congaplace.com

I just replaced my 'Performer Series' heads with Evans Tricenters. I live in Austin, TX, and boy does it get humid here. During the summer, however, every indoor space is air-conditioned, which is, in essence, a dehumidifier blowing cold air which changed the heads from being reasonably well-tuned to bongo-tight, then less well-tuned when I got them back inside. For these reasons I chose the Evans.

I haven't heard too much good about Evans, but I got a good deal on them.

If you can be encouraging, be honest, as well.

I put a set of the evans tri-centre on my matadors and I'm pretty happy with the sound. But I'm not a pro. However the macho did sound a bit like a basketball until I did the old duct tape to kill the overtones trick. Still a little ringy but acceptable to me. I'm guessing you got the evens set/package (as did I).

For me at the price, and to upgrade my matadors it was an agreeable compromise that I'm still enjoying.

But you are right ... most dudes here hate the evans and I'm betting I'm the only one who will say anything positive.

What really matters is ... do they sound good to you?

Darrell

I just took a second look at your post and you actually said "bongo tight" ... sorry ... I'm guessing you meant 'Performer Series' Congas, not bongos.

My reply in that case was pretty useless.

I put an Evans head on my quinto a few years ago and it was satisfactory.

I ended up selling the quinto and haven't bought an Evans head since.
I won't but them now that Remo is making their synthetic heads.
No hate for Evans but Remo just sounds better IMO.

I've used Evans tri-center heads on my conga's for almost 3 years. I live in Hawaii and the humidity here is bad too. I know exactly what you're talking about! I liked them...I think the sound on those heads is a little less "crisp", a little bottom end and warm if you can understand what I'm saying. But they were great for me. One drawback I felt was playing "live" with a 6 or 7 piece reggae or top-40's band...the sound doesn't quite cut thru as much as I'd like.

Now I play Remo Nuskyns and I LOVE those heads. I have them on my LP's (fiberglass). I use natural heads on my Matadors which are wood...and nothing can beat the sound of wood and natural hide heads IMO! But I'm really itchy to see how the Fiberskyn or Skyndeep heads play...we'll see!

Aloha!

conguero_blanco, dont wory about it, you did the right thing. I owned a set of performer series congas and let me tell you the heads that they come with are not the greatest and anything sounds better than them (please no disrespect just my honest opinion ). What I would have done differtent is that I would have replaced the original heads with Remo fiberskin heads instead. I have played evans before and notice that comparing them to Remos they sound too artificial, they rob the drum of it's natural sound, the Remos in turn sound and feel more natural, they also have a much better projection or resonance than the evans (not to mention that they look a lot nicer). These are my babys, Remo's "Poncho Sanchez signature series" with tucked fiberskin3 heads, they sound awsome .

Wow,

I just did the same thing yesterday. I recently got a good deal on a set of performers and purchased the evan tri-centers. I have a friend who has the nuskyn tucked on his lp classics. Last week while comparing my quinto and his conga, I realized his conga had much more resonance. Thinking it was just the size difference I went out and bought the conga and tumba heads.

I think the previous reply posts are well taken. The evans don't sound as natural as they could. One thing I do like about the evans however, is the textured feel they have. The evans also seem to be quite sensitive for slapping purposes.

You can still be a great congero on the evans as with any other heads. Don't sweat it!

neil

King,

There's pros and apparently a lot of cons re: the Evans. My 2 cts: Play them and enjoy them as much as you can for now. Adjust and model technique to get the most out of hose heads, and when the time comes and you feel right about it-- change heads if you need to. For now, enjoy and focus on technique and fun.