Difference between price ranges?

[chris hansen]

ho chris

its a good thing to buy some earprotection device. you will get it in every good musicstore. i do never play timbales without protection. once your ears are damaged, the game is over.

greetz

zwar

I did get some hi-fi ear plugs that reduced the volume to a comfortable level. I wasn't worried about hearing loss but the ringing in my ears got louder and they felt plugged up all the time so I was still kind of worried. I do enjoy hand drumming though and would prefer to find something that's not so loud that I have to worry about damaging my ears.

I have been feeling better lately and think I might have had something going on that was temporary but it would be nice to not have to worry hearing loss and ear plugs and all that even if I have to find something besides congas to play.

[deadhead]

Chris, I can't imagine that playing congas was what made your ears hurt. I've been playing percussion for 15 years and congas are probably the least noisy drums I've played considering how deep and warm the tones are. I could see how slaps could be deafening, however a begining player would most likely not be able to produce a slap of that calibur. Unless you had your congas mic'd with the monitors on either side of your head, I would be very supprised if it was the drums that was causing your problem. Compared to drumset, djembe, timbales, and doumbek, congas are quite easy on the ears.

[chris hansen]

Chris, I can't imagine that playing congas was what made your ears hurt. I've been playing percussion for 15 years and congas are probably the least noisy drums I've played considering how deep and warm the tones are. I could see how slaps could be deafening, however a begining player would most likely not be able to produce a slap of that calibur. Unless you had your congas mic'd with the monitors on either side of your head, I would be very supprised if it was the drums that was causing your problem. Compared to drumset, djembe, timbales, and doumbek, congas are quite easy on the ears.

That's kind of what confused me. The congas are not as loud as many other drums that people play all the time.

I actually wasn't worried about hearing loss, I think I was reacting to certain kinds of sound because the bass notes didn't bother me. While experimenting I found that if I just tap the doumbek I could feel my ears tense up and then relax. What worried me was that the ringing in my ears started to get louder and I was afraid it would become a permanent condition.

I seem to have gotten over it, my ears haven't been bothering me lately and I learned a little about tinnitus and decided I don't have to worry as much as I did.

I'd like to give the congas another try but I'm reluctant to go out and spend the money in case I have to go through the same thing again. What would be ideal is to find some I can borrow or rent for a while and see how it goes. In the meantime I've been looking at the djembe-cajon by Mountain Rhythm

http://www.music123.com/Mountain-Rythym-Djembe-Cajon-i107731.music

It seems to have a nice warm tone and even though they call it a djembe it seems to play more like a conga. If I don't slap it too hard, I think it would be quite comfortable to play.

[deadhead]

Chris, I understand what your saying. Some high pitched tones from doumbek and djembe can really make your ears ring. I used to have a set of fiberglass congas that had an overtone ring to it that was piercing to the ear. I know alot of people swear by fiberglass congas, but I just couldn't stand the ringing, it gave me a headache. Havn't had any problems with wood congas though.

If your worried about it being too loud, maybe you should try the giovanni compact conga or the new pearl travel conga. They are much quieter and relatively affordable. I know the Gio's come in 2 sizes, nit sure about the pearls though.

[chris hansen]

I used to have a set of fiberglass congas that had an overtone ring to it that was piercing to the ear. I know alot of people swear by fiberglass congas, but I just couldn't stand the ringing, it gave me a headache. Havn't had any problems with wood congas though.

I think that was part of my problem. I didn't have fiberglass drums, they were Meinl Headliners, but there seemed to be a lot of overtones which had kind of a harsh, piercing sound. I just about pulled my hair out trying to get rid of it by tuning but maybe they needed better heads or something. I love my teacher's drums, mahogany with thick skins. We've been working with the bodhran but I miss the congas.

I also wanted to say thanks to everyone for answering my questions, giving advice, sharing your experience and letting me bounce ideas off you. I feel like I'm becoming kind of a pain but you guys have been great.