Detuning the Bongos after practice

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Re: Detuning the Bongos after practice

Postby Juaort » Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:13 pm

I had a set of Dandy’s. I like the 9” Hembra. Great sounding Bongos. Got my set for $100 cause the bridge was split in two. All it took was some wood glue and a clamp, let it sit for 24hrs and it was as good as new.
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Re: Detuning the Bongos after practice

Postby Beatnik07 » Mon Dec 02, 2019 8:18 pm

Juaort wrote:I had a set of Dandy’s. I like the 9” Hembra. Great sounding Bongos. Got my set for $100 cause the bridge was split in two. All it took was some wood glue and a clamp, let it sit for 24hrs and it was as good as new.


Good for you !
Those are my first bongos ever ....
I really like the traditional rim /cuban steel bottom and the 9" Hembra. And the finish is at the same time sober and beautiful.
:)
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Re: Detuning the Bongos after practice

Postby jorge » Tue Dec 03, 2019 12:34 am

I have left the hembra (larger lower drum) tuned for years on bongos with no bad effect, there is not a lot of tension on the hembra. The macho (high drum) is different and the skin will really stretch much faster if left tuned high between playing sessions. The macho skins stretch and wear out much faster anyway and I actually am experimenting with a plastic skin on the macho. Generally I dislike plastic skins on congas and bongos but this one sounds ok and does not change pitch much if at all if left tuned. I took Caballoballo's advice (gracias mi hermano!) and tried a Remo Skyndeep tucked M9-0715-S4-SD003 7.15" on the macho of an LP Matador bongo and it plays easy and sounds pretty good. It looks like much better build quality than the stitched M6-S675-S2-SD003 6.75" but you may have to choose one or the other based on size. The 7.15" does just barely fit the Matador ring. I still like the sound and feel of real skin better but the tradeoff is that the plastic skin is is less hassle, is vegan and doesn't require killing a cow or mule, will probably last longer and feels a little easier on the hands. Let's see how well it gets through the New Jersey winter.
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