Thanks for your comments!
I am working on a set of congas, my trouble has been getting the hardware, as the shell is just a different form of what I already do. I have a few designs I'm happy with, I've just got to find the time to build them and see how they sound. Might be getting the hardware hook-up from Manito Percussion so that's looking positive!
I'll definitely keep this forum up to date on my progress with the conga drums. My background is with making djembes, but I've been feeling a pull towards the congas lately... I think a lot of it has to do with playing them more. I can go out to my shop at night and play the congas to my hearts content, however if I touch my djembe the whole neighborhood is at my door.
The mellow tones are something I'm really digging that the djembe just isn't built for... and I'm really curious about using my sectional staves the way I build djembes, to build the congas. I know it's a totally different drum, and the last thing I want to do is a be known as the djembe builder that builds crappy congas. Too maybe guys that are great at one drum / style, start venturing into other hand drums... a lot of times it just hurts their image I think?? I don't know, I cringe when I see beautiful hand made congas and then start looking around and see they're also building run of the mill cajons or djembes that just totally miss the mark. So if it doesn't work for me, it doesn't work, but I'm excited to try and see where it can go. My biggest issue now is time. Gotta get caught up on my orders so I can "play"