Manufacturers, brands, skins, maintenance, stands, sticks, michrophones and other accessories for congueros can be discussed into this forum ...... leave your experience or express your doubts!
Dear Congaplace friends, I'm a rep. for JCR Percussion - maker of JCR Bells. I now have a limited supply of high quality hand selected Mule & Cow Rawhide from Colombia. If interested, please contact me at FunkyTradition@yahoo.com for details, pictures, etc...
Funky , thanks for that. I will contact you soon. You say limited quantity, do you get replenishments? I would suppose you do. I ask because I will not be able to purchase immediatley, about a few weeks?
Hey Funky Tradiiton, welcome to Conga Forum. I guess these Cow & Mule rawhide are not pre-mounted? The location of your store is up in the Bronx, correct?
The shipments are apx. 3 or 4 times a year, and sometimes there's a short dry spell between them. Of course if you live in the Bronx, You know JCR. Its near Yankee Stadium.
RayBoogie wrote:Hey Funky Tradiiton, welcome to Conga Forum. I guess these Cow & Mule rawhide are not pre-mounted? The location of your store is up in the Bronx, correct?
Ray, its not so bad mounting them!! Thats if you have extra hoops of course. Or you could be adventerous and use the one that came with the drum. I like to have extras around, heck I've got about 3 skins(united rawhide) sitting around waiting. I just recently mounted for a LP classic segun. Also about a dozen mounted, unmounted(hoops gone) LP , Gon Bops whatever. Sometimes I think I need go through it all and sort it out.. toss the ones I don't need etc. I use used bongo skins(without hoops) for my change(dinero) holder!!:D
I'd like to echo Tonio's question. Although I seem to remember some people stating that Mule is "the best", I can't remember which qualities were superior? - tone? - texture? - response? - etc?
The skins I've got are mule and also cow. Both are from Colombia. The cow is awesome also and different from the cow hide available here. It must be a regional thing, as in plants and tobbacco flavors and all natural things. It's nice to upgrade to mule, but I'm sure that one's technique is the biggest factor in sounding good. A good instrument does'nt hurt. On my card I have a quote in very small letters that sums up my philosophy as a percussionist. " Nothing is good unless you play with it" - P. Funkadelic
~ Isaac ~
ps. I can also get rings made for whatever size you might need.
Isaac, I like your philosophy, however I can't play with a skin that I have no means of demo'ing.
I do agree that one's technique matters more!!
To expand on CongaCaja's questions -- IMO buffalo(like LP) you need to crank it up through out a gig. They don't last to many years(depending on how you play etc.).And has a muted open tone. but sharper(crisp?) slaps that cut through a band. US Cowhide is warmer-open tones have more decay and slaps are nice and has a pop sound. They take longer to break in but stays nice for a long time.
We don't know any characteristics of mule. Could you or anyone else explain?
Does JCR use cowhide or mule on the congas? Guess I could check out some JCR congas depending on your answer.
Hey Isaac, I'm planning on a trip up north, in the next month or so. I live in Atlanta, but have family in Wilmington, DE, where I was born. Do you have your address posted somewhere, and/or phone?
JC, what's your view on "skins", overall. My question is this: take an experienced conga player that feels he/she could get an appropriate response, from the skin, no matter what type was mounted on the conga. Having said that, what type of skin would everybody go running to the store to purchase, because it's the best choice? (for sound, and wear)
by Isaac " Funky Tradit » Thu May 13, 2004 4:23 am
Helll all, I now have some of the same quality Colombian skins pre-mounted to the standard LP sizes: for quinto - 11", conga -11.75", & 12.5" Tumbadora. Theres a variety of thickness, and many mule skins also premounted. Personally, I've only had one mule skin - on my Tumbadora. Its a Galaxy fiberglass and what I can tell you about is this: I got it from JCR in 1999, and it seems to be getting better with age, rather than the opposite. I prefer a thicker skin to remove the ringy sound you get with fibreglass. This skin has a dark golden brown and oily look and is very strong and resiliant compared to other skins I have. I'm looking ahead to years of use out of it still and I love the sounds - which seem cleaner and more distinct. I'm going to put a similar head on my conga. I can't say if mule is better soundwise. It may be harder on the hands, so you have to get your technique down to deal with it. It's tighter structurally, than cow. (less porous), making it feel firm. Another funny thought I have is that from my experience the uglier the skin, the better they sound! Last week I realized one of my dreams and had an opportunity to play in a band featuring two of my heroes in Latin music - Nicky Marrero and on Vocals - Jimmy Sabater. I've been plugging away for about 14 years and finally feeling OK about my sound. Its a lifelong process. I hope to talk to many of you again in the future and please don't hesitate to call if you're going to be in the NY/NJ area. ~ Isaac "Hersh" Gutwilik (732) 432-0609 cell: 732-236-8148 funkytradition@yahoo.com
I have always been partial to Mule skin one for the sound it gives and the longevity. I have a mule skin on my requinto for 20 years with no cracks or splits in the skin. Of course I treat it on occasion with african palm oil and sun to melt it in. Cowhide does give a warm sound and Buffalo gives a warm sound but a bit brighter warm. Mule gives a crisp hard sound, a dry sound, with no overtones. That has been my experience with mule skins......JC JOHNNY CONGA.... :;):