Tuning problem--or is it? - Having uneven lug tension

[Doc Washboard]

Gentlemen:

I have a set of Meinl Luis Contes that are about a year old. I've recently found that two particular lugs right across from one another need to be cranked up much farther than the other four lugs in order to bring everything up to the same pitch--up to a full spin around the lug. The problem, if it is one, is getting more pronounced.

I fully detune everything each evening, and I keep the lugs lubed up.

Is this a situation that the rest of you face? Is it a problem? Will it get worse? Is it worth fixing, and, if so, how would one fix it?

Thanks in advance for your input.

[117-1185347433]

Doc Washboard,

I can't think of any other possibility at the moment than perhaps the thickness of your conga skin is significantly uneven.

Do you still have the original water buffalo skins (from Thailand) on your conga? As you may already know, oftentimes you don't get supplied the best skins (e.g., steer), more so handpicked ones, from Asian mass-produced, mid-level congas like your Meinl Luis Contes. (But, I hope you don't get me wrong. Those are decent congas and would among my top picks for above entry-level congas, along with the Gon Bops Tumbaos and LP Matadors.) If so, then it might be hightime for you to replace the skin, at least the culprit one.

But, I suggest waiting for other input from other more knowledgeable and more experienced forum members to come before you decide on a definite plan of action.

Hope this helps,



Edited By umannyt on 1185837245

[blango]

Doc,

I’ve experienced the same thing.

here is what i discovered.

I was tuning by tapping the skin near the lugs with the wrench and tuning each lug to match the sound of the other lugs - to eliminate the conflicting overtones.

I discovered that this is not the correct way to tune, although it gives you results straight away. It bends the rim over time.

At this point i bet your rim is bent, as mine was. So on and on this rim will bend further.

You can straighten it out, but its not easy, and I’ve never done it myself. "Pili" of Isla has, and I’m happy to ask him how he did it.

or, you can buy a new rim.

All this assumes the shell is in good shape, as far a being in round and without major problems.

So the correct way to tune, as i discovered that all the top players with few exceptions tune like this, is to never tighten a lug beyond its other brother lugs, the skin will adjust and find its even tone. any odd overtones simply go away with a bit of playing, or by banging your fist on the middle of the skin forcefully.

Also, no need to worry about the bent rim if you want to just play it. As long as it sounds good, it is good, to me.

Hope that helps,

Tony



Edited By blango on 1185571731

[Whopbamboom]

never tighten a lug beyond its other brother lugs

How exactly is this possible?? You HAVE to tighten a lug tighter than the other lugs at some point! Can you explain this comment further??

[yambu321]

HELLO DOC WASHBOARD,
THE PROPER WAY TO TUNE A CONGA IS TO TIGHTEN THE SKIN DOWN ON THE DRUM, NICE AND EVEN ALL THE WAY AROUND. A GOOD STARTING POINT FOR YOU AT THIS MOMENT WOULD BE TO,
(BARE WITH ME, I WILL GET YOU THERE),

FIRSTLY, REMOVE ALL THE TENSION HOOKS AND LAY THEM DOWN IN A NEAT FORMATION, NEXT TO EACH OTHER, AND INSPECT THEM FOR ANY DEFORMITIES, AND OR STRETCHING.

SECONDLY, REMOVE THE CROWN AND INSPECT THE EARS ON THE CROWN (WHERE THE HOOKS ATTACH), FOR ANY DOWN-WARD BENDING DAMAGE.

THIRDLY, WASHERS! HOW MANY ON EACH HOOK?

FOURTHLY, AND CARFEULLY,
INSPECT THE SKIN FOR UNEVENESS,
AND OR EXCESSIVE STRETCHING.

IF ALL LOOKS TO BE FINE, PUT ALL THE HARDWARE BACK ON THE DRUM. AND WITH JUST HALF A TURN AT A TIME, HAND TIGHTEN THE DRUM TO SNUG EVERYTHING NICE AND EVEN ALL THE WAY AROUND. MAKE SURE YOU ARE SHOWING APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AMOUNT OF THREADS PAST EACH NUT ON ALL THE TENSION HOOKS. THIS WILL NOW BE YOUR NEW, AND CLEAN STARTING POINT.
OK, NOW CONTINUE TO TIGHTEN THE SKIN BY GOING FROM NUT TO NUT, IN A CIRCLULAR FASHION ALL THE WAY AROUND THE DRUM, WITH NO MORE THAN 1/2 A TURN ON EACH NUT AT A TIME.
CHECK FOR EVENNESS UNTIL YOU GET THE PROPER TONE YOU WANT. IF BY CHANCE ONE OR TWO OF THE HOOKS ARE STILL LOOSE WHILE THE OTHERS ARE TIGHTER, AND IF THE SKIN LOOKS LIKE A KEEPER, YOU CAN, WITH A CUTTING WHEEL TRIM OFF THE EXCESS THREADS BUT MAKE SURE THE NUT IS ALREADY ON, THAT WAY, THE NUT CAN CLEAN THE THREADS WHEN YOU'LL WORK THE NUT WITH THE WRENCH. OTHERWISE YOU'LL HAVE A HARD TIME PUTTING THE NUT BACK ON. IT'S NOT AS DRAMATIC AS IT MAY SEEM, ALL CONSIDERED IF YOU ARE STILL AT THIS POINT AFTER ALL THAT, CUT TO TRIM! IT'S EASY AND IT'LL MAKE YOUR DRUM LOOK LIKE IT'S BEING BETTER MAINTAINED BY YOU. ( I'VE ALSO DONE THIS, WITH MY OLD LP BONGOS).

ANOTHER BUT MORE EXPESIVE OPTION, WOULD BE TO GET A FLAT SKIN, AND INSTALL IT NICE AND EVENLY, AND LET THE DRUM SIT FOR AT LEAST 4 TO 5 DAYS TO ALLOW THE SKIN TO FULLY DRY, BEFORE TUNING IT UP. BUT YOU'LL NEED TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCED PERSON DO THIS FOR YOU. (I'VE DONE THIS AS WELL).

THIS INFORMATION BRO, SHOULD BE WHAT YOU'VE NEEDED

WITH RESPECT FOR ALL PERCUSSIONIST,
CHARLIE "EL COQUI" VERDEJO :;):

[blango]

Yea Charlie,

thats dead on... but i would never trim a lug, not to say its not 'right'.

I just may use it on another drum in the future, who knows,

By the way, i sell the fattest flat skins. I hand select them. they are really nice - see post about slappy skins. I can walk you through the process of mounting them. its easy, once you get the hang of it.

Tony

[yambu321]

BLONGO THANKS,
AND SURE, I'LL LOOK AT THE SKINS. NOW AS FOR MOUNTING THE SKINS, YEA, I'VE MOUNTED QUITE A FEW

[Doc Washboard]

Wow, that's a lot of information, guys. I have no teacher, but I thought I'd done the necessary reading on the topic. I guess I was wrong!

Overall, though, when I'm done, am I a) looking to have the same number of threads showing at the bottom of each lug; b) expecting to feel the same amount of torque on each lug; or c) expecting to hear the same pitch at each lug (which I know Tony already said is not the thing to look for)? These three things are not necessarily the same.

Thanks again, guys.

[yambu321]

DOC,

SINCERELY, I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY, OR WHO HAS THOUGHT YOU TO WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ABOUT THE LUGS.

IF YOU WATCH ANY TRUE CONGERO. 99% OF THEM, ARE JUST GOING TO TAKE THOSE DRUMS PUT THE WRENCH TO THEM AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT'S A MATTER OF FACT! WHAT YOU WANT IS FOR YOUR DRUM TO BE TUNED UP TO THE TONE YOU NEED.
WORRYING ABOUT LUG TO LUG TONES IS JUST UNHEARD OF FROM WHERE I COME FROM. IF ITS TUNED PROPERLY, TI'S TUNED. USE YOU EARS, INORDER TO DEVELOPE THEM. SO THAT IT'S INSTINCTIVE! FORGET TELLING A PIANIST, BASS PLAYER, OR EVEN A GUITARIST TO GIVE YOU AN A, D, OR AN E. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. IT WONT TAKE LONG, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS DEVELOPED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. TUNE YOUR TUMBA, OR THE DRUM THAT IS ACTING AS A TUMBA
FIRST, THEN TUNE THE REST OF YOUR DRUMS TO PLAY UP TO THE TUMBA.

PLAYING A GUANGUANCO PATTERN WITH THE DRUMS, IS AN EXECELLENT WAY, OF GETTING IT DONE.
IE (TOM, TUNE TUNE, TOM).

RESPECTFULLY,
CHARLIE "EL COQUI" VERDEJO



Edited By yambu321 on 1186123009

[yambu321]

ALSO INORDER TO REITERATE ON WHAT I SAID EARLIER, ABOUT ASKING A BASS PLAYER, PIANIST, OR GUITARIST TO GIVE A D, OR E IS THIS.

TUNE YOUR DRUMS TO THE WARM UP SESSION. WHILE YOUR FELLOW MUSICIANS ARE WARMING UP, YOU TUNE UP! THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, AND ALSO FOR REASONS THAT ARE NOT SO OBVIOUS, AS WELL. TRUST ME, IT'S IMPORTANT.

ALSO IMPORTANT IS THIS:
ALL CONGEROS SHOULD THINK PROFESSIONALLY. ALWAYS SHOW UP TO ANY EVENT, OR PRACTICE ON TIME, (NOT LATE). ALWAYS HAVE YOUR OWN DRUM THRONE, WRENCHES, TOWELET, AND TAPE FOR THE FINGERS, JUST INCASE, AS WELL AS A SMALL TUBE OF LOTION FOR THE HANDS, AND DRINKING WATER. :;):

RESPECFULLY,

CHARLIE "EL COQUI" VERDEJO



Edited By yambu321 on 1186123272

[Doc Washboard]

Charlie:

Thanks for the input. I came to congas from the world of drum set, where a different method of tuning is used, and I guess I expected that it applied to congas as well.

[blango]

>>AND SURE, I'LL LOOK AT THE SKINS. NOW AS FOR MOUNTING THE SKINS, YEA, I'VE MOUNTED QUITE A FEW

Sorry Yambu, I was directing the skinning instructions comment to Doc, I know you know your s@%t!

Tony

[yambu321]

:D :;):