Detuning congas

[stithra]

How important is it really to tune the conga down after playing? Jim Greiner (LP) and many others means it will extend the life of the head (?). I don`t know...

BR,
Stian

[Gallichio]

I de-tune after every show or when done playing. I have heads that have lasted for many years. I also put a couple of drops of oil and work it into the head. Careful not two much and wipe off the extra. LP at one time sold head oil but I have not seen it in years so I use olive oil.

[randyc]

I'm curious as well.
I've played acoustic drums for many years and have always stayed away from 'de-tuning' with no loss of playability/tone/life. Keeping in mind that acoustic heads are not animal skin.
I've heard that shell integrity could be a concern due to 'breaking down' from use and no relief from the tension. Potentially could lose some resonance.
However, most members (from what I have read) are in agreement that Congas sound better with age.
My concern w/b the loss of natural elasticity/tone in the head itself from repetitive tuning. I could be off-base though.
Randy.

[blango]

I think it is just common sense, really.

Detune a nice old mahogany quinto every time. Never detune a medium tuned Lp Oak Tumba etc.

You never want to leave any drum totally crancked up.

I do believe leaving the drum with some tension helps keep the top from cracking, like the very top 'ring', if you will. Thus, im not a fan of totally detunning.

As far as skin life, yes, i bet it does effect how long the skin lasts.

hope that helps,

Tony

[bongosnotbombs]

There are almost as many opinions on this as there are conga players!

Personally I detune one turn per lug for all my congas, even fiberglass ones.

It's not just for the skin, but also to relieve pressure on the shell at the lug plates.

Bongos, 1 turn for the hembra, 2 turns for the macho.

Some guys will fully detune, I don't see the need, but thats just my opinion.

[CongaTick]

I would detune my cheapo/beater/all-I-can-afford LP Ardientes plus my 1976 glass tumba bout a half turn everyday after practice to preserve the skin and keep too much tension off the shell. All mules. Experimented today with full de-tune on all drums (1 1/2 -2 turns) and left them sit for about 4 hours before tuning up for practice. Difference VERY noticeable, as if the skins had regained elasticity and had a chance to relax. Newly tuned, there was increased volume on all strokes, expecially the opens. I mean, it was an eye opener. Try it if you haven't.

[No.2-1820]

I like to detune just to take good care of my drums and because I actually enjoy the process of getting them tuned to where I want them before each use, this can vary according to what I'm playing or practicing or even just how I'm feeling. It's like foreplay !

Barrie

[JimG]

I detune every drum after every practice. 1/4 - 1/2 turn Personal preferance, I guess.

Consider the environment the drums are in. Climate controlled can mean different things. Some climate control means controlling temperature alone, some add humidity control. All environmental changes affect the characteristics of the natural materials of a drum. As natural materials cool they expand, as they warm they contract.

If you store your drum in a changing temperature environement, like setting back the thermostat at night, your drum will expand. The temperature cools and humidity falls as well. To some drums that expansion is within it's normal tolerances. Some thicker skins have greater tolerances to that change as well. However, the more tension on the skin the more tension on the drum to hold it's form and when you add natural expansion and contraction, something will react. And again, it may be withing the tolerances of the natural materials. I am not a scientist. In fact I get woozzy just thinking about it.

Here's another detune question. What if you are away from the drum for 1 week, 2 weeks. Should you remove the head or simply detune? I have a vacation coming this spring and it will be my first away from my babies. any thoughts?

Cheers,
Jim

[akdom]

Hi all

I detune everytime I finish playing. I have really thick great skins on my set. They can handle pressure and stress, but I want to protect the drums too. Constent stress on the shell and skin is not good. I personally untune my drum by giving 4 turns and hitting the center of the skin. Once done, they are pretty lose.

I retune each time of course. It takes some time, but I always have a great sound... and the skins are just like new... good care makes a big diff..


B

[stithra]

Thanks to everyone for interesting and usefull answers!

I have LP Patatos (fiberglass). I think those shells should stand the pressure by having constantly (high-)tuned skins on. But what about the lugs? its not nesessarily good for the hardware to tune up and down every day??

tjo hei
- Stian

[bongosnotbombs]

Thanks to everyone for interesting and usefull answers!

I have LP Patatos (fiberglass). I think those shells should stand the pressure by having constantly (high-)tuned skins on. But what about the lugs? its not nesessarily good for the hardware to tune up and down every day??

tjo hei
- Stian

That's why they invented lubricants chief!

[akdom]

Thanks to everyone for interesting and usefull answers!

I have LP Patatos (fiberglass). I think those shells should stand the pressure by having constantly (high-)tuned skins on. But what about the lugs? its not nesessarily good for the hardware to tune up and down every day??

tjo hei
- Stian

plastic skins are thin and almost don't streach. So you can keep them under certain pressure.

The shell should not suffer too much since you do not have to streach your skins too much to be tuned (if you can ever been tuned with plastic lol)

And yes, some lube will do the trick. And thick hooks and long lugs...


B

[windhorse]

I don't detune,, except once a year during the onset of winter.

Once they're tuned nice, then I leave 'em.

No warping, no problems. And they're thick Cow hide, Mahogony with no Alma support rings.

But, I like the lower tones of Folkloric rather than the high tinny sound of Salsa/Son band style, so they aren't too stressed either.

[burke]

Ahh windhorse you make my heart glad! This comes up once or twice a year and I always feel like the heretic. I don’t detune either ( I, like you adust for seasonable variation) and the dire consequences have simply not happened.

I like to be able to jump on the drums when the mood strikes me. I got 20 minutes before work and I want to jump on the drums and thump abit ... they are ready for my eager hands.

Do piano players detune? Kit drummers? Guitar players ... etc. etc. nope.

Just us conga players and our delicate, fragile flowers.

My opinion (just opinion no facts to back this up) is that these tubs of ours will survive the abuse of not being detuned..

Certified conga abuser



Edited By burke on 1203222009

[burke]

Hey dudes - maybe a show topic for "mythbusters"