Meinl's Luis Conte ringing conga

This is the thing that has killed my passion to learn to play congas.
My Luis Conte series conga drum (11 3/4) by Meinl is ringing no matter how high or low I tune it. Does anyone know the cause of it? Or how to fix that? Is it only the skin? I know I can put towel inside which kills the ringing but it mutes all the sounds:( please heeeeeeeeeeeeelp!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Luis
• Conte
• Meinl
• conga
• congas
• tuning
• skin
• ringing
• open
• tone
• slap
• base

[gimmeagig]

I have the same drum and the same ring.Even with the head and all the hardware off it is still there when i tap it.A high D like a harmonic.The shell has that resonance and since there are others with the same problem, it must be a design flaw.I'll try to trade them in for a nicer set once I learn how to play better.

There really should be a factory recall of those drums.

[Mario2YT]

Agreed. I doubt they make reacall though:(

[Chambelona59]

Take those pieces of junk and donate them to a high school and deduct it from your tax's.

Then buy yourself a set of "REAL DRUMS" made by Matthew Smith ("Ritmo"). He's based in Philly, PA.

[Mario2YT]

I've heard of that guy and his amazing congas. But it takes quite some time to get them (up to 2 yrs as I've heard) and they're approx 750 usd, right? Plus I dont live in USA, but in the Czech Rep. So if I want to start any time soon, I have to go with some other brand...

[Elaron83]

I think it's a tuning problem...Try to release completely your skin for about one-two days and then retry to tune it correctly.

My conga is the same of yours and i ear the "ring" only in the "open slap" (probably caused by the armonic of the note).

[Mario2YT]

it's not a tunig problem for sure. I tried that few times. I even soaked the skin a little so it fit the edge perfectly. It rings even with 3.5mm cowhide skin on it.

[leo88hn]

put the skin head for and hour or two on the sun, then put then on a shadow spot for the skin head to cool down, then moistere them with some skin lotion, and tune them up, it should improve the skin, and the ringing when your playing live it won´t even notice, is normal to have a little

[mecagondiosylavirgen]

Tu eres un retardado mental con mucho tiempo verdad?

[rojopercussion]

@gimmeagig once u learn how to play better and at least practice rudiments an hour a day ur congas will sound better trust me that and consider putting some remo heads ;)

[nicolasv11]

The head isn't seated evenly on the shell. I have heard of this problem, though have not experienced it personally on my Luis Conte model congas. I did have this problem on an LP quinto once and the remedy was to remove the head, wet it til semi-soft and re-install it, paying close attention to tightening all the lugs evenly. Another problem could be if the upper rim of the shell is uneven, you could sand it down, but I'd recommend taking it to a shop if you're not an experienced woodworker.

[ronnieandtheriots]

I have to teach a teenager some conga slapping techniques. This will be perfect for him to get started rather than just pounding! It's not just how hard you hit it, iis it?

[martinezamores]

NOTHING should ever kill your desire to play! Though, I know it's a bummer to buy something you aren't happy with. I own the Luis C. Trio, and replaced all 3 of them with Remo Crmplck Symtry heads. MAJOR difference. On the plus side, the conga sounds like a beauty... the Quinto is OUT OF HAND. Conguero friends who play on "higher" quality drums can't get enough of the quitno. On the down side, the Tumba has MAJOR overtone's, but can be fixed with cheap muting solution on the skin. Hope it helps

[ficomunoz]

:-) YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR! ;-)

THE NAME SAYS IT ALL!!!

TO BAD NO TATA GUINES CONGAS EVER MADE.

COMPANIES DON'T KNOW... AND THEY ASKED PEOPLE WHO KNOW LESS!

DRUM MACHINE SAMPLES SOUND BETTER THAN ALL THE CONGAS IN THE MARKET TODAY WITH VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS

[geox01]

I've Meinl Marathon Classic set. They have same "problem" in less extend than yours though. I think all "beginners series" have the same problem let them be LP Aspire,Pearl primero,Mainl headliners or whatever (sub 300-350 euro). If you notice the "pro" series of Meinl has a rubber between the metal base of the tuning lungs and the shell. Perhaps it is for eliminating that overtones. I've played also on LP Patato, LP Galaxy, Pearl Elite and tried Meinl Pro; none excibited such metallic overtones