conga as bass drum?

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zorf
Posts: 115
Joined: Sat May 27, 2006 12:55 am
Location: S.F.

conga as bass drum?

Post by zorf »

Anybody ever flip a conga over and use it for a cocktail bass?

Either the kind with the standard drum type rims or the conga style clamps?
multiperc
Posts: 241
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2006 3:14 pm

Post by multiperc »

hey zorf
kinda. I've tried each of a fatcongas cajon, a remo midsized djembe, and a large doumbek upside down or horizontally. response was underwhelming, mostly because none of these have the fundamental potential to sound like a bass drum at any size.
You may get ok results from a conga if you tune the head down and find the sweet spot for tone. Also depends on how dead you're hoping for and how much you dig in or let off the head with your beater
zorf
Posts: 115
Joined: Sat May 27, 2006 12:55 am
Location: S.F.

Post by zorf »

thanks,
yeah, i was thinking about one of those 70's congas that had the straight tapered bodies
and was usually 12 inches tapering down to 8 inches at the bottom.
They are mostly 28 to 30 inches tall, so there would be some decent cubic volume, but
te head is only 12 inches.
These type of "congas" have standard drum style hoops.
I see them on ebay all the time, but rarely for sale on the local craigslist.

i guess like most things, i'll just have to try one out myself.
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