My Congas don't sound right. Need advice!

CongueroLI · Newbie Alert Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 3

Hey there!

As I stated in the intro forum, I recently (Dec '06) started taking Conga lessons, and I'm having a great time.

I bought a set of Meinl "Headliner Range" drums (quinto/conga), but there is something not right about the sound. I've played around with tuning them, but they sound tinny, almost like a steel drum type sound (if that makes sense). I've tightened them up and loosened them, but the rich conga sound that I hear on recordings and when I play my teacher's drums in class eludes me.

Is this just a lousy set of drums (possible), or is it that I don't have the knack of tuning them yet (more likely). Would I have been better off spending (a lot) more $$$ for LPs or something similar?

Thanks for any feedback!

styles2281 · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:59 am Post subject:

You could try getting a thicker head on the drums, but a lot of that is just the drums.
_________________
"One day I feel I'm on top of the world
And the next it's falling in on me
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CongueroLI · Newbie Alert Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 3

I finally got myself to take the drums into class last week to have my teacher take a look. Shoulda done this sooner. Anyway...

Turns out, I just wasn't tuning them high enough. He cranked them way up, and those annoying harmonics disappeared. I would never have thought to tightened them that much, but then I am a beginner Smile

Anyway, thanks for the response!

C