Re: Tuning Down Your Drums?
BC, in my experience, my congas and bongos detune themselves due to humidity (or lack of same). Like kona, I seldom if ever detune my wooden CPs; the fiberglass CPs detune themselves automatically , and the Remo has a Fiberskyn head that could care less what I do to it. I usually tune or de-tune them just enough to get the sound I prefer, and that's it!
In theory, detuning the heads reduces the stress on the heads and the bearing edges of the congas or bongos. I had only one pair of bongos that ever cracked on the bearing edges (a cheap pair of Japanese bongos that I OVERtightened without realizing it didn't have any reinforcements).
The fiberglass CPs are now approaching 22 years of age; the wood CPs are about nine years old; the Remo is about five years old. My LP bongos are about 20 years old, and I guesstimate my Meinl bongos are about the same age...I've only had to replace one head in all this time (remember the thread on that one?)!
If you're hearing creaking when you're tightening or loosening your skins, better check the lugs and keep them lubed...I stripped a thread on one of the fiberglass CPs because I didn't keep 'em lubed properly (yeah, had to learn the hard way!)...
...but as the other bb says, "chill!"
keep the beat goin' ... Don't keep it to yourself!
Charlie
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." --Henry David Thoreau, "Walden," 1854
"There's a lot to be said for Time Honored tradition and value." --In memory of Frank "fiacovaz" Iacovazzi
"Maybe your drums can be beat, but you can't."--Jack Keck
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