Manito recently acquired a skid steer to make moving wood much easier.

Save 10% storewide 11/25/24 – 12/2/24. Enter HOLIDAY10 at checkout.

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

We recently upgraded the tuning lugs, flesh hoops and skins on these oak Gon Bops bongos, and did a bit of shell repair. The tuning lugs are custom formed from 5/16″ 304 stainless steel, and guaranteed for life. The flesh hoops are 3/16″ round 304 stainless steel. The skins are steer- 1mm on the macho, 1.6mm on the hembra.

To our veterans, thank you for your service.

We just received a shipment of flat steer skins. I will spend the remainder of the day inspecting and checking the thickness of each skin. I use a long reach outside digital caliper at six points around the playing surface to determine thickness.

Thank you for everything, maestro Q.

Pro Tip! When you separate your bongo macho from the hembra, it’s a good idea to label the orientation of the center block / bridge. This allows for easy, proper and efficient reassembly.

BIG DEAL!!! Get a 65% discount on five steer skins for your congas- less than $30 per skin. Scratch and Dent Middle Eastern Steer Skins- 5 Pack includes 20″ diameter skins ranging from 1.6mm to 2mm in thickness. They have minor blemishes like scratches or slightly rough surface, but are perfectly functional. They sound warm and classic with crisp slaps, round open tones, rich bass and controlled overtones.

Manito fine grinds each part of our 304 stainless steel conga hardware by hand. It’s a necessary step between sand blasting and polishing to achieve the deepest mirror finish possible on every piece from crowns to sideplates to tuning lugs. No apprentice marks here.