Overtightening a conga - Where is the weak point?

[Bachikaze]

This is my first thread starter. It's probably a pretty stupid question. But maybe I need reassurance.

I'm worried about damaging my congas by overtightening them. Do they break from tightening too much, or does it just get impossible to turn the bolts any farther? If they break, what goes first, the mounts, the rims, the heads?

By pitch, it seems like my Bauer lites are still tuned lower than other congas, but the tension on the tuning hardware seems high and the nuts are getting tough to turn. I would hate to rip out a mounting bracket because of my ignorance. But I'm a drummer who likes his drums tight!

Brian

[zwar]

ho blachikaze and welcome

bauer is known for using reliable hardware and good skins.
you should
lubricate the tuning lugs with mechanic-oil
and
put some grease on the edge of the shell.

imho bauer sets offer best sound when pitched in medium range. i would not pitch them to high. question of taste of course.

greetings

zwar

[CongaTick]

Brian,

Given your taste in the tight.... how long have you had your bauers? Is it possible that you've stripped any of the lugs? I assume you tune-up and de-tune after each session. If so, minor lug thread stripping may occur. Check it out by pulling a lug and its nut and thread it independent of the drum to see if the nut moves freely on the threads up to and beyond the point you normally tune.

[Bachikaze]

Brian,

Given your taste in the tight.... how long have you had your bauers? Is it possible that you've stripped any of the lugs? I assume you tune-up and de-tune after each session. If so, minor lug thread stripping may occur. Check it out by pulling a lug and its nut and thread it independent of the drum to see if the nut moves freely on the threads up to and beyond the point you normally tune.

I've had my Bauers a short time. I guess Dudu Tucci owned them before, but they have almost no wear. The tuning equipment is in very good shape.

I definitely haven't overtightened because I'm too nervous about how much stress they can take. I have learned the boundaries of my other drums (Brazilian, Africa, Japanese, etc.), but I'm still fathoming these congas. I most worried about damaging the shell. Everything else is replaceable.

Thanks.

[Bachikaze]

ho blachikaze and welcome

bauer is known for using reliable hardware and good skins.
you should
lubricate the tuning lugs with mechanic-oil
and
put some grease on the edge of the shell.

imho bauer sets offer best sound when pitched in medium range. i would not pitch them to high. question of taste of course.

greetings

zwar

Thank you for the welcome.

I've heard Bauers are pretty strong. I do oil my lugs, but I haven't lubricated the bearing edges. On my other drums, I use KY Jelly or bee's wax, because neither harms cowhide.

I'll start with your advice about the medium range, but I'm not sure where that is yet. I hear them in all ranges, probably most of them low.

I may go to my first class tonight, maybe the teacher can help me.



Edited By Bachikaze on 1176234024

[burke]

Related but somewhat seperate thing.

I've often heard a loud, sudden crack/snap sound while tuning up (congas & bongos).

Doesn't seem to hurt anything but man, oh man the first few times you wonder what the H$%# you may have done to your drums!

So what is that sound?

[korman]

That's skin slipping over the bearing edge as you tighten it. Nothing to be afraid of. You can get rid of it by taking off the head and waxing the bearing edge of the drum.

[burke]

Man! I love this forum!!

Somebody has an answer for even the most obscure questions.

Thanks Korman.

[AlexV]

what kind of wax or grease is used for the bearing edge?

[Bachikaze]

I second that question. Is there a grease safe for natural hide?

[zwar]

lard will do, any paraffin stearin or beewax will do, avoid anything containing glyceryl or derivates of it, so no handcreams and no milking fat.
its not really so necessary to do it anyway, dont make big afforts.

greetings

zwar

[Diceman]

Drums are different sizes and will have tone 'sweet spot' and the tone will be choked off if tuned too high.
By tuning up and down and checking the open tone for a good resonance, you will find the natural tone range of the drum.

At the end of the day its all a matter of taste.

suave
Diceman

[GuruPimpi]

I agree with Diceman. Before tuning up your whole set up, try to find tje open tone, that you feel and hear as A DRUM'S NAME
I was messing up my drums with tuning, untill one day I just focused on tumba and found her 'sweet tight lug'... then it was easy for conga and quinto... Also skin needs to be 'broken' or how do you guys call it... BTW; by the suggestion of Igor (member here) I bought Lanolin (cause Manteca de Corojo just isn't easy to find in these parts) and put it on, left it as JC alwys says (on the sun for 4-5 hours), i left it under 200 W light bulb... A bit sticky at begginning but the sound - Tumbadoras just experienced rebirthing session...

my 3 broken skins

Primoz

[Bachikaze]

So, I'm OK cranking these things up (within reason) without fear of structural failure?

I don't mind experimenting as long as I don't wreak an irreplaceable drum shell (Bauer Lites are out of production). I have personal experience with tightening drums until some gave, usually the heads. But in the case of congas, I was worried that the weak point might be the most expensive: the shell mounting of the lugs.

Thanks for the responses. I'll wax my bearing edges and start experimenting.