Congas: Is it the Shell or the Skin? - Which is more critical for good sound?

[umannyt]

From previous discussion threads, it has become more and more evident that we've witnessed an increasing number of testimonials from CongaBoard members how "merely" upgrading the skins of their congas--say from buffalo skins (typical of mass-produced congas) to mule or cow skins--have done wonders towards improving the sound of their drums.

This, therefore, seems to beg the question: WHICH IS MORE CRITICAL FOR GOOD SOUND: THE SHELL OR THE SKIN?

Could it be that all we have to do is to ensure that our congas have the best skin possible and that everything else (type of wood, type of rims, etc.) is really splitting hair?

I don't remember that this particular discussion regarding congas has ever been undertaken before. But, I'm not sure and I could be wrong.

Also, I'd like to state that although I envision this discussion to involve mostly wood congas with natural skins, we may also throw fiberglass congas and synthetic skins into the fray as long we make sure that we're comparing apples to apples and not apples to oranges.

And, although it's very easy to predict that the best answer is obviously "both shell and skin", let's try our best to limit our answers to either "shell" or "skin" only as the question has been originally phrased.

Thanks bros,



Edited By umannyt on 1200050941

[Mike]

Umannyt,

It depends a bit what you mean by "good sound".
We had a discussion about overtones a while ago, and it came out that partly the overtones are inherent to the shape of the conga shell.
On the other hand, not only concerning nasty ringing but to reach an overall round, mellow sound with crisp slap attack to me the skins are essential.
At least that is my experience with upgrading congas and bongos with "decent", i.e. non-water buffalo, skins.

Last point: It´s the players hands and technique that play a second role for a good tone - if not the most important.

[umannyt]

Mike,

Thanks for your response!

First of all, thanks for pointing out the "player's hands and technique" as a secondary factor for producing good sound. It's an excellent point! However, for the sake of this discussion, let's also keep the player's hands and technique as a constant, instead of a variable, factor.

Having said this, I realize that "good sound" can be hard to define specifically, more so unanimously agreed upon. It could be a very subjective thing. But, there can also be some commonality about it.

Let's just say, for starters, that a "good sound" is one that comes from the best congas in the world--mostly handcrafted ones--such as: Vergara, Junior Tirado, Matthew Smith, Isla, S.O.S, JCR, Volcano, Moperc, etc.

What I'm really trying to get at is this: Can a conga that is mass-produced (typically using a shell made of Rubber Wood or the so-called "Siam/Asian Oak") made to sound CLOSE TO or JUST AS GOOD as the world's best handcrafted congas merely by replacing its stock skin (typically water buffalo) with either mule or cow skin?

If so, then perhaps what one need only do is to just buy a mid level (even perhaps a top-of-the-line) mass-produced conga (from Thailand) and replace it with, say a JCR mule skin or Isla or Moperc cow skin, and you can already have a conga that sounds almost as good--if not as good--as the best, most expensive handcrafted congas in the world.

And, in the process, one ends up saving a lot of money!



Edited By umannyt on 1200079074

[Mike]

If so, then perhaps what one need only do is to just buy a mid level (even perhaps a top-of-the-line) mass-produced conga (from Thailand) and replace it with, say a JCR mule skin or Isla or Moperc cow skin, and you can already have a conga that sounds almost as good--if not as good--as the best, most expensive handcrafted congas in the world.

I wouldn´t be too sure about that, because the shape of the shell and the wood plays a role too.

Without doubt upgrading skins is of tremendous help for mass-produced congas. But it is one way of reaching a good sound.

The best would surely be to develop your dream conga together with a craftsman which is $$$ for most of us.

Greetings and best wishes to you, Umannyt

Mike



Edited By Mike on 1200136558

[CongaTick]

Manny,
Unfortunately. (or fortunately?) most of the listening public doesn't have the ears to discriminate "bongos" sounds. But we who care and lust after the "dream" drums do. Such a dificult balance of perfection (that's what drives us nuts): skin, shell, technique. They all have to work togeher. Right now my best congas are the ones I can afford (with Isaac's mules, of course). Yeah, my cheapass Ardiente's were taken to a new level with his skins, but still have to precisely tune to minimize ring mixed with daily purification of technique :;):

[Thebreeze]

Mike,

Thanks for your response!

First of all, thanks for pointing out the "player's hands and technique" as a secondary factor for producing good sound. It's an excellent point! However, for the sake of this discussion, let's also keep the player's hands and technique as a constant, instead of a variable, factor.

!

That part being said, it's true that the type of material used for the shell ( using wood congas for instance ) is very important. Some woods like Mahogany give you that nice warm drier sound while woods like oak give you a totally different sound. But now to the skins...
A while back, I had an oak Gon Bops Quinto that went through 3 skins before it sounded nice. The other day, a friend showed me a JCR Tumba he recently skinned and it sounded awful even though the thickness was correct. It sounded ringy. There really is a Delicate Balance between the skin, shell, as well as shape of the shell. So it's true that you can end up with a very nice set of Congas even if they did not cost an arm and a leg.
I have seen and played Matadors that achieved this with the proper skins for instance. They have a nice shape to their shells.

[Gallichio]

I know you can really change the sound of a conga dramatically with just the change of the head. All other aspects also alter the sound.

[bongosnotbombs]

Well you know one usually changes the skin on the drum and not the drum on the skin, if you catch my drift.
One drum might have many skins in it's life, skins are usually only used on one drum.
So for me it's the drum. Thats what your stuck with, get a good drum and it will help all the skins sound their best.