Conga Christmas in Sep....

[cdldrum]

Just arrived...

Gon Bop Tumbao Pro Custom ...Metallic Tobacco burst (discontinued). Tried to capture a close up of the "metallic"
fade... not as red as appear in the photos (reminds me of the old cherry metal flake hot rod paint). Excellent fit and finish. Smell like fresh paint. Remo Gon Bop heads...plastic feel .. the rawhide is en route from Gon Bop. At some point will sport mule.

I'm living large now......will tune em' up and get busy while awaiting the calf.

BTW Rolling cases showed up today...just need to pick up a stand for the Tumba and the set is complete.

Sorry about the dog... Gus just has to check out all new arrival... he likes licking the calf on my other congas.


Peace, Chas

[Gallichio]

Have fun with your new drums.

[congamyk]

Congratulations and enjoy your new drums. The guard dog shall keep them safe.

[cdldrum]

just a little follow-up...

Swapped out the NuSkyns for some GB hides,... Gibralter seated stands arrived
today.... very pleased. Hooked up some SM57's ..run thru a little Mackie...into a
Zoom 4N. Having some fun now.

Someday will get burro... but miles to go before I earn them....

Peace, Chas

[KING CONGA]

Man! that set up be looking sweeeet! Congatulations on your new tumbs, no doubt they sound great, especially after the natural skins.

[cdldrum]

Thanks KIng...

They are indeed easy on the eyes... am very pleased... tune up easily...seem to have a few sonic "zones"
for each drums...but easily found intervals. All three hide heads were a bit snug for my inexperienced
tensioning...so...soaked them for a couple of hours...remounted them ( cleaned up the bearing edges
with some fine grit sandpaper and waxed them...may not have been necessary..but deserved my best shot).
After minimal tensioning...waited until dry (30 hrs. in Phoenix) before I tensioned the heads. After about of week...
I applied a light coat dollop of extra virgin olive oil. I do like the tactile feel of these heads much better then the
NuSkyns (personal preference ...no knock on the Remo product). The drums seem to prefer higher tunings...
but somewhere in the neighborhood of G-C-E (pitch pipe and high frequency hearing loss ears !). Am really
looking forward to the sonic response once I get them broken in....

A word on the seated Gibralter conga stands...sacrilege to some ..apologies...very easy build...nice fit and finish...
conga wrench tensioning on the basket arms. The legs require "over-tensioning" to ensure stability...a bit worrisome.
Drum are easy to "level" , and feel secure... no scarring of the lacquer on the shells (rubberized contact points). In a perfect world I would have placed locking wheels on the stand base legs...for easier positioning. (but for $120 for all three stands I cannot complain).

I realize the limitations of this trio...not as big (10.5..11.5...12.25) or as heavy as pro grade...no mule... Siam
oak (rubberwood)..etc., but, they do project a very musical tone... and were wallet friendly. I have run out of excuses
not to get better... time to woodshed.

At some point (down the road) I will be purchasing some thicker mule heads... but thru the phones, and on recording
these drums bring a smile. Having some fun now.... thanks to all the pros /semi pros/average joes here that directly/indirectly provided insights...

btw..not obvious in the photos...have found I'm most comfortable with quinto center, conga left, tumba right.

Peace, Chas