Conga head sound question...that "woooo" sound

[n***@excite.com]

I replaced my old conga heads with new LP hand picked ones. Now I
can't make that "wooooo" sound by drawing my finger across the head
like i used to be able to by creating the friction. These heads are
just to slick. (by the way, is there a name for that particular
sound?)

Was that sound possible because the heads were so broken in? or was it
because they had dried out, or built up dirt from hands or something.

My question is, is there a way to make the new heads able to make that
sound again. Scuffing, cleaning, sanding? 3 stooges featuring Curly
tapes? or do I need to just play the heck out of them and break them
in.

Thanks in advance

[wrkit]

I think it's more a matter of creating friction with the moistening your
finger and rubbing it against the drum head (this depends also on your
fingerprint smoothness or lack thereof). Given, the smoother or slicker
the head, the more effort it takes, to create that friction. You can
produce that similar effect on glass too, but that's not the point.
Any roughing or sanding of the drum skin I wouldn't recommend, but
the tighter it is, the harder it is to get that sound. Try loosening
the head enough to get there, and then tighten it as you become more
proficient. Breaking in the skins (extensive playing) and by them being
drier helps too.

FWIW,
wrkit

Post by n***@excite.com
I replaced my old conga heads with new LP hand picked ones. Now I
can't make that "wooooo" sound by drawing my finger across the head
like i used to be able to by creating the friction. These heads are
just to slick. (by the way, is there a name for that particular
sound?)
Was that sound possible because the heads were so broken in? or was it
because they had dried out, or built up dirt from hands or something.
My question is, is there a way to make the new heads able to make that
sound again. Scuffing, cleaning, sanding? 3 stooges featuring Curly
tapes? or do I need to just play the heck out of them and break them
in.
Thanks in advance

[n***@excite.com]

Thanks for the reply.
I do always use a little moisture to generate that sound. But these
new drum heads are so smooth it's nearly impossible. My next thought
was a way to dry them out a little? Perhaps a very mild dish soap?
I do have them about as loose as possible.

Post by wrkit
I think it's more a matter of creating friction with the moistening your
finger and rubbing it against the drum head (this depends also on your
fingerprint smoothness or lack thereof). Given, the smoother or slicker
the head, the more effort it takes, to create that friction. You can
produce that similar effect on glass too, but that's not the point.
Any roughing or sanding of the drum skin I wouldn't recommend, but
the tighter it is, the harder it is to get that sound. Try loosening
the head enough to get there, and then tighten it as you become more
proficient. Breaking in the skins (extensive playing) and by them being
drier helps too.
FWIW,
wrkit

Post by n***@excite.com
I replaced my old conga heads with new LP hand picked ones. Now I
can't make that "wooooo" sound by drawing my finger across the head
like i used to be able to by creating the friction. These heads are
just to slick. (by the way, is there a name for that particular
sound?)
Was that sound possible because the heads were so broken in? or was it
because they had dried out, or built up dirt from hands or something.
My question is, is there a way to make the new heads able to make that
sound again. Scuffing, cleaning, sanding? 3 stooges featuring Curly
tapes? or do I need to just play the heck out of them and break them
in.
Thanks in advance

[stu]

dude

rub a little cake of beeswax on the head..not too much, just enough to make
it work..it will enable you to get that sound, called the 'moose call',
every time..won't hurt the head..it works like resin on a violin bow..

stu

Post by n***@excite.com
Thanks for the reply.
I do always use a little moisture to generate that sound. But these
new drum heads are so smooth it's nearly impossible. My next thought
was a way to dry them out a little? Perhaps a very mild dish soap?
I do have them about as loose as possible.

Post by wrkit
I think it's more a matter of creating friction with the moistening your
finger and rubbing it against the drum head (this depends also on your
fingerprint smoothness or lack thereof). Given, the smoother or slicker
the head, the more effort it takes, to create that friction. You can
produce that similar effect on glass too, but that's not the point.
Any roughing or sanding of the drum skin I wouldn't recommend, but
the tighter it is, the harder it is to get that sound. Try loosening
the head enough to get there, and then tighten it as you become more
proficient. Breaking in the skins (extensive playing) and by them being
drier helps too.
FWIW,
wrkit

Post by n***@excite.com
I replaced my old conga heads with new LP hand picked ones. Now I
can't make that "wooooo" sound by drawing my finger across the head
like i used to be able to by creating the friction. These heads are
just to slick. (by the way, is there a name for that particular
sound?)
Was that sound possible because the heads were so broken in? or was it
because they had dried out, or built up dirt from hands or something.
My question is, is there a way to make the new heads able to make that
sound again. Scuffing, cleaning, sanding? 3 stooges featuring Curly
tapes? or do I need to just play the heck out of them and break them
in.
Thanks in advance

[b***@iwaynet.net]

Post by stu
rub a little cake of beeswax on the head..not too much, just enough to make
it work..it will enable you to get that sound, called the 'moose call',
every time..won't hurt the head..it works like resin on a violin bow..
stu

Stu, I could just KISS you!!!!

I've been trying to get a decent "moose call" forever!
Nothing is more irritating than having someone come up
and do a perfect moose call on MY drums right in front
of me and I can't get it happening! :(

I've tried rosin, pine tar, wet fingers, you name it.
NOTHING ever seemed to do the job. So thanks to you
I went and got my beeswax block. AMAZING! I've just
been down stairs doing fine moose calls on ALL my
conga drums including the mule and Nuskyn heads.
WORKS! I'm so tickled!

Say, wait a minute. Isn't this sort like revealing the
secret rituals of Skull and Bones or something? Are
some "enforcers" from the Moose Call Lodge going to
show up and break your legs or something?

Benj
(Who notes that it seem to also work if you just get some
on your fingers rather than the head)

[n***@excite.com]

Thanks a lot Stu, my moose calls are so great now, I have a herd of
meese surrounding my house thinking it's mating season.

Post by b***@iwaynet.net

Post by stu
rub a little cake of beeswax on the head..not too much, just enough to make
it work..it will enable you to get that sound, called the 'moose call',
every time..won't hurt the head..it works like resin on a violin bow..
stu

Stu, I could just KISS you!!!!
I've been trying to get a decent "moose call" forever!
Nothing is more irritating than having someone come up
and do a perfect moose call on MY drums right in front
of me and I can't get it happening! :(
I've tried rosin, pine tar, wet fingers, you name it.
NOTHING ever seemed to do the job. So thanks to you
I went and got my beeswax block. AMAZING! I've just
been down stairs doing fine moose calls on ALL my
conga drums including the mule and Nuskyn heads.
WORKS! I'm so tickled!
Say, wait a minute. Isn't this sort like revealing the
secret rituals of Skull and Bones or something? Are
some "enforcers" from the Moose Call Lodge going to
show up and break your legs or something?
Benj
(Who notes that it seem to also work if you just get some
on your fingers rather than the head)

[stu]

coming soon: an article on how to keep the moose from attempting to mate
with your leg :-)

stu

Post by n***@excite.com
Thanks a lot Stu, my moose calls are so great now, I have a herd of
meese surrounding my house thinking it's mating season.

Post by b***@iwaynet.net

Post by stu
rub a little cake of beeswax on the head..not too much, just enough to make
it work..it will enable you to get that sound, called the 'moose call',
every time..won't hurt the head..it works like resin on a violin bow..
stu

Stu, I could just KISS you!!!!
I've been trying to get a decent "moose call" forever!
Nothing is more irritating than having someone come up
and do a perfect moose call on MY drums right in front
of me and I can't get it happening! :(
I've tried rosin, pine tar, wet fingers, you name it.
NOTHING ever seemed to do the job. So thanks to you
I went and got my beeswax block. AMAZING! I've just
been down stairs doing fine moose calls on ALL my
conga drums including the mule and Nuskyn heads.
WORKS! I'm so tickled!
Say, wait a minute. Isn't this sort like revealing the
secret rituals of Skull and Bones or something? Are
some "enforcers" from the Moose Call Lodge going to
show up and break your legs or something?
Benj
(Who notes that it seem to also work if you just get some
on your fingers rather than the head)

[debster62551]

Heh where do you get a cake of bees wax?

[stu]

i go to a place in Texas Called "Whole Foods", a health food store..
stu

Post by debster62551
Heh where do you get a cake of bees wax?

[b***@iwaynet.net]

Post by debster62551
Heh where do you get a cake of bees wax?

Health food store. Or in a pinch go buy some honey in a comb.
Heat it in a pan and the wax will float to the top. Take the
wax out when cool, wash off any honey with water and then
re-melt into a block. That's where mine came from. Then
you can call all the meese in town.

Benj