congaplace.com

before i purchase these congas.
i wanted your opinion on them.
thank you

ranger42 wrote:before i purchase these congas.
i wanted your opinion on them.
thank you

I have a set of three but I am a "beginner". I picked up all three with stands for $400 and they sound fine to me. Soon, I will upgrade to a more quality LP drum line but for now they do the job in my opinion.

I'm repeating myself from other threads but...

a) if you are a beginner you only need one drum.
b) one good drum is better than two cheap ones.

imo

....and I emphatically second Thomas' statement. Master one drum. It will offer you the opportunity to explore an almost infinite variety of strokes, patterns and voices, ultimately making you a better conguero. I am continually surprised at the changes in sound I can produce with the most subtle alteration in the positioning, speed, angle and force of each stroke on the skin. The trick is to recognize those subtleties-- to hear them clearly--understand how I produced them, reproduce them consciously, master them and blend them solidly into my repertoire so that each becomes a distinct percussive voice readily available at the right time refining and expanding the groove. One drum.

If you put aspires in the the search box you will get a gazzilion replies ... however let me summarize and save you a moment

They stink hard and have no resale value (and yes I once owned one)

I've said it before and I will say it again.

LP Aspires are called "aspire" because as soon as you get them you aspire to
get a better set of drums. Truly an unfortunate line of drums. Don't get them,
buy something better, by used or buy fewer drums.

bongosnotbombs wrote:LP Aspires are called "aspire" because as soon as you get them you aspire to
get a better set of drums

I agree totally with B.N.B. I had a set of these drums as well as others that i've known but none of us have them any longer. With all due respect ranger42 do yourself a favor and don't invest in these drums, their hardware is terrible not to mention that this is NOT a drum that will grow with you, take the money and invest in one good drum, L.P. Matador or L.P. Classic. I have no doubt that this will be the same advise that you will get from Congueros that have been "Arround the block"

I think that If you begin with a bad drum, you won't have pleasure to play. It's important to have good drum when you learn.

If you have not a lot of money, choose one drum (conga, to my mind), even used, LP matador or Meinl Luis conté, for example.

Galou.

no go for aspires from germany.
weak hardware, bad skins, unusual requinto 10" size, at least 28" high instead of common 30".

the shell itself is good. hevea/siamoak, no mistakes there, thick gelcoating, perfekt highgloss finish.

greetings

zwar

Mm

nickpilarski wrote: requinto from islapercussions

A 9 inch drum for a beginner? Surely not.

thomas newton wrote:

nickpilarski wrote: requinto from islapercussions

A 9 inch drum for a beginner? Surely not.

Definitely not a drum for a beginner. Also there us a 3 month wait for Isla drums. You can't really practice
tumbao on this drum. The head is too small, and it would just not sound right.

The drum I started with was a $72.00 LP fiberglass 12" conga that had been well used, scratched, and even dented.
It sounded good like a real drum, was light for carrying to classes, tough, really the perfect beginner drum.

I was at a jazz playgroup the other week and the organizer said they had congas there so I didn't need to bring mine.
What kind of congas? I should have asked, but I didn't, they were LP Aspires. Those drums are so little and have such a
bright sound, that I sounded like crap with the other instruments, I was really in the wrong register, and the drum
heads were very small and made it more difficult to play.

A good solid 12" inch conga, Lp, Matador, Toca, Meinl, and if you can find one with the traditional hardware, the better.

Aspires ( they don't even have a smiley to express how bad this drum is. )

To repeat my previous comment:

"Buy wisely once rather than buying foolishly twice."

It will save you money in the long run.

In any case, if you decide not to pursue Conga playing you can then easily resell a better set.

I