I just don't get the flames and flags!

[bongosnotbombs]

Those Aspires do look great but why did LP use that cool look on Aspires?
What a waste.

Because Aspires are only good for decoration?

[niallgregory]

Some of you guys seem to forget that the music industry is entertainment. We play to entertain people and to make them feel good. As an artist, you should be able to express yourself anyway you can or want to. Along with playing, why can't someone alter the look of their congas to suit their taste? Why do some of you people have to complain about someone else's instruments? It's silly and petty. I noticed this alot on these forums. There are a bunch of close minded, and need I say slightly soured people on here. Maybe you guys are just old school. Whatever though, I personally don't want to be playing on something that looks like old furniture.

No one forgets what the music industry is about mate , its about music and not about having flashy congas . But if you or someone else wants them thats fair enough . For me a nice set of plain wood or coloured congas does the job nicely . Dont like the fancy paint jobs ! Personal taste my friend .In my opinion it takes away from the serious nature of the instrument somewhat , the congas are already looked at with disdain by certain musicans and treated as a novelty by members of the public ( " Like oh sure anyone can play the bongos man " attitude ) The crazy looking paint jobs dont help this imo . Not complaining about them just commenting in a thread about them , forums are about opinions afterall .

[jorge]

Some of you guys seem to forget that the music industry is entertainment... There are a bunch of close minded, and need I say slightly soured people on here. Maybe you guys are just old school.

There are other aspects to the music industry that drums and other traditional folkloric instruments are particularly used for, like cultural consciousness, history, religion, magic, and politics. Those other aspects of the drum are in many ways not compatible with some of the gaudy commercial decorations on congas. People that are not about the purely entertainment aspect of music may find those decorations annoying or silly. Before you call people "closed minded, slightly soured, and old school", be aware that there is some validity to other perspectives besides your own.

[ABAKUA]

Agree with Jorge 100%...

However.. to some extent, some of those who "we" look up to, respect and admire so much have been doing it for years...




Though Papines paintings are culturally related.

[bongosnotbombs]

Well flames and flags is one thing, those artistic patterns slightly reminiscent of Abakua symbols on the Papines congas is another. And they probably painted those drums themselves.

It would be different if say all the instruments in the Salsa band were done up in flames or whatever gobblygook, but it is never that way. Why is it always the conguero that has to play the clown?

[congamyk]

Those Aspires do look great but why did LP use that cool look on Aspires?
What a waste.

Because Aspires are only good for decoration?

Correct! We would have also accepted "conversation piece", "looking hip to your friends" and "the kids love colorful toys".

[onile]

Blah.....ha.....ha....ha....ha!

[bongosnotbombs]

You can have your decorated congas.

I'll stick with my furniture, thanks all the same.

[congamyk]

That is truly disgusting.
No conga would consent to that kind of abuse - not even a fiberglass and/or multi-colored one.

[docarroyo]

I've been playing for over forty years and have owned in that time many drums, some adorned some plain. I now prefer just plain wood drums. I play in different bands and was doing a week long gig in Atlantic city, one of the lounges in Ceaser's. I showed up with my Juniors and the musical director asked if I had any new drums or drums with a better stage presence. So I did the rest of the week with LP Classics. The majority of the public, non percussionist and even some percussionist do not know about drums like Junior's, M.Smith, SOS ect.. I also play in wedding bands very commercial but its great money, again they tell me my beautiful Oak Gon Bops are ok for rehersal but prefer the flash of comercial drums on stage. There is a place for ethnic identification and flash on stage and personalization of your instrument. It goes way back in musical history jazz drummers would put their initials on the front head etc... Look at photos of the last NAMM show and you will see FIBERGLASS upright basses(Contrabajo) with different colored flames on them. So other instruments do have flames and other adornments. I just wanted to get my kick in on this dead horse. In any case its a matter of personal taste to each his own, I always preach tolerance, the world would be much nicer if everyone respected each other and agreed that difference is not wrong just different. Ache para todos (respect to all). Rey Arroyo Jr.

[Psych1]

[quote=" I always preach tolerance, the world would be much nicer if everyone respected each other and agreed that difference is not wrong just different. Ache para todos (respect to all). Rey Arroyo Jr.[/quote]

Well, you are one of the guys on this board that I respect. I always try to have, and show, respect to those who know more than me and to musicians who play better than me. But I have no respect to wise-ass punks who insult far more knowledgeable members of this board and refer to some of our greatest instruments as "old furniture" and others who know a lot less than me but think they know more. I understand not biting the hand that feeds you but I would probably have some problems with a music director who puts flash before sound. There is a difference between right and wrong that goes beyond "taste". I think the world would be far less nice if we didn't confront those bozos and at least try to educate them. No respect for fools - they don't deserve it!

[Anonimo]

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

[jorge]

Don't feed the troll, guys.

[pcastag]

[quote=" I always preach tolerance, the world would be much nicer if everyone respected each other and agreed that difference is not wrong just different. Ache para todos (respect to all). Rey Arroyo Jr.

Well, you are one of the guys on this board that I respect. I always try to have, and show, respect to those who know more than me and to musicians who play better than me. But I have no respect to wise-ass punks who insult far more knowledgeable members of this board and refer to some of our greatest instruments as "old furniture" and others who know a lot less than me but think they know more. I understand not biting the hand that feeds you but I would probably have some problems with a music director who puts flash before sound. There is a difference between right and wrong that goes beyond "taste". I think the world would be far less nice if we didn't confront those bozos and at least try to educate them. No respect for fools - they don't deserve it![/quote]

WEll, you don't have to play the gig if the MD asks for something that you feel uncomfortable with. After all, we all on this board talk about how important the sound is, and how that's the bottom line, then go on for 4 pages talking about some colored drums. I think the new craze has got to be directly related to some method they've developed in thailand that makes is super cheap to put designs on the drums. As for me I love the look of old wooden banded dums, but also love the top percussion album cover look and the papines look. I mean really a set of fundamento never gets played in public "naked" without it's decorative cloth, which in many cases in pretty ornate, are you going to tell the babalao who placed ana in the drum and the olubata that they're too flashy?
PC

[BMac]

I hope you guys are having fun with this debate/discussion/flame/mosh-pit or whatever it is. I just read the whole thing and laughed most of the way through it. It's hard to tell in a forum sometimes whether someone is really worked up, slamming the keys with malice, or just bouncing back some punkery for fun. This topic really ought to be light hearted. It's about paint on drums after all. I don't care at all for anything but simple stains and coatings on wood shells to let the grain show through, and simple color schemes on fiberglass shells. Flames, sparkles, murals ... are you kidding me? ... plt-plt-plt-plt ... yuck! But Oldipo's comment ... my wood drums go great with my floor ... that's freaking funny! They do go great with my floor! They sound great too. I have hard-wood floors that make my playing room a great acoustic environment. So my drums and floor look great and sound great together! How did he know?

If you're happy with your choices ... your choices in drums and floors ... then you shouldn't get too worked up about other people's choices. Even if other people choose to hang out half naked with their chums in their little sailor boy outfits. There is a time to laugh in life. Start now.

Cheers,
BMac