Any tips on handling brand new congas?

[thomas newton]

I've just taken out of dusty boxes a very nice looking pair of Meinl Marathon Exclusives - Conga and Tumbadora.

I've ended up with them by accident when they were misnamed in an ebay auction. They sound very nice, they were a good price and look stunning. I was also very pleased to see that there were some very positive comments about them on this forum. So I'll be keeping them.

I'm a beginner, these are my first congas and here is my question. Have you any tips for getting the best out of them when they are fresh out of the box?

Thanks.

[Thomas Altmann]

Hi Thomas,

that's an easy one. The answer is: Tune them up and play. New drums have the virtue of not demanding anything more.

Some drummers, however, give their drums a special treatment. You may want to sand the surface of your drum skins with very fine sand paper, if they feel too rough to you. (Meinls might need that.) Some people also apply beeswax to the skins, because they like a little stickiness. You can also rub deer tallow onto the wooden edges to make the skin glide smoother over it when tuning the drums. All this is optional. It doesn't always make the drum better.

Highly recommendable is oiling or greasing the screws and nuts before they start making ugly noises and eventually seize up (regular care). In most cases, Meinl drums need that urgently.

Enjoy your new drums!

Thomas

[Mike]

Mr. Newton, congrats on your buy

What I would just like to add is that Meinl congas often come with slightly poorly mounted factory-mounted heads, i.e.
it does not fit to the bearing edge properly or it is mounted way too high (which is a matter of taste and/or playing comfort),
so you might want to adjust them for a nice and cozy seating to the shell as follows:

Loosen all the nuts, remove the drumhead, turn it upside down and pour half an inch of cold water into it.
Let it soak for some hours (you can treat the bearing edge with beeswax in the meantime or even sand it carefully),
remove the water, remount the skin and fasten the nuts clockwise until there is a little tension and then STOP.
The skin needs to dry for half a day or so and then you can tune it up regularly.

This way the skin finds its way to the bearing edge like in a handmounted process - and the sound will be much finer!

I did this with all my school´s Meinl Marathons, and it worked out nicely.
Best luck to you
& regards
Mike

[CongaTick]

I second Thomas. Play the s***t out of them until they completely own you.

[thomas newton]

you guys don't really think I've been sat looking at them do you?
Thanks for your responses, just the kind of thing I was looking for.

TN

[Congadelica]

Hi richard.
How the Meinl Marathon Exclusives they are a pretty solid Conga .
look forward to seeing them maybe . when your ready we could hook up for a session .I have the marathon series i changed the skins to mule on the conga and rawhide on the quinto and tumba . they are just about broken in and they are at another level . Im avidly waiting for my Isla`s which are to be shipped soon .

Welcome to the forum ,some great people and very knowledgeable and helpful hermano`s .

Marco

[thomas newton]

I'll be sure and keep in touch Congadelica.
I'm enjoying them very much and I'll definitely bring them to our inevitable meeting,