Mike´s Gon Bops project

[Mike]

Now, that the skins have dried, I must say that I am both happy and a bit disappointed:

The sound of the CONGA is really awesome

The mule skin is perfect there. You get incredibly crisp slaps
and a very controlled and round open tone.

But the trouble is that despite the good mule skin the tumba does not sound as good as I expected.
The sound is a tad hollow, without enough body, even a bit ringy. I guess I will have to try a thicker skin,
and also cow skin perhaps instead of mule?

[Mike]

Now this is what I did: I got myself a decent, slightly thicker cow skin from the south of Germany - and hey presto, the TUMBA sounds awesome now. The (unbleached) skin awaits further oiling, it will get a more mellow color I guess - and now I am done - phew!

[Mike]

On a very final note about this resto:

Adjusting the sideplate bolts´tension is somewhat difficult with the thin rubber protection
between shell and sideplate, at least I needed to tighten the nuts at the bottom further after some
weeks of playing as the rubber gave in a bit. But now it is OK I guess.
BTW the sound of the oiled skins is awesome, a really mellow but dry sound.
I do not tune the drums too high.

End of thread for me, a happy camper now.

[thomas newton]

Nice work Mike. Enjoy your drums.

[Mike]

Last update:
Now I am a happy Gon Bops camper
with the additional ITL 3000 Tumba that I acquired
last weekend - soundwise a perfect match, and it is
in pretty good shape for its 20 years of age.

BTW it has the original skin that still has got plenty of life and years to drum.
The tumba sound is really full and deep, some minor cracks at the bottom though...

I wonder if I should do anything about them at all?
Taking off the bottom band might cause unpredicted different stave trouble.
As they are only 3/4" long in the foot ring area the the staves are still held
firmly together - at least my guess. Any input is appreciated!

[bongosnotbombs]

That set of Gon Bops is looking good. I like the odd drum out, the chocolate to go with the vanilla!

If that was my drum I think I would shoot some wood glue in those cracks as best I could with a syringe then tighten the drum down with the rope method, putting the rope just above the metal band and see if that did anything. I'd stick a thin knife in the cracks to open them up a tiny bit to help the glue get in.

http://www.amazon.com/Disposable-Syring ... B0002YFRAW

[Mike]

A-ha, my other thought would have just been to try squeezing
some epoxy glue into the cracks or rather let it drip into the cracks
to prevent too much pressure on the staves in the rope tightening process.
Could I do the rope tightening with the foot ring on at all?

[bongosnotbombs]

Just put the rope above the ring and try tightening it up from there.

[Mike]

Alright, thanks, I will have a try tomorrow.