Here's a mystery to me..

Had someone over in my homestudio dubbing a percussion track with a
Djembe. He had warned me over the phone that it was really difficult
to capture the low end of the Djembe. That even speciality mics were
made to this end.

I didn't really take much notice of it, I had some low tuned conga's
over the other day and didn't have any trouble in registering a
satisfying low end.

However I was startled to find out I indeed wasn't able to capture the
low end of the Djembe. No matter which mic I used or which distance I
put it; the low end didn't register. Gone. I still can't believe it.
How can it be that my ears hear a very obvious low end when the guy is
playing, but the mic doesn't register it?? I only used one mic, so it
can't be cancellation. I also put the mic at the position my ears
could hear the low end without effort. Nope. Amazing.

Could anyone give me a clue as to what is happening??