NEW Giovanni Series Compact Conga

[congamyk]

Has anyone seen or played the NEW Giovanni Series Compact Conga???

I need to know more...imagine 2 of these in a backpack!


http://lpmusic.com/Product_Showcase/Whats_New/gio-cmpt-conga.html


CONGA

[Michael S]

I'd be surprised that there could be a decent sound from them. I mean, Roto-Toms and Arbiter Flats have been around a long time but their sound is sorta empty to me. And as far as two in a back-pack, I believe they require snare stands and I've yet to see a lightweight snare stand. I'd like to see them more as a quiet practice pad, something sorely needed for congueros.

[congamyk]

I have snare stands that are light weight...lighter and less bulky than full size congas. That's a no-brainer.

I was trying to make a simple comment about the possibility of having better mobility with congas, which I have no mobility with now. I hope this new product will give me that. I would like to be able to jump in a cab or a bus with a conga kit. Maybe someday that will happen.

[Michael S]

Woah! My apologies if I misunderstood you congamyk. After playing kit drums for many years, and lugging as much as a double bass set around, I guess I just never found the congas to be much trouble, even with three.
If you get the chance to hear and audition these new flat congas, let us know. I'm interested in their ability to be used for quiet practice.

[benbaboon]

that's the silliest looking conga I've ever seen..... I wonder how you tighten the skin on it?
-b

[congamyk]

I spoke with Ray at LP today. He said they are one size only but are tunable and definitely sound like a real conga except for no bass. He said they can be easily transported in a backpack with snare stands for easy gigging.

[120decibels]

Gigging? With no bass tone? I haven't heard these Compact Congas, but I tend to agree with the concept that they could be a good practice pad.

Putting on my acoustics hat (I am an acoustical engineer in the daytime), I can tell you that unless LP has come up with an engineering marvel, a drum without a shell will always have that thin roto-tom like sound.

The shell of the drum is critical to the fullness of the sound. The drum shell acts as a chamber for the sound to resonate in. It reinforces the strong (fundamental) tones of the skin and supresses some of the harsh overtones (hopefully). That is why different shell material, different shell shape, and different shell size greatly affect the sound of a conga.

We are in need of a good conga practice pad. However, I'm willing to bet that I won't be switching to these compact congas for gigs any time soon.

Zach

[congamyk]

OK, let me set the record straight. It doesn't take a sound engineer to figure out the difference in sound between these 'compact' congas and a full size drum. (duuhh)

Anyone can argue the differences in sound quality between drums based on physics, that's not the point. Mobility is the point. I can't wait to hear them.

I played Pearl's Practice Conga and it sounded like a hollow table - not even close to an acouustic instrument. Maybe LP has a nice item in their compact congas.

[rahalak]

For those who are interested, LP now has sound and video clips which demonstrate this instrument in action - played by Giovanni himself. Check it out:

LP Compact Conga

Chris

[RayBoogie]

I heard the clip and the drums sounds pretty good. Of course, Giovanni was playing them. It seems like a cool item, but with no tumba (bass tone), it defeats the purpose.

These compact drums have synthetic heads, which I'm not really into. I like the old fashion buffalo hide, "just my preference."

As far as mobility is concerned this product would be ideal. Lugging my drum which is made of wood is a pain. I could just imagine carrying those fiberglass drums from LP. Man, those suckers are heavy.

[120decibels]

I guess we'll just have to wait until someone has seen and played them. I too heard the Giovanni clip. I think Gio could probably make a rock sound good, so I'm still skeptical.

Suck it up and keep carrying your drums for now......unless LP's come up with an engineering marvel, I doubt that the mobility will make up for the loss of the shell.

Is mobility really the point? Come on now, I'd haul a heavy drum if it was easy to play and sounded great. If the compact conga sounds (or feels) even marginal, will you give up hauling a drum that sounds like a real conga? I won't. The conga (and drums with shells) have been part of music forever. I would guess that these drums will be relagated to the bargin bin with the '80s vintage Miami Vice theme roto-toms.

Personally, if it's a good practice pad, I might buy one for my office. However, even after hearing Gio play one, I'm not willing to give up my bass tone and the resonance of my shells when it comes to gigs. A snare drum stand and a compact conga isn't going to save you much space when you've set up to play, so the only thing this compact conga is giving you on a gig is mobility. At what cost? Isn't the goal to sound good and to do the instrument justice? (Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I'll leave it there anyway )

I've bored you with my opinion. If you disagree, that's fine. Enjoy the drums if they make you happy.

Zach

[rahalak]

Continuing on the subject of low-volume, compact, practice congas, I see that Pearl has introduced one. You can see (and hear) it from Pearl's homepage
Pearl Drums

Has anyone seen one "in the flesh"? Perhaps our resident Pearl endorser is familiar with it? I, for one, could use something like this, living in an apartment, but I have yet to see anything of the sort in the stores.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.
Chris

[Conuno]

I've played it !

I was surprised by the sound, the skin is a normal evans conga head. And this pad would be a great solution as instrument if you are NOT a conga player !!!

The sound is really good and loud !!! (it is not for practicing at home, because it is almost the same volume, may be a little lower) but anyway this pad can not replace the bass and the warm sound of a normal conga.

[REQUINTOFUNK]

I also have tried out the practice pad and its actually pretty phenominal the sound it produces. On the bottom of the outer rim, it has over 12 tuning screws(drum key size,those of the same as regular drumheads) and it can be tuned as high as a requinto or as low as a tumba.........this is great for the drummer/percussionist club gigs....good luck to all.

[mco]

I own and play an LP compact conga. The sound is good, given what it is. I use it mostly when I'm away from home for a stretch of days and want to keep my chops up. A few times I have set it up next to my LP Classic conga and tumba and used it as a quinto ( so far only in a practice situation). Its sound fit in quite well, with the synthetic Evans head yielding sharp slaps. On the box it says that a natural head can be installed if desired. If you want to practice while away on vacations, business trips, etc, and want a real conga feel and sound, then I would check out this drum.
Not to raise anyone's ire, but I find it amusing that some people see fit to criticise this product's sound without ever having actually heard it. Try it and then decide.