Grrr...Conga Hardware

[DrumNinja]

Hey all.

I'm the percussionist in my band, and recently got new stands for my congas. Being new to percussion (played drum set for a while), I have LP Aspire wood congas. That entry-level set comes with a single cymbal-style stand, and the congas hang on either side by brackets bolted to the drum. My problem with that was that it wouldn't extend high enough (I'm kinda tall), and I couldn't angle them forward like I wanted to (with the drums so low I'd have to crank my wrist back to get the high-end slap). Not to mention that the thing wobbled like crazy.

Anyway, I recently bought two LP Aspire basket-style stand, three legs, holds the drum in three places. Now they're high enough, angle adjustable, and sturdy, but I have absolutely NO BASS TONE.

Is this common for basket-style stands? Is it the cheap drums? The wood? I really dig the new hardware, but I need my bass tone.

Any suggestions or experience will help.

Thanks.

[Glen Caruba]

DN,

Your problem with the bass tone is not uncommon. There are two things involved with the lack of bass tone: 1) the overall size of the drums. I’m assuming you have 10, 11” diameter heads and the drums are 28” tall? Standard size drums are 30” tall, and 11, 11 ¾”, or 12 ½” head diameter. More drum, more resonance. 2) Sympathetic Vibration is a possibility. Your basket stand is “absorbing” the resonance at the three points it touches the shell. If you cannot adjust the diameter of the ring of the basket stand, like an LP Cradle type, then you’re stuck. Also, playing on carpet can be another factor. See if there is a difference by moving your drums to a hardwood or concrete surface, and see if that helps. Even on stands, when your drums are above the ground, carpeting will absorb the sound waves, and not reflect them back to you. If this is the problem, try a Pearl PRP140 Reso plate under your drums (shameless plug).

I hope this info helps…

Glen Caruba
Pearl Percussion Product Designer

[DrumNinja]

I do in fact have the 10" and 11" drums, and have been waiting patiently until I can get the full-sized. The thing is, I had bass tone before (though not a lot), with the hanging-bracket stand.

But the adjustability of the ring in the basket stand is a good point. I set them up a little bigger than the instructions indicated, to give more stability. The way I have them now, the rings are higher up the shell than they should be. I wonder if lowering the points at which they hold the drum will give me back some tone? One way to find out.

Thanks for the response Glen.

[MusicMan]

DrumNinja -

Yeah, you might be losing some shell resonance because you're clamping the 3 stand points too high on the shell. Try moving them down to see if you can restore the bass tone you heard before.

Another thing to consider is that you originally played your congas in a location with more ambience than where you have them now. Sometime subtle variations in tone can occur in different environments. For example, my congas always sound better in our church auditorium (lots of ambience and reverb) than in my basement studio (concrete walls, no ambience).

As far as the Reso Plates ... I started using them this summer and they do work great! I also like putting them at the bottom of my conga bags to help them stand up straight!

[Futnucks]

Reso plates can help get a better bass tone or a large wood board or plexiglass can be substituted. I've often wondered if scoops on the bottom of the conga or tumba may help with projection and affect the bass tone.

Glen, have you ever experimented with scoops?