What makes a good sounding conga? - the wood, the shape, the maker

[bongosnotbombs]

I prefer a dry sounding conga with not much sustain for folkloric music.
I prefer something a wet sound and and more sustain for jazz.

The shape of the drum is very important, also little features like the bearing edge and its shape will affect the skin. How open is the bottom, thickness of the shell.

Not only is there skin quality and type, but there is also thickness.

In my opinion, disregarding the player, it goes like this.

1. Wood or fiberglass.
2. Drum shell shape and design. A drum may have many skins in it's life, it's shape will always affect the skin
3. Wood type if the drum is wood, because the same skin will sound different on different woods
4. Skin type, quality and thickness.