Fat Cat™ Buffalo is Middle Eastern Nili Ravi. It’s a very high quality and versatile skin. This type of buffalo is not to be confused with the thin water buffalo commonly used in drum factories in Thailand where most mass produced congas are made.
On congas, it produces dry/woody tones, and has low action at thickness above 2.5mm. It is ideal for folkloric styles or any application where a very thick skin is preferred.
Skin thickness is recommended relative to the shell size- the larger the shell, the thicker the skin. This produces a balanced sound across the entire set of drums.
Warm and classic sound with crisp slaps, round open tones, rich bass and controlled overtones:
Requinto: 1.8mm
Quinto: 1.8mm
Conga: 2mm
Tumba: 2.2mm
Super Tumba: 2.4mm
Dry and woody sound with crisp slaps, shorter sustain and highly controlled overtones:
Requinto: 2mm (recommended)
Quinto: 2mm (recommended)
Conga: 2.2mm (recommended)
Tumba: 2.4mm (recommended)
Super Tumba: 2.6mm (recommended)
Traditional very dry and woody sound with the shortest sustain and next to no overtones.
Requinto: 2.2mm
Quinto: 2.2mm
Conga: 2.4mm
Tumba: 2.6mm
Super Tumba: 2.8mm