Drum sizes and musical styles

[biggator]

Maybe this is the wrong place for this question..

Obviously, the primary use of congas is in latin/afro-cuban musical styles... but lets forget that for a minute.

Congas are also used (a lot) as percussion accompaniment for pop/rock musical styles - what are the best SIZES for this use? If I'm going to get a pair for a studio, would I be better off with conga/tumba? quinto/conga? quinto/tumba? Does it make much of a difference at all for this use?

I'm still looking for a set.. can get a pretty screaming deal on Matadors, but it's quinto/conga - wondering if I should hold out for different sizes (for some reason - I had thought I'd want conga/tumba). I know I could pick up the tumba separately..

[docarroyo]

Good morning, although I'm a rumbero I play in several RnB, Blues, singer song writer, and Classic Rock bands in the area. When playing in a salsa band I tune my drums lower than when playing in other types of music. If the quinto is 11 inch or better as with LP types you should be ok just tune it up a bit higher and keep the conga low. I guess what I'm trying to say is that its all in the tuning. If your getting a good deal go for it. Latter on if your like most of us here on the forum you will get the addiction and have many drums to chose from depending on the gig. attached is a photo of a few of my collection which I have been thinning out for a while. Good luck

[akdom]

Nice collection.

Purists will say that it is better to start with conga and tumba... But if you can get a quinto/conga just get them.
For non Latin music, this is fine. The quinto will be more than fine for high picth stuff. And as mentioned above, you can tune it a bit lower if you are looking for a smoother and blending in sound.


D

[biggator]

Thanks for the advice..

docarroyo - I'm trying to avoid having another instrument addiction! I already have way too many guitars, amps and kit drums (snare drums are easy to acquire in bunches!)..

[akdom]

Hey


If you do not want to get addicted to a new instrument, then do not buy congas....

Once you start with them, you'll never stop!



B

[docarroyo]

I know what you mean I have sold over 1000 misc. guitars and amps over the years on ebay and craigslist . I'm down to about 30 axe's and maybe 10 amps. Bongos are my first instrument and then congas and love congas above all other instruments. I find myself playing the same instruments above others and that's how I've come to the conclusion that I have to sell off some of the less played. The illness is referred to by many as G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome).

[akdom]

he he

I'd love to have this syndrome.....

I have an old and beat up set of congas that I want to change and I cannot make up my mind.

B

[pcastag]

In salsa the conga along with the bass provides the meat of the beat which is why so many people use the conga and tumba set up, many actualy are using tumba tumba or conga conga tumba and eliminating the 11" size completely. My opinion is for other types of music such as funk or even rock it's preferable to have higher pitched drums because they provide more of a spice rather than the main ingredient. If you listen to old marvin gay and other 60s-70s funk the congas tend to be high and tight to ride over the main bass and drumset groove.
PC

[congamyk]

Nice~!

I like any and all sizes for a fusion of funk~


This is for my Mexican restaurant gig - easy to pick up and walk from table-to-table.


World-~Fusion gigs


I would never use tumba/tumba no matter what the application - I don't see how it's necessary.
One can tune a conga/tumba combination as low as you need to.

[pcastag]

I think the idea is getting a low enough tone witha good enough tension to get a nice slap out of it. Of course you can tune a conga nice and low, my favorite tumba for rumba for a long time was an old lp 11.75 traditional fiberglass with an ancient head, but you couldn't get much pop out of it for a good tumbao. Some folks like big drums.
PC

[congamyk]

PC that's interesting and I guess I've never tried it before.
I'll try it out.

[biggator]

Thanks for all the replies, guys...
It sounds like the Matador quinto/conga setup that I can get locally would work for me - LPs are 11/11.75, so not particularly small.. I can always get the tumba later, right?
"-)