DRUMMER CAFE

Hey all........
Anyone have any suggestions for high quality conga heads? What are the synthetic ones like? The heads that I got with my congas are so dead sounding and I want to replace them with a much higher quality head. Any help would be great.
Thanks.............

Yeah they are actually the kind I was thinking of trying. I've been playing for close to a year now and I have pretty much beginner congas. The Headliner's by Meinl. I have fun with them but I get frustrated when I listen to cd's and watch my tapes because the tones and slaps they get sound totally incredible and crisp.....and mine are just so so. So I'm like...ok...am I just not getting the hand positions yet or do these heads suck, or do these congas suck, or is it all three factors. I would love to jam out on a really nice set and find out. I figured I would start with new heads for now. One problem is...the congas come in 11" and 12". The 12" is not a standard size so I dont know if I can find a head for that one...other than the type that come with them. Any thoughts? I know I rambled but.....

I'd go with the Evans heads before I would the Remo ... on everything ... including conga heads. I've played both on congas ... and prefer the Evans over Remo.

Personally, however, I prefer my calfskin heads on my congas. I can see how synthetic heads might have some advantages ... but for me, I like the real deal.

Hey all....
I'd say I play them every other day, and once a week I play pretty intensely with a band. I have studied the hand positions as much as humanly possible without having a teacher right there through videos, books and online research, so I know I'm not like out in left feild as far as that goes. I do understand that the people I am watching and listening to probably have like 30+ years exp. on me. Just curious how much of a difference heads could make. Is it subtle or can it be very drastic? Keep in mind that I am using the new headliners so its not like I have 80 year old heads that are beat. I mean I listen to G Hidalgo and his slaps are almost ear peircing at times. Very frustrating....

I can tell you from first-hand experience, that this concept works!  (Thanks, Bart!)  

My playing has really come a long way since applying that concept and simply having a chance to take a couple of lessons with master B-man.

However, for about 90% of the playing situations I find myself in, I'm playing really quiet but have a hard time getting a nice slap at a low volume.  Is it still the same technique?  I'm doing well achieving slaps at medium to high volumes but just don't 'have it' at lower volumes.  I remember Bart showing me a technique where the slap tone can be produced by muting with one hand and executing the stroke with the index finger or fingers of the other hand.  But, I don't remember if that technique is absolutely correct or just a way to simulate proper technique.  Bart - do you still employ the exact same slap technique for lower volumes as well?  

I don't agree with you here. I play congas in Seattle, and I haven't had problems with natural skin heads. Sure, they need to be tuned up before playing, but they work just fine. I prefer their sound to the synthetic heads, but natural heads are harder to replace.

probably just my cheap drums and poorly insulated housing    

im also mainly dealing with middle eastern drums which seem to use thinner heads than latin ones and may be more susceptable to weather issues.  

Here's what the conga God Raul Rekow has to say on this topic: (yes, I know its an endorsement, but Raul Rocks!)

"With the REMO FIBERSKYN® 3 I have finally found my sound! The REMO FIBERSKYN® 3 is a cross between the brightness of a djembe and richness of a conga. I love the action of the FIBERSKYN® 3 Conga heads. The duration of the note lasts longer than any other drumhead. The overtones I’ve learned to love. If I don’t play the REMO FIBERSKYN® 3 I miss the brightness. I need the loudest skin I can find on the market and Remo FIBERSKYN® 3 is it!"

Reasons for Playing Remo: "With the advent of the Remo synthetic drumheads, I’ve been able to play at outdoor venues without losing the tuning of the heads. I’ve finally found my sound with the Remo conga heads!"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Raul plays with 5 congas, each tuned a whole step apart.  (In the middle of a solo he can bust into the melody of "Mary Had A Little Lamb")
If you want to see a great video with live congas, check out Santana's SACRED FIRE: Live in Mexico City!  

Yeah, I'll second what Dusty says here.
The slaps should sound like tok tok tok tak tak. Like wood.
The thicker head like "Fatcongas" gives it this characteristic,, as well as a wood drum.
But of course that's given that you've got technique as Bart points out.
And if anyone here already sounds like Giovanni, then I'm quietly backing out of this conversation..
 

I could never give up that thick skin sound!  I play on a walking mall in Bouder, Co sometimes. It is an outdoor mall area with traffic blocked off.  I've had people come from blocks away thinking the congas were marimbas and clave together!  Thick tones and crispy slaps is what I get from the thick heads, I wouldn't trade that sound for anything!  Maybe, like was said already,  a set of fiberglass LP's will be loud enough if that is what you r looking for.  (But I would still go with the thick skins)