Wood or Fibreglass. ??

[Chris D'Sylver]

Is there really a difference.?? Which do you prefer. ??


Many thanks.

Chris.

[yoni]

Welcome to the forum, Chris!

I think it's not so much the plane as the pilot... materials do color an instrument's sound, but you can make anything sound good if you like it and play it long enough. That being said, I do find a differnece between wood and fiberglass congas - fiberglass drums can sound louder but wood seems to give warmer tones. Fiberglass drums have a slight over-ring sound of the glass. I've had fiberglass congas for years now but if I could afford new ones, I'd go back to wood. I think the same applies for heads - synthetics can have a sharp sound and more volume, but the tones and subtleties available from natural skins are unique to them.

In a playing situation where I want extra sharpness and volume to cut through, I'll use synthetic materials; also if I play in a place where humidity can affect natural skins by lowering their tones. But for recording or playing in a quieter setting, I prefer natural materials, skins and shells.
My two strokes.

All the best,
Yonatan Bar Rashi

[Chris D'Sylver]

Hello Yoni.

Thanks for your helpful reply. The points you make are all interesting to me.

Although ive been a professional musician (drummer) for many years, and have always loved latin music (mainly jazz influanced), this is my first real foray into conga playing, in a serious way. To be honest, In some ways it's like starting over again, with a new instrument.

Regards.

Chris.

[Firebrand]

I would second what was said before...

Fiberglass are louder and cut through better...you really can hear the "baqueteo" (the slight hits you use to "fill in" the tumbao patterns, by flexing the wrist/hand, up and down) on a Fiberglass...

Wood are better to get that folkloric sound, and to play in really small venues.

Honestly, though, I use Fiberglass most of the time, even in small settings...it just forces me to play softer, which is something that a lot of percussionists ignore...DYNAMICS.

I used to be the Billy Cobham type on drums, and my dad would always tell me to "chill"...to calm down on drums and congas. So, I started taking that seriously...but it wasn't until I met this drummer, who used to play with DLG, where I really learned that lesson. No matter what we would play (soft cha cha cha sections, cascara sections, etc.), he'd always have a very "Timba" pattern...very busy...a lot of loud clanking on the bells and woodblocks. And whenever we'd go into "descarga" or mambo sections, the guy would go into these very anticipated breaks and "explosions" on his drums/timbales...and then settle on a very busy...very bass-drum "pumped" Songo/Timba mix of a rhythm. It was heavy machinery ALL THE WAY THROUGH...

Everyone in the band was giving him the "calm down" eye...to the point where he even said, "oh...am I playing to loud"? At the gig...it was even worse...his friend and him, who played together, turned every single tune we did into a remake of some Charanga Habanera/Bamboleo type of Timba song...no matter what type of setting we wanted to have per song...every song would end in a Timba dance rhythm.....made me hate Timba for weeks after that...(and I love to hear it). I learned a valuable lesson in "staying in the groove" and "dynamics" that day...I saw what I COULD have been in that drummer...who was awesome technically, but needed some real gigging experience in smaller settings. It's obvious the guy had only played with loud, unstructured salsa bands all his life...he would never survive in a studio or with a band that just wanted "the groove".

So...back to the thread's topic...if you're gonna buy one set only, go with a Wood Conga...they are the most versatile...but if you know you're gonna be playing in dance halls or festivals a lot, with loud bands, consider an LP Fiberglass conga set (Galaxy or Patato...it don't matter...they are all based on the Patato prototype).

[ABAKUA]

My first drums were 3 LP Patato fibreglass drums.
They lasted me a week before I took them back to the store.
I didnt like the overtones and ringing in the drums.
One night I went out to a club where a friends band was playing, the conguero had 3 LP Classics, I was invited up to play with them, I loved the warm tones of the Classics.
The next day i took the Patatos back and exchanged them for 3 Classics.

Not long ago, I was offered a partial endoresement by an LP distributor here, I couldve chosen any LP congas.
I tried them all, liked quite a few of them, in the end I chose 3 LP Palladium congas.

I love the sound of the wooden drums, so warm, so crisp.

Ive had to do gigs at large Festivals and on tour where congas were supplied, often Patatos were supplied, I never liked the sound that they produced (for my personal taste) they also did not stay in tune at all.

Whenever I am touring or am asked what drums should be provided for me when Im on tour or if congas are to be supplied by the gig, I request wooden ones. Pref LP Classic, Giovanni or Palladium.


Yes fibreglass are often louder, however, thats what mic's are for. In the 15 years that Ive been playing professionally, Ive never had a problem with being heard with my wood congas.

Fibreglass congas also seem to hold their head shape better over the years, ie not warping under years and years of pressure/climate change etc.

LP wooden congas get my vote.



Edited By ABAKUA on 1114700737

[ABAKUA]

here are my congas...

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... tumbas.JPG

[Raymond]

All has been said here, and thoroughly discussed in various threads here...In summary, fiberglass has overtones, caused by been fiberglass and by the way, overtones are the "humming sounds" you get when you play, hence more volume in your sound. Wood is warmer sound and more "defined".

Personally, I am a fiberglass type of guy....although, I love the sound of wood...I guess fiberglass is to compensate for my volume, they tend to be more durable and less prone to break in "falls"...

Saludos!

[Chris D'Sylver]

I would like to thank everyone for there input here. All the replies have been most helpful and interesting.

Once again many thanks.

Chris.

[Mundo]

Mr..Chris.. and all your conqueros out there... i am a leader of a Latin jazz ensemble, i play all percussions such as djembe cajon. congas bongo, bell and shakers. i have 2 sets of congas
my first set 3 L.P Patato model. i have 2 congas and a tumbadora with remo nuskyn. in Latin Jazz there is no need for a quinto . i use these drums to play more in a out=door venue or any club where the music is unplugged, and the room is carpet these drum have a very loud projection. i always felt that the Patato model is the best fiberglass drum around for years is this particular drum that set the standard for all the other fiber-glass drums to follow.. i also have a pair of wood drum by Pearl. conga- tumbadora with mule head skins.i use these drum for rehearsals and very small intimate gigs such as supper clubs. they sound awesome and they have a very warm sound... i think most working percussionist alway should have 2 set of congas a pair of fiber-glass and wood. one thing i have notice that when playing the fiber=glass drums with the remo head you really have to control the sound due to overtones,but the more you play the better you get in terms of your dynamics.

mucho ache!
Michaelangelo

[maSSivdrums]

Chris,

Abakua is on the money, wood Conga's is the way to go, warm, crisp sound. Plus, the "eye candy" of the wood grain as your drums sits on stage with the lights bringing out the beauty of the wood. Keep poundin'!

MassivDrums

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ms_012.jpg

[ABAKUA]

Fabulous looking old school style drums. Very nice pic there 'maSSivedrums'.







Edited By ABAKUA on 1114884400

[maSSivdrums]

ABAKUA,

Mahalo.... If I did'nt have to sell the farm to buy all those drums I would have bought a set of those Fabulous Palladiums! Keep on poundin'!

Aloha, Massivdrums

[CongaCaja]

Massivdrums,

What's the brand of the drums at front of your photo? Beautiful drums but I'm not familiar with the maker. Please let me know.

thanks,

cjk

[Chris D'Sylver]

Details of all the congas in the picture would be very interedting to me. Thanks.

Cheers.

Chris.

[maSSivdrums]

CongaCaja & Chris,

The first 2 rows of drums are Volcano Percussion Drums made in Kona, Hawaii. The first row is all Mango Wood drums. The second row is a combination Mango/Koa wood Quinto and Tumba and a Solid Koa wood Conga in the middle. All I can say is they sound as FABULOUS as they look! The third row is my old set of Gon Bops. You can find VP drums at http://www.volcanopercussion.com
Keep on Poundin'!

Aloha, maSSivdrums