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I know some of you are going to murder me for writing about X-Ray film. I remember when I was a kid back in the 80's early 90's (I was born in 1984), I use to see a lot of bongoceros that came from Puerto Rico using X-Ray film on the macho. Towards the mid to late 90's, X-Ray film was obsolete; at least in Cleveland, Ohio. I recently bought a set of Lp Garfield Bongos which where in desperate need of new heads. I went to New York for my sprig break from school and decided to take advantage of the trip and make my way to see Caly Rivera at his JCR shop in the Bronx. I spent a few hours with him and Luis Mangual who so happened to be in the shop picking up some new heads and a bell. I bought a pair of Mule skins from Caly which I mounted on my Garfields as soon as I got off the airplane. They sound great! But I wanted to try what I had seen as a kid; X-Ray film on the macho. I emailed a good friend who is an X-Ray Technician who agreed to give me some X-Ray film for free. I got the film in its place on my second try. It takes patience but cutting the leftover edges was driving me insane. I think my blade had a lot to do with it. First thing I noticed was that it needed cranking to the point where my Garfields pop'd a few times. Second thing I notice was it was hard to differentiate between open and closed tone; I ended up tuning a bit lower to try and make these tones stand on their own (it somewhat worked). Lastly, I cannot hide the fact that the X-Ray film has a very loud pop.

Let me know about your experiences with X-Ray film or any other heads that weren't real skins. -I believe this will answer my question of why X-Ray film on bongoces disappeared.

Let me know your OPINIONS because I'm pretty sure some of you are dying to give me a piece of their mind for using something other than real skins!

Gracias mi Gente

That's a clean looking job... I got some x-ray film from one of the members on this site a couple years ago (Thanks again Geordie). It took me 2 sheets to get it right. I have a pair of Pearl Bobby Allende bongos. They are fiberglass, and have comfort rims (which were a pain in the arse to deal with). I really don't think these bongos needed x-ray film, but I'm a gear head and wanted to try it out anyway. I think x-ray probably sounds better on wood bongos (just a guess). But I ended up using a different Remo synthetic for my macho after a while.

X-ray gave a very sharp sound with little difference in tone. It popped like a mofo, but really ended up sounding like a cranked up doumbek with no tone ultimately. Again, perhaps wood might provide some warmth.

I don't think anyone here will give you grief about doing this. You made it look good too. Now, if you put x-ray on your quinto, that'd be cause for an intervention

How about using an exposed x ray film with scull......Death Metal Bongos!!

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Garvin,

I believe wood perpetuates the warmer tone no matter what skin is mounted. Much like you, I got it right on my second sheet. My first tuning with the X-Ray film was sky high and just about sounded like a doumbek also. I then de-tuned in increments of half a turn (caddy corner style) until a more suitable tone was uncloaked. Since then, I've had a better tonal response and haven't lost the pop. ---X-Ray on a quinto? Those are grounds for an exorcism!


Dicemanb,

Yes, Que viva el Rock!! That would definitely be a conversation starter.


Leedy2,

You are not kidding! Por poco me llevo un dedo cuando la primera placa exploto!

Dicemanb wrote:How about using an exposed x ray film with scull......Death Metal Bongos!!

yeah!

nice skins, the xray film, i used it once in the 70s, because it was available and free, hope your enjoying the bongos, they look real good with the new skin set up. CLEVELAND IN THE HOUSE..tu amigo BongoWillie desde Little Rock, Arkansas

NG La Banda's bongocero (Tosco's brother) uses a dark blue X ray on his, it sounds huge, very similar in sound to a fiberskyn.
I played Congas for the most part with them, only got to play the bongo at a jam afterwards, I was quite impressed. Still, nothing like the real thing though.

WILLIE!!

Mi Pana! I'm certainly enjoying them. I've been using the Garfield's a lot more then my Giovanni's. I took them completely apart, cleaned and polish the silverware, cleaned and shined the wood and of course new Mule heads. I've been using an Lp bag to carry them but I would like to have the old school hardshell Lp case to carry them. If you see one around, let me know.


Abakua,

I think I seen these bongos with the blue X-Ray on youtube. They looked nice and certainly stood out.

My next bongo adventure will be with an ambassador drum head. What do you guys think?

Personally, I will always prefer real cuero (skin).
However, from 1996-'99 I used X-Ray for the Macho of a pair of first generation Lp "Generation II's" I owned. (which I later sold to a student)
Back in the '90's... the only person (that I knew of) making "pre-made already tucked" X-Ray head's in N.Y.C. was the percussionist 'Emedin Rivera'... who used to attach his own logo/sticker on the top, he called them "EM-RAYS" and sold them through Manny's Music, Sam Ash, Professional Perc., and Drummers World.

I'm am getting ready to mount X-Ray (3 ply) on the Macho of my Lp 1969-'70 Zebras.
I've have had about 15 large X-Ray films since 1997, given to me by some chick I met on the internet, she turned out to be an X-Ray tech. and gave them to me.
I used a dinner plate as a circular form and cut out 3 X-Rays to make a 3 ply head. (see photo)
I went to Cali (J.C.R.) and had him make me four 8' inch long "starter" lugs, which will allow me to easily mount the film, without "starter" lugs you can forget about it, as X-Ray film
can't be put in water like prepping a real cuero.

In the early 1990's, I used to do gigs down in the Manhattan Subway system with four Peruanos who loved to play Cuban Sones y Guarachas (mostly Guarachas).
No tumbadoras... instead they used a Cajon.
I put a few videos of us playing on Youtube, I used the X-Ray on the Macho for the subway gigs because when a group/band gets a permit to play down in the subway, it's for a max. of 3 hours.
The more you play... the more $$$ you make. So the songs would like go for 10-15 min! Imaging your hands at the end of 3 hours. LoL!
But the X-Rays were very loud, tune them once and they stay up.
Believe it or not... we made more money down in the subway then in a club and we had fun, met all kinds of chicks down there!

I'll see how it comes out/sounds on the Zebra Macho, if it's no good... I'll just put the "real deal" on.
I also have a X-Ray on my hand and arm (see photo) that I'd love to use as the playing surface head.
"Cuero N'a Ma"

My Zebras:
http://www.mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5939&p=60975&hilit=zebras#p60975

Markito

Gigs down in the subway in ''98 or '99, using an X-Ray head on the Macho.
http://fidelseyeglasses.blogspot.com/2008/06/grupo-afro-andes-in-subway-nyc.html

Markito, very tasty bongo playing down in the subway. Was that near Harry's record shop? A lot of Yeyito influence, nice solos, solid martillo.
Sonerito, suena tu bongo'!

Dario

Mark, That was very, very nice. I left NYC long ago and don't look back often but right now I really miss the City. Thank you!

Nice playing Mark, I had a license to play in the London Underground for two years playing bongo and cajon with a singer songwriter. Earned some Dosh (all in small change) and got my chops tight. No video I'm afraid..... it would have been stolen

Dice

Markito,

Did you recently get the Zebra's? I saw a pair not too long ago on ebay. I wanted to buy them but I didn't have enough capital to splurge with. They undoubtedly look exotic. On my spring break trip to New York I saw quite a few acts in the subway. I didn't see or hear any Latin music but I enjoyed the acts. 3 ply? I struggled with one sheet, I can't imagine trying to work three sheets simultaneously. I wonder how that sounds!


Dice,

Is Latin music popular in London?