes the nuts on the lugs do not look like they are tuned very evenly. That is, sometimes the threads on one lug are exposed past the nut more than on the other lugs, or conversely, sometimes the threads on three of them are exposed more than on the one that isn't so exposed.

Am I doing anything wrong?

Posted: **Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:05 am**

You are tuning absolutely correctly! Well, at least I do it the same way. The main thing is to tune by ear, not the eye.
The animal skin is not a perfectly even material, so it is normal that length of exposed thread on lugs will be different.

Posted: **Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:11 am**

The head / skin and the crown may not be on perfectly straight as well, as long as it sounds fine don't worry about the threads on the lugs.

but more than likely its the skin as mentioned above.

Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1184566413

Posted: **Mon Jul 16, 2007 11:03 pm**

Ah, I see-- even if the skin is physically on the drum straight, the skin may stretch a little differently at different points across its surface. That makes sense to me. Thanks for the input.

Posted: **Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:43 am**

Lots of things come into play when you tune bongos. There is no way you are going to get an even tuning or positions of lugs, heads, etc, etc.

First, remember that "mechanically' the lugs sit inside their places and tend to "take their own way". So is difficult to get then even all looking th same or to get perfectly even. Some lugs will be leaning the in the rim or some will be leaning more towards the base, etc, etc,. Lubrication is another factor. Some lugs/nuts are more lubricated and will tend to tune easier than other.

How do I tune? Regardless of the first lug I tried to tune, the next one I tuned is the one across not the next one. I was thought this by somebody that puts lets pressure in the head and avoids putting pressure on just one side of the head. (In other words, you are "compensating" in the pressure when the next lug you tune is the one across. That way, you get a more "even tuning").

One trick I learned is to "slap" the head once you tune "two lugs", remember one lug then the one across, to allow it to expand. (If you have a new head you need to let it "break in" a little).

Another trick I've learned, and with the high tuning that is now fashionable, is to put washers between the base and the nuts. This puts a little bit of pressure but tends to avoid having to do lots of turns to tune. (Watch out. Washers when they lose their lubrication and/or start bending because of the pressure tend to give problems sometimes).

No rocket science here is just trial and error and experience.

Saludos!

Posted: **Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:10 pm**

I used to tune my bongos and congas in a criss-cross manner like you just mentioned. Like how a mechanic tightens the lugs on the wheel of a car. Been tuning my bongos that way for more than 5 years, and my congas that way since I got them a few months back.

But then, I saw here on this website that a drum can become out-of-round unless the lugs are tuned in a circular manner. So I started doing in a circular manner like what was recommended.

I have no idea what's best, but I sure don't like the idea of my drums going out-of-round!!

Posted: **Sun Aug 19, 2007 3:59 pm**

WHOPBAMBOOM,

IF YOUR BONGO IS AN EIGHT LUG SET, TUNE THEM IN A CRISS-CROSS PATTERN. IF YOUR BONGO IS A 10 LUG SET, THEN YOU SHOULD TUNE THEM LIKE YOU WOULD DO ON CONGAS, WHICH SHOULD BE, FROM ONE LUG, TO THE NEXT. WITH NO MORE THAN A FULL 1/2 TURN AT A TIME, ON EACH LUG.

IMPORTANT ADVICE:

LEARN YOUR PROPER PITCHES FOR BONGOS AND CONGAS. LISTEN TO RECORDINGS AND TRY TO GET THAT SOUND, UNTIL YOU'LL DEVELOPE YOUR EARS ENOUGH TO TUNE THEM ON YOUR OWN WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. ALWAYS, REMEMBER THIS: DETUNE YOUR DRUMS AFTER USE, ESPECIALLY THE MACHO BECAUSE, OF IT'S HIGH TENSIONING.

CHARLIE.

Edited By yambu321 on 1187654885

Posted: **Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:07 am**

Whopbamboom wrote:I used to tune my bongos and congas in a criss-cross manner like you just mentioned. Like how a mechanic tightens the lugs on the wheel of a car. Been tuning my bongos that way for more than 5 years, and my congas that way since I got them a few months back.

But then, I saw here on this website that a drum can become out-of-round unless the lugs are tuned in a circular manner. So I started doing in a circular manner like what was recommended.

I have no idea what's best, but I sure don't like the idea of my drums going out-of-round!!

Criss-cross or circular. These are definitely 2 different schools of thought in tuning your congas and bongos. I've done both myself in the past, although currently I follow the circular method.

Personally, I think either method causes your drums to have uneven tension momentarily until you've finished applying the same amount of turns to each tuning lug. But, this uneven tension moment is so brief that I doubt it highly that this is sufficient to cause your drum to go out of round.

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:04 am**

Hi there

In getting a new set of congas, took advantage of a Bon Gops special on congas + bongos. So proud new owner of bongos (which I've never played before).

An immediate question with the receipt of these bongos. The hembra is tuned higher than the macho, in fact the two were received tuned pretty much one octave apart but opposite to what they should be (? there is a question in that . . . ). Is there something I'm missing in this, or is it as simple as they are tuned wrong and simply retune (which I'm about to start doing).

thanks

Al

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:48 am**

Sounds like the were tuned wrong, the littler drum which is the macho should be highest.
The bigger hembra shold be lowest. An octave is too far apart for me. I tune to about a
4th apart.

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:22 am**

bongosnotbombs wrote:Sounds like the were tuned wrong, the littler drum which is the macho should be highest.
The bigger hembra shold be lowest. An octave is too far apart for me. I tune to about a
4th apart.

I was so certain that there was nothing extraordinary going on, and fearing that the hembra was strained, backed off and retuned both. And yes, started to consider an octave seems very far. And in the true spirit of this forum, sought out opinions on tuning intervals . . . a fourth it is. Many thanks.

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:58 am**

Saludos, my methode is simple, first I tune the hembra to that sweet mellow sound which depends on the acustic of the room, club, recording studio,ect, yes I also use the cross pattern. For the macho even if it is a new skin ( I mount my owns ) I go one complete turn on each lug, then if it not enough then I go a little on each lug until I get the desire pitch. If the skin cracks, bad luck. Try to keep the skin level and you are ready to go. No science.

Posted: **Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:15 pm**

Sirs,

Also relatively new to Bongo tuning. Newly arrived Gon Bop Tumbao Pro Custom with Macho (7")
and Embra (8.5"). The drums currently have new Remo (for Gon Bop) NuSkyn heads. I must say ,
I am not a fan of the high pitched piercing bongo tone that currently seems to be en vogue. I am
looking for a more "blended" tone that melodically fits in with the standard quinto/Conga/Tumba
tunings. Was wondering if someone here may have a starting interval tuning for the bongo that
would meet my needs. Looking for sonic transitions that the listener could recognize as "bongo"
yet not cause flinching. Any suggestions/approaches greatly appreciated. My primary performance
setting is miked in Church....so I need presence but not so much "performance".

apologies for the picture size...have not mastered photo posting.

Peace, Chas

Posted: **Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:31 pm**

CDldrum, I think you may want to use a good thick natural skin on the hembra. The plastic one is not going to produce enought bass as a thick natural skin. Contact L & H percussion, he should be able to supply you with a good skin

Posted: **Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:35 pm**

Thanks Caballoballo .

I was thinking about mule. Does seem to be popular here amongst bongueros to use two variety of hides
on the drums. What mix seems to be the preference ?...or is it just dealers choice ? I am looking for "warm"
tones...but not muffled/dead...I do want some flavor. Any twin recommendations ? Thanks in advance.

Peace, Chas

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