conga skins - what's better than rawhide

[tito]

hello i'm new to this site and so far i'm loving it! i have a question? i have played with rawhide, evans, remo, lp skins. every time i watch video's the congeros always have a certain type skin...they seem to be all white, almost clear with an lp logo on them. Are these rawhide or some type plastic ???

[john]

They might be using synthetic heads:

http://www.pro-music-news.com/html/05/e00708lp.htm

-John

[tito]

hey thanks for replying....i'm having a hard time trying to find them...any idea's???

[tito]

hey thanks for replying....i'm having a hard time trying to find them...any idea's???

also what is the best sounding head to use now in day?

[untaltumbador]

Tito, I have a set Remo's and Evan’s. Remo's sound is really bright you don't need to hit them as hard as mule skins. I find the Evan’s to be a bit on the mellow side and they really sound good on a tumbadora. I like these synthetics because once I tune them they stay tuned and I don't have to take them down after practiced.
I look at these heads as experimental devices and I will not be surprise when I see a digital set of tumbadora where we can change the sound on the fly.
At the moment I am practicing my left hand slap on a Gong Bop quinto tuned like a tumbadora, it is taking me a long time but its coming.
You can, maybe, find the specs of all these heads at their manufactures web site.

[Isaac]

If you see Giovanni in a video or even in concert, you'll
notice he may use only one synthetic head, on his conga
or quinto. The rest are real skins. What does this suggest to you?
I think this allows for one drum to remain as a tuning reference.
Also the idea that one you if tune the synthetic head once - it'll
remain tuned is not so true. If you're in a real playing situation
with a band , any head , synthetic or not will react to the stress.
I've gone through several synthetic heads in a relatively short time. They were a good time saver for quick setup, but I still
kept my tumba with a thick rich mule skin- which could sound
mellow and also take a good slap.
the synthetics were very good in humid locations or when I had to play under air-conditioning vents which really messes up your tuning on natural skins.
The main problem today is that the natural skins are
the omnipresent water buffalo which sounds OK, but is very porous and goes out of tune too quickly. They usually should
to be changed after only 1 to 2 years. My preference is
mule. You also can have your own choices for the thick/thin you like that will enhance the sound of your drum.
These ultimately are personal choices having to do with your
ear, hands, sensitivity, stamina, musicality and experience.
Experimentation in sounds can only lead to more knowledge.

Isaac
funkytradition@yahoo.com

[tito]

hey thanks for the info...i have used remo's before but like you said Isaac them seem to split on me...in the winter time i'll go back to rawhide...i'm also ready to buy a set...i was checking out the new lp 40th anniversary series they look really good...on the other hand they are wood...and i have always bought wooden congas....i think this time i want fiber glass. like the Armando P. series, also they are a lot lighter...but i guess will see...i wonder if the 40th ann. series are limited edition...