Need Help/Advice from the PROS

[b0ng0]

first off, just wanted to say im thankful for finding this forum, ive learned a lot from all you guys.
I have a pair of LP matadors, i have skyndeep on the macho, & fiberskyn on the hembra. its a good combination, nd works for gigs, but im still not too happy with the over all sound, i feel that the remo skins dont give me that authentic sound im looking for ( like the ones i hear in old school salsa recordings). also i want something that looks more authentic

i am planning on purchasing a pair of LP dandy rodriguez Bongos, i also want to lace em up with some skins from L&H percussion, can someone give me advice on wat kind of patter yo go with? so far ive heard mule is hard on the hands, so as of right now im thinking Goat on the macho & cow on the hembra. Any opinion & advice is welcomed, thanks in advanced...

also a trip to Colombia, (Cali) is scheduled for later on this year, iwas planning on purchasing either a pair of 3A or HR el piernas, any advice on which one is better?

[burke]

I don't have anything to offer personally but I will say that when you buy from L&H you'll also get good advice as to what skins to buy for your situation ... I don't work for Micheal but I did just buy a skin for a quinto and my experience [and many others on the forum I think] was just as I've said.

Cheers
Darrell

ps. I have matadors with evans skins on them so I REALLY don't have anything to offer [they are 'good enough' for my needs at this time]

[Psych1]

Hey bOngO - If you read through all the old posts you will get every possible opinion - mine is

The LP "Dandy" is the very best new commercial bongo made.
Goat & Cow is still my favorite combination but I am beginning to like synthetics more & more.
The old El Piernas are outstanding! But, very heavy. I don't think the new ones have the same sound.

[caballoballo]

Saludos B0Ng0 & welcome to the forum. You right, those fyberskin on the hembra are a no no, they do not provide that low mellow sound you want. The Dandy is Lp best Bongó. The only mistake they made when first run came out of the factory was the Hembra skin which was mounted too high and by been a thick skin was kind of hard to get it to a comfortable level. Otherwise you would be hitting the rim all the time so make sure that problem have been corrected. If you need a thicker skin than the factory one (Hembra skin ) let me know. I have a thick Mule type skin which was mounted on the Lp Dandy Hembra before I sold it.

[b0ng0]

psych & burke, thank u guys for ur input, much appreciated.
caballo mi pana', gracias por contestar, de ti he aprendido un monton en este forum
& yea i might be purchasing the dandy in a month or so, & i think they might be the new models (or the ones wit the hembra problem fixed)
is it hard mounting goat,mule,cow skins? also it the tunning difficult?
ive only had experience wit remo & other synthetic skins

[burke]

Did you see the post tiled Report this post tiled 4 SALE MANOLITO Y SU TRABUCO

Great price ... basically what you'd pay for any new decent factory bongo and no need for skins!

To answer your question however, I've never re-skinned bongos but I've done about 4 congas to date and while its a little scary the first couple times its doable and there is alot of great advice on this in many threads.

I'm about to do a hembra for a friend and I don't expect it will be that difficult.

Cheers

[b0ng0]

hey burke, yes im very interested in the manolito bongos, its exactly what im looking for, hopefully i can work something out with dario..
hey bro i see that ur located in nova scotia, how does that affect ur instrument & playing? ive heard it gets pretty cold out there...

[Psych1]

Ditto what Burke said about the bongo Dario has for sale. I was tempted to buy it myself for that great price but I have too many bongos already and it really needs to go to someone who will play it.

About the skins - everyone has a different experience but for me, mounting and tuning new skins brings me closer to the drum. Hard to explain but I'm sure you know what I mean. You can't really screw it up unless you trim it before you have it on right.

[burke]

with my my nasty old evans skins ... cold is no problem... BTW I'm no pro but the upside of them is ... no problems

I find they are not soooo bad but I had to use the duct tape on the hembra to make it ring less.

[b0ng0]

nice, do u get a lot of gigs out there?
i live an hour away from LA, & out here, bongoceros can be found everywhere, so the competition for gigs is tough, & it also helps to know ppl.. my musical teacher is a trumpet player (fito vasquez) from cali, colombia. hes played wit orquesta guayacan, sonora santanera, & other great groups. luckily thru him, i get hired for gigs...

[burke]

In the interest of full disclosure, like I said earlier I am definitely no pro. Just an amateur who’s been banging incorrectly and with no technique on congas for 30+ years. In the last 10 or so realized I had no technique and have been working actually playing congas for about the last 5 or 6 years ... so maybe intermediate? Playing is my hobby, not my profession. There is no real scene in Nova Scotia except for one pro salsa band in Halifax and pockets of drumming here and there. I’ve played with a few pop bands off and on and once and a while with some Latin jazz combos. 95% of the folks in the forum could ‘kick my ass’ [and I be overjoyed to be thusly kicked!]. Recently, a graduate of the Cuban National Arts School has moved to this province and I’m overjoyed to be taking some lessons from a real player. I get in maybe an hour a day practice in a good week so please take anything I say with a large grain of salt!!!

In LA I might qualify to play clave in a hippy drum circle

[yambu321]

My Favorite Skin Combination For My Bongo Is Goat On The Macho, and Cow On The Hembra.
Goat skin is super easy to install. The thicker Cow Skin for the Hembra, was a little more challenging to install.

Goat skin tuned to the proper pitch will give you that authentic sound you seek. But, Goat is also Delicate. So, you must be wise, to bring it up to tension with a little more patience, and detune once you're finished playing. If this is done, it will last you much longer. It would also be great to have a back up as well, just in case.

Goat skin is something Leedy2 has often been Recommending in this Forum. It Is Indeed, Fantastic!

* Goat Skin, is easy on the lugs and on the hands as well.

*Cow Skin Is Great For Nice Dry Deeper Tones, as well as Awesome Tapas (Muff Tones) on the Hembra.

I have posted some Photos of My Gon Bops CA Series Bongos With Newly Installed L&H Goat and Cow.
(I'ts in the L&H Percussion Thread, on page 2).

PS: I am not a paid professional Musician. But, I do know Plenty. I grew up in NYC Around Musicians With In My Family, and Friends. Rumberos, Jazz, Salsa, and Rock Musicians. I personally began investing in myself in 1984 (27 years ago).

Then 15 Years Ago, I Hired Two Outstanding Cuban Born Rumberos, To be my Mentors:( Emilio Camacho, and William Duenas). With all that I knew at that time, they still had to set me straight on sharpening my technique, and on the Mentality of it all. In order for me to reach the next level, of advanced player. For that, I am truly Greatful.

Charlie.

[b0ng0]

charlie!
saludos pana, i saw ur bongos, nice, & im a huge Cotto fan also, when i visited PR in 2008, i went to caguas and visited the Bairoa GYM, saldy miguel wasnt there but i was able to meet his uncle evangelista..

[yambu321]

Thanks Bro.

I know that experience, must have been great, in meeting Evangelista Cotto at the gym!
My Family Is Orginally From Santurce. Now Some Live In Bayamon, and Camuy.

I'm also a Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez, and Wilfredo Vasquez Jr (WV2) Fan.

Awesome Bro.
Charlie.