Wood Head Bongos

[shor]

Do you like the sound of a wood head bongo?
Or do not appreciate its timbre?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j6ntxzLwUI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDQI4tJJCVo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmW1hjPB7Fo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grrpdS60Foc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-dbco67o7w

[Psych1]

I've got a set made by Conrad (Spirit in the Wood) that I practice on and sometimes travel with. It is like the Schlagwerk. Sounds much better than the Tycoon or the others. They are lightweight, easy to pack and carry, no tuning or detuning.

There is a guy in Nelson, British Columbia who makes great sets with birch tops - sounds better than the mahogany most use. He hangs out at music fests and sells them for about $60. I spent most of an afternoon last summer playing about 20 different ones he had for sale - they all sounded a bit different.

Easy to make - just glue thin tops on old shells.

But for sound - they don't come close to real skins for a full rich sound.

[shor]

I have an old shell of a cheap non-tunable bongo, I'm thinking of adding a wood top. I proved with a plastic top obtaining poor results.

[Psych1]

Do it. Get a piece of 1/8" birch plywood. Sand the hembra side down. You want the macho more stiff. If you hit hard it is a good idea to tape your fingertips at first - not much give with wood.