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Posted: **Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:27 am**

The skin vs shell topic got me thinking. I seen every animal on the arc praised in some form or another:
Mule, Cow [or steer], Horse, deer, goat [for dejimbes] and antelope [also dejimbes] but the poor lowly Water Buffalo ... we all seem to universally slag him. So the question is: Is it the nature of the beast? Or just how we process him?

Enquiring minds want to know!

I wonder what unicorn would have sounded like? Hmmmm .

ps. anybody seen the conga skins on ebay for $20? Anybody tried them?

Posted: **Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:57 am**

Water buffalos are fun to ride, not to play.

I saw some pictures where foreign tourists actually hunt
these animals.
probably as challenging as tying your shoes.

Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1200801567

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... uffalo.jpg

Posted: **Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:59 pm**

I think what I don't like is how they are processed. When I play a new conga from LP, or Toca etc...They don't have that feel like when your playing mule or steer. I'm sure that if you gave me a fresh water buffalo hide that had just been fleshed and de-haired in the old school way, it would sound better than the processed skins that come out of thailand.

Posted: **Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:51 am**

Sakuntu I was going to say the same thing, is the process ;they totally take out the natural oils from the skin. And I believe they do that so that it wears out faster and you have to go out and by some more.

Paz

Olsongo

Posted: **Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:00 am**

I am of the opinion that when you buy a hand drum of any type from a music store, especially if it's been a floor model, it will need a new hide. Water buffalo is widely used because they are cheap and plentiful. If it wasn't for LP, Toca and other mega-brands the skins would probably go to waste. Oh, you know those rawhide dog-chews that you get from the pet store? Guess what?

If you are just getting into drumming then water buffalo is just fine. Once you've tried other instruments with selected hides you'll want to change yours!
I think Michel at Moperc uses good, ol' French-Canadian cows for his instruments!

Posted: **Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:33 pm**

Yup - good skins - good price and no cross border UPS/Fedex rip off charges - just good ol Canada Post. Thats where my next skin will be from.

Darrell

Posted: **Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:38 pm**

I'm going to be testing a variety of skins very soon
and will try to post a summary of my findings. The preparation
and chemical processes are a big factor...but climate & geography
may be as well. Why are cigars from one country smoother
and better than in other countries?
In similary treated goat skins
that I've tried from South America, West Africa, Pakistan, Israel
and Egypt the quality varied greatly.

Isaac

Posted: **Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:37 pm**

I would be willing to bet that the health and welfare (particularly diet) of the animal prior to slaughter is a vital factor. I would imagine the skin from a healthy, well-fed animal would be far superior to that from one which had lead a miserable, malnourished existence. You can certainly taste the difference in the meat ( e.g. compare the taste of battery reared chickens to free-range).

Posted: **Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:50 pm**

In all fairness to Waterbuffalo hides from LP for instance. If I had to have a drum with one I would not mind it being on a Tumba too much. I have played many LPs and their Tumbas don't sound bad. However, I would prefer a different type of skin on a quinto or conga.

Posted: **Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:52 pm**

For me it doesn't make sense to use imported water buffalo when I can get great skins from good ol' Californian cows.

I realize if your buying a new LP/Toca/whatever drum that'what they are going to put on it...I guess maybe there are more water buffalo than steer in Thailand where these drums are made.

I don't buy those brands new, I buy used and plan on changing skins, or I buy drums from the smaller artisan makers. I do it this way mostly for my own enjoyment.

This is not a method for everybody, and I know many, many players who sound fine and play great on factory made LP's with buffalo and I play their drums all the time.

I do enjoy the feel and sound of thick cow on my drums.

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