Bad overtone / mounting dry-or-wet - why am I getting a high pitch ringing?

[rockdog]

For the proper version of the question I am asking, and an example of the offending tone I am getting on my drum, see this question video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=deG2SRctiP4

Is there a problem with the way I mounted the head - is that why I get this high pitch ring when the drum is played?

In the video, my question is in the form of a response to a video that talks about head mounting.

[No.2-1820]

You wet / soften the new head to make it seat correctly and tightly against the rim of your drum, BUT... and it's a big but and everybody's got a big but, but let's just talk about your big but for now... Those factory LP heads are notorious for sucking whatever you do to them. There are characters lurking around here, Isaac in New York for example, who could fit you with a pre-mounted mule skin for that drum that would probably sound better. Wait and observe the many suggestions that will come forth from the members before buying any more heads, 3 is already 2 too many for that drum and most would have advised against buying those two particular Synthetics that you have so far.

Barrie

[GuruPimpi]

Rockdog, you ROck!

Welcome to the forum!!!
I watched your video and almost pissed my pants...
I do share your frustration of overtone... Some posts in forum are written about this, check them out!

I can only give my 2 cents about it:
I had an almost the same overtone problem and I went by the step what others suggested:
1. Check the tones above the lugs, they must all have the same pitch (overtones reduced and when you softly put your thumb in the middle of the skin and hit the tone, you get that higher, 'cosmic' sound.
2. If problem still exists try to tape some 'gaffa' or as we call it 'stage' tape beneath the skin (make a cross in the middle, each line 10-15 cm long).
3. My problem still existed, so i tapped some sponge parts inside the drum. (This actually worked, but the sound got, for me at least to dry), but it worked...

4. Problem went away, when I played a lot (sponge parts fell away) and treated my skins with Lanolin (put some lanolin, i did only 1 cm from tube, covered skin even, put it under 200W light bulb for 5 hours (about 30 cm above the loosened skin, loosened totaly...)

Skin was a bit sticky for two-three days, but the buffalo started to sing beautiful, warm and clean tones...

Hope it helps!

Take care and Groove On!

Primoz

[bongosnotbombs]

Those LP heads aren't the best, but I've heard them sound decent without the overtones.

So yeah, wet the head, but before you do that, rub wax onto the rim.
The wax helps it seat properly and a wet head will conform more closely to the shape of your drum.

Then make sure to take pains and tune that head as evenly as possible.

Do all this first and see if it sorts you out. If it does cool, if it doesn't, you might want to move on up to head that aren't pre mounted. Nice thick cow skins, not the water buffalo ones from LP.

Skins like these..

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... CF8535.JPG

[Chupacabra]

That vid cracks me up! Visions of Mini-me in Austin Powers and "The Spy Who Shagged Me" comes to mind...
Anyway, somewhere near you there could very well be someone who can show you how to turn a gnarly piece of rawhide into a beautiful drum skin. It is not very hard, especially with a lug-tuned drum like a tumbadora (conga), and you don't need any special tools either. Only patience.

I have seen the same video you are referring to and I found it somewhat helpful but I wouldn't advise anyone to use that as their only reference. You can even call LP and speak to one of their Tech Rep's. I was on the phone with one for about an hour and a half one morning grilling him with all kinds of questions and he was quite helpful for info on mounting LP heads on LP drums.

One other thing I should add, and I've mentioned this on another thread at some point, is the the fact that new heads do take time to wear in and they need to be played for awhile to be able to judge their true character. In my opinion, a newly mounted head will rarely come up with that ideal sound. There are probably other, more highly skilled people out there who might disagree, but this has been my experience.

[Mr.Grumpy]

I don't have any idea how to answer your question BUT that was just about the funniest Youtube video I ever did see! Aren't you a little old to still be living in a dorm though?

Follow-up question:

I mount my own rawhide Djembe heads. Is the process for mounting a raw cow round on a Conga reasonably similar? I meen, if I can do a Djembe I can do a Conga right?

What if I want to re-mount the head already on my Conga? Do I have to take it all the way off, wet it and slap it back on or can I just de-tune it and crank it back down?

[Mike]

That vid cracks me up! Visions of Mini-me in Austin Powers and "The Spy Who Shagged Me" comes to mind...

Rockdog, I had a good laugh too, your video is great fun,
to me you are the Michael Moore of conga heads - kind of "Mounting for Cohen" , "De-Buffalize Me" or something :;):

[rockdog]

Mr.Grumpy wrote:
>I mount my own rawhide Djembe heads. Is the process for mounting a raw cow round on a Conga reasonably similar? I meen, if I can do a Djembe I can do a Conga right?
What if I want to re-mount the head already on my Conga? Do I have to take it all the way off, wet it and slap it back on or can I just de-tune it and crank it back down?



As el Chupacabra warns, don't use this as your only source of advice, but the video that mine was a response to was part 2 of the following, in which he covers from-scratch mounting as well as re-mounting.

1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwgq7DMZhvU

2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAbSaBSTzZk

3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfxzdNUPdTw

Part 3 deals w/ a queeka/cuica (?).

[Mr.Grumpy]

Mr.Grumpy wrote:
>I mount my own rawhide Djembe heads. Is the process for mounting a raw cow round on a Conga reasonably similar? I meen, if I can do a Djembe I can do a Conga right?
What if I want to re-mount the head already on my Conga? Do I have to take it all the way off, wet it and slap it back on or can I just de-tune it and crank it back down?



As el Chupacabra warns, don't use this as your only source of advice, but the video that mine was a response to was part 2 of the following, in which he covers from-scratch mounting as well as re-mounting.

1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwgq7DMZhvU

2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAbSaBSTzZk

3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfxzdNUPdTw

Part 3 deals w/ a queeka/cuica (?).

Hey thanks! I was actually able to find those videos after I posted so I now know that yes: I CAN mount my own heads, which is good because I have long been under the impression that factory heads were all junk.

I was not able to take from that video if I could or how I should go about re-seating the head that's already on there.

[blango]

Too funny rock dog.

The ring is from the cheap thin skins.

I sell the ones that rock, like the ones in the pic above (on LP's). I picked them out myself.

Happy to help,

Tony