congaplace.com

Posted: **Thu Sep 23, 2004 5:56 pm**

I dont know if this is the right place to ask stuff like this... but ill do it anyhow. I havent had my congas/bongos for long time at all and I haven't seen any instrunctional videos or anything like that. Though I've still been able to learn alot on my own... improvising rythms with my band, reading pages like this. I feel I got a great technique already and my rythm-stock is growing for each day that passes.
...BUT, since I got no teacher, there are quite a few problems that I have wich I can't really figure out myself. For example the tuning. At first, when I only had my bongos, I tried to get a nice, crisp, high tone on the macho... but I didn't like the sound at all. It had some metallic, vibrating touch to it, especially when hiting the rims or whatever its called. I understand this comes from tuning unbalanced... but I can assure u, I tried so #### many times, really really carefully and I still got that awful sound.
Amazingly, that sound is gone now and I actually did nothing to them. I just let them rest for some days and then the sound was good-.-. Anyway, now I got the same problem with one of my congas, the wooden millenium 10" one with natural, premounted skin. I know I haven't tuned it "unbalanced" so I don't really know what's wrong.. help me out thx:)

im sorry for the messy output of this msg and maybe for my bad english, if its bad.

Saludos

NaVajO, brand new conguero.

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2004 11:08 am**

23 views no answer

was i unclear..?

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2004 12:40 pm**

Hi Navajo,

First to be honest I'm not sure if i fully understand ur problem.
Am I right that when u tune ur conga (evenly !) u get a metallic ringing ( or in other words, disgusting overtones

), and they seem to disappear after a few days or will that overtones remain?
If it disappears after a while it can be that ur head needs a little time to get comfortable with that new tuning.
Try the following: Tune the lugs counterclockwise in SMALL steps AND after each lug u hit the middle of the head (a simple bass tone) - this could help.

If it remains it can be that ur head isn't evenly tuned, for that fact i would suggest this: Take a drumstick and hit the head slightly and exactly above every lug - they should all sound the same - if so u can say for sure their tuned even!

Also have You tried different ( from very low to tight high tone) tunings? Also, how old is ur head and is it looking good ( no scratches or damages ) ?

hope this will help a bit - im no professional these are just my thougts...and again the amazing nice sounding sentence:

Be patient and try and try and try.......i know this really sucks but it is like it is.....

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2004 12:43 pm**

Without hearing it there's not much advice I can give. Maybe re-mount the whole head from scratch or at least loosen it right up and tighten each lug as evenly as you can however long it takes... If your still unhappy maybe you need a new skin or even Conga...Good luck with it..

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2004 1:07 pm**

well as i said i havent had the congas for THAT long time and the heads (natural) were on from start.. no scratches or damages but i actually dont know anything about their "age".
thx for the tuning tips, i really need that stuff:) what i could do is to record something and give u a link so that u can hear how it sounds. also listen to my slap.. im not really happy about my it at all, cant get it to sound much different from the open tone.

the issue i described does not go away on my 10" conga. what i said was that i had the same problem on the macho of my bongos, but that one disapeared after some time.

Edited By NaVajO on 1096036711

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2004 4:23 pm**

ive recorded some with my really, really lousy computermic.. dont know if you will be able to hear the "overtone" at all.

http://w1.233.telia.com/~u23304375/congasample1.wav

anyway, there's the link. I started off with some normal mambo-tumbao so that u can hear how my congas sound... then there's some palm - open - slap (please tell me how i can improve them), and last some more clear overtones.hrm.

i wonder if this helped:P

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2004 5:26 pm**

NaVajo:

This is what I do to mitigate this problem somewhat (It is almost impossible to get rid of the overtones totally, if recording; a recording engineer with good equipment can get rid of the remaining overtones by "clipping" the unwamted frequencies):

1)- Keep the heads well oiled. (JC calls it "Manteca", I have even used "vaseline" in the past).
2)- Tune each lug in order by small amounts around the rim, until desired "Open Tones" are acquired at each lug location.
3)- Hit the center of the head with a closed fist before every session. This will help restore a more uniform distribution of the skin "residual stresses" around the rim. Keep in mind that the "strech" & "moisture" are constantly changing due to the ever changing environmental conditions. A well tuned drum inside the house will sound completel different after a few minutes in an open outside environment.
4)- If all of the above fails, I typically resort to the last option I know, using "House Kitchen Paper Towell folded into a ~ 3" square, attached with tape to the center of the head. Warning, this practice will both mute & change the strokes sound somewhat. Too many and it will become dull, to little ...... well you got it.

Hope this helps!

KinoConga

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2004 5:47 pm**

ah, ok thx a bunch:) i guess ill have to get me some of that oil/vaseline then! How does the oiling process look? Do you just put it on the head, shred it out and then whipe up with paper so that only little remains in the head? or do you keep it "wet" for however long time it should take..? Or maybe the heads should be oiled all the time, both when playing and not playing?

as to my tuning. i would be happy with the open tone i got now if it wouldnt be for the overtone, wich seems to be there however i tune. if you've listened to my little recording, what did you think of the sound? (might be some disturbance because of the poor microphone).

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2004 7:27 pm**

Hello NaVajo
I had the same exact problem with my new LP's congas,
I went through the whole tunning thing also. I took JC's advice and treated my skins with Manteca also known as Lard.
I tuned the skins real loose then I applied a coating of Manteca on the skins using two fingers and starting in the center of the skin and worked my way out, then I left the skins out in the sun (at least 80 degrees) for about 5-6 hours.
The problem went away. I think its a combination of the congas not being broken in and the need for treating the skins.
I hope this helps.
Otto

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2004 7:28 pm**

NaVaJo
you can also use a hot lamp instead of the sun if necessary.
Otto

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2004 8:03 pm**

Navajo ...I would recommend either Palm Oil or Lard to "coat" the head. Also it is a very "thin" coat, applied with your finger tips. I would also recommend you "upgrade" your congas say to 11 inch and 12 1/4 inch-Quinto-Tumba. When striking the head for a "closed" slap just put a bit of pressure on the head,from the palm of the other hand as u strike. Do not "overcup" your hand when slapping. That is a bad habit, and can hurt your hands, try a more "karate hand" style almost flat, with a "slight" bend at the knuckles. For tuning sing "here comes the bride"...."here" is the low drum, and "comes the bride" is the high drum, if you have no piano around to tune with. Hope some of this helps..and Welcome again......"JC" Johnny Conga.... :;):

Posted: **Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:44 am**

thanks ALOT otto and JohnnyConga! ill try to get my hands on that lard oil as soon as possible and do what you said. also thanks for the slap and tuning advice, thx alot:) it was needed

Saludos

NaVajO - Brand new Conguero

Posted: **Sat Sep 25, 2004 5:16 pm**

Hi Navajo...it is not Lard oil....Manteca is pork fat.....and the other I mentioned is west African Palm oil, which you can find in some ethnic markets. Manteca u can buy at the Supermarket....."JC" Johnny Conga.... :;):

Posted: **Sun Sep 26, 2004 1:35 am**

Navajo:

The distorted overtones you are experiencing could be also coming from the "Mic Boost".

If you are using the PC mic, unclick the mic boost.

Go to the control panel, sound devices and look for the screen where the mic boost is. Normally is in the advance sections of the audio.

Saludos,

KinoConga

Posted: **Sun Sep 26, 2004 10:06 am**

thanks, but its not that:) because i hear the overtone when i play, not only on my recordings:P

congaplace.com

Help:)