Well, I got my mule skins and put one on this morning. Will see how it dries and when it does I'll report back to you guys with results.

Ok back with the report. I have to say that skin change was a astounding success so far. It was sunny all day yesterday and I had it out all day so it seems to be nice and dry now, this is a thicker skin of the two, so about 2 days for drying, but it seemed dry enough this morning too, it was soaked over night about 8 hrs.  It took me about 1.5 hours to get it on. this was my first time mind you.

May be not dry all the way yet, but certantly dry to the touch. This one is my tumba 12", Aspires are little smaller. The new skin feels great to the touch. Right now it has alot of sound and sustain, but I think it will mellow out in a little while. It sounds great to my ear anyway. The skin is stiff even tuned low, which is cool, cause you got this super low tone yet you can slap it good too.  Though not an expert I am very happy so far. I am going to give it a little more time before I try to crank it but it's playable already as far as I am conserned

I put second one on today. This one went much easier.  This one for my 11" (though it's more like 10.5 in reality) and the skin was a litle thinner. Started soaking in warm (room temp.) at about 11 and started mounting around 3 pm, so only  4 hrs soaking, was done  with that one by 3:45, can't wait till it's dry.  On the first one, top of the hoop came down only 1/2". It's my falt, but it's ok. Second one came out perfect, 3/4" now and will come down a little more when I tune it I think.

I would be happy to share in more details if any one is going to change their conga skin first time.

cheers

Fed, dont rush the drying as the part that doubles over by the rim will dry much slower than the rest and will rip if you try to tune too early (I learned the hard way!) Give it at least one week.

It is good you are having more luck than me, I think the head I chose was too thick for a quinto, not bright enough sounding. It will make a good dog chew toy. I have one more head waiting in the wings, thinner.... better luck with that one.

The ring hoop should match the diameter of the crown (rim).

This is probably true for traditional rims. The Comfort ones are wider. Well, I guess if you go by inner diameter, it might work, but rings on my Aspires fell within the hoop/crown, or inside the curve, so that would make the ring just ever so slightly larger then inner diameter of the crown.

I am by no means an expert, just sharing from my expirience.

cheers

I have seen Bongo do the deed. As you read this he is improving on quantum scale.  He's frikkenossum.

I tried a set of REMOs today with FiberSkin heads attatched.  (Hold those mental tomatos)

To me, a semi hemi demi pro/am, they sounded good. My guess is that the heads only fit the REMO shells.

BUT Wait, You can PLAY THEM IN THE RAIN! NYA! (no cabbage hurling either)

ALSO at Pacific Winds (8th and Monroe, Eugene Or.) there was a kick pedal set up with a plastic temple bell, about 10 in diam and flat sorta like two saucers glued face to face and 90 degrees of edge opened up I didn't get the brand but I will and report back.

Follow-up:

It's on!  It was not easy because my friend could not come over as planned so, I decided to try it by myself.  So, it took some wrestling but, sometime in the midst of the wrestling, I think I just got really lucky.   It was a lot more like mounting a bicycle tire than anything else.  I think the key was to expect it to be a huge hassle and for it to take me a few hours and a few dozen tries - and then, I was pleasantly surprised when it only took about 4 tries to get the skin between the ring and the hoop or the hoop and the rim or whatever.  

Then, several "laps" around with the pliers to pull it all tight; constantly checking the make sure it was centered and level.

Now, I'm halfway through going around and trimming the excess very, very carefully.  I had a head once that was not trimmed very well and the dried ridge of the cow hide sticking up was a constant irritant to my hands.  So, I'm using a piece of cardboard from the back of a legal pad - I can wedge it in there well below my razor knife and I'm just taking it slow, slow, slow and easy.

OK, I'm know expert but, I'm no longer a virgin!  

Next trial, in a few days, I'll see how it really sounds.  In a worst case, I've got a brand new LP head that I bought cheap from eBay.  Here's hoping that it won't be needed!


P.S.  this is my quinto but, I've only tightened the new head a little bit and it's pitched at about super-tumba lever right now but, I have to say that just tapping on it lightly, it sounds wonderful!  so musical - like plucking a string on a double-bass.  

Thanks for the input Fed.  I have to say, all credit to beginner's luck, it is perfect!  It looks fantastic!

I can't believe how straight, centered, level, perfect height for the rim, ect.  that it all came out.  The trim job went extremely well also, trimmed evenly, just a bit below the edge of the rim (by angling the knife ever so slightly) and I didn't even knick the head once.

I am really pleased!   I used that site as a guide, too.  

Now, I'll give it a few days to dry all the way - avoiding temptation - and see if it sounds as good as it looks.

well, thanks!  It's already sounding sweet but I'm still resisting the urge to tune it up to the range I usually play my quinto (which is on the high side - almost at a normal requinto pitch).  

Anyway, re-reading my own posts, I want to say that all the "patting myself on the back" was really meant to be encouragement to the rest of you to give it a try.   Fear not - you can do it, too!