congaplace.com

There are two Toca skin conga heads on sale on E-bay right now 9-2-02, currently $2.00! This may be a way for you to try skin inexpensively.
Although I like synthetics myself, on wood LPs, the combo you have is a bit pingy with overtones. The Remo mondo heads are the worst of the synthetics for this, but they are the best for shear volume, that is why I use them, (on wood). On my fiberglass drums I put on Evans, far less overtones(they sound even better on wood) but they still aren't perfect and I don't think they would help you that much. I have played the Remo Nu-Skyn synthetics on wood and I think they are the best so far, but I have no idea what they would sound like on glass.
I think by your post you play in a band that is not playing all latin music. If this is the case you may find your band members like the sound you have now because it cuts through better than the skin will, (in my opinion) and they don't know or care what a conga is supposed to sound like. But try the skin, I think you will like the warmth when you play by yourself. I wouldn't say your drums sound like "trash cans" but I would agree that fiberglass and mondo heads are not the best combination of synthetics, although in your case they may be exactly what your band wants and needs. And they stay tuned, night, after night, after night, aft..............

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the attention subject. I hadn't been reading forum as much and I stopped in my tracks to read your message. Big grin. So, I tried the electrical tape x on the underside of the heads. Still rings. Last night I stuffed some plastic bags from kroger up the bell... took the ring out. In the meantime, I did the ebay shopping spree about 3 weeks ago. I found an antique dealer selling off some used /new heads. I got 2 (12'') and 2 (11.75) heads all hand picked LP heads for a ? 30? plus shipping. Great deal. I will have to soak them alittle to get them to lay right, but I am sure they will do just fine. I have to find one for my quinto and I am in business, so I will keep checking ebay out. I had to stay off line to get some practicing done. I found a great teacher, He sat in with the band. He played Black Magic Woman and Gypsy Queen, and made my congas sound great. I am learned a valuable lesson that night, ... that I don't hit them hard enough. He was so loud that he didn't need to be mic'd. I was tickled to have him sit in, it was just what I needed. The band loved it. He plays timbales too, so I am excited I have found such a wonderful teacher. In the future, I am going to change heads just to see what they sound like. When I have my lessons at the drum shop, we play on Classic LP's, wood and skin. Love them. But I think with better technique I will make my congas sound better. The ringing is annoying and I haven't changed them out cause I want all 3 the same. For now, plastic bags stuffed up the bell does the trick. Not very traditional cuban technique, but helps my ears concentrate on technique instead of the ring. I sat in with a guitarist/song writer artist last weekend. I really had to listen and pay alot of attention to making my hands hit very clean but not too busy on rhythms. It was fun, but I didn't have the band to drown me out and had no where to hide, so I was alittle to timid at first. The skins would have a better type of sound probably for a duo /guitar/congas. Now if I can just find a salsa band.... to play in. Ha.. My teacher plays in the only salsa band in town. I am hoping I can learn fast enough to get a cow bell part. This is so much fun. I wish I had done this years ago. I am on tangent now. Anyway, have a great evening, thanks for the heads up.

chow,
congabebe