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Have been looking for a good rumba requinto for a while, and now I found one about an hours drive from home. Havent seen the drum yet, but it is a 9", and the plate on the side says Patato. LP dont make this size now, and according to the owner it should it should be at least ten years old. It has a comfort curve rim, so that cannot be the original model. Now I wonder when these drums were made, and what it might be worth.
Casaet

I had an original LP Patato requinto that I sold on Ebay a couple of years back. Only good for rumba. I think I got around $250 for it. My was one of the first made, with the traditional crown from around the mid 80's. They have not made the 9" requinto for years. It's considered a collector's piece. My estimate, if in good condition, at least $300.

Photo of mine enclosed.

Dario

It seems to me the shape of that Patato quinto in the photo is different than the one I have owned for almost 20 years now. Mine is early nineties or late 80's with the first comfort curve rim. The one on the photo has a belly mine I think is more streamlined. I need to break out mine and compare.

Thanks for good info. My requinto arrived a couple of hours ago, and the shell is definitely slimmer than the old model. The comfort curve rim is very different from what LP makes now, and much better. No double curvature, and that might be one reason it has very little ring, nice overtones, and hardly noticeable sustain.
With proper tuning its sounds very good, and it practically plays itself.
Since the seller had some Finnish Percussion congas to sell, I bought two of them too. They are very similar to the LP Patato congas, but not quite of the same quality.
But as a set they function very well together.
Now we are going to have some fun.
casaet

Hi there


This is very funny.

I used to have a patato quinto and a conga and tumba from Finnish...

I found the Finnish percussion very good. The hardware was very very strong and they fitted perfectly the Patato even if the bottom opening is a bit wider (Patato are narrower than othe LP models).

I personally think that Finnish quality is way beyong LP... But it's a question of taste. You'll love them!

Enjoy

D

Hi Akdom.
One reason I bought the set was that I had read your post about the Patato and the finnish congas. It is difficult to compare congas of different brands and sizes, but it is obvious that the Patato has a stronger and better shell, and less ring, while the finnish have more solid crowns. Anyway it is a pleasure to play them, and now I am polishing the hardware on the finnish congas.
Casaet

Hey guys,
just recently I have had the chance to get a big-bellied black beauty
---------ta-dah (proud flourish): a Patato 9" requinto!
A requinto has been the only thing missing to my bunch of drums
- and it is hopefully the last - according to my wife
I got that drum in pretty good condition at a more than moderate price.
The handle and also the Patato badge is missing, but if I am not wrong
LP did not produce another 9" size fiberglass drum than the Patato.
Of course it has got the traditional crown.
As soon as my camera works again, I will post some pics.

Yes, we definitely need photos.

There you go, here are some pics.
Sorry about the bad quality, my camera has become somewhat unreliable.

This drum has just received a new skin.
Battered as the shell is, I will not
do anything about that.
The sound makes my heart jump already now,
it is THE sound you would want for a requinto.

EDIT: I replaced the the slightly worn out original lugs with a set of 5 new LP lugs
I had - well, flying around

That is a narrow bottom.

Dicemanb wrote:That is a narrow bottom.

That is typical for all of the Patatos models.
By the way, that is one sweet looking drum, congratulations.

Yes, the bottom is narrow, the belly wide,
hence the unique sound, dry, but round at the same time.
I love that drum.

Make sure you wear your hard hat if you ever visit Mike's house.

roberthelpus wrote:Make sure you wear your hard hat if you ever visit Mike's house.

Well, it ain´t rain congas ,
but ear protection is the thing you need...
I am exaggerating, the requinto is not a screamer,
and fortunately it was very easy to reduce the remaining
nasty ringing of the fiberglass shell by putting a piece of soft cloth inside.

I have just ordered a new handle, so that I can take my baby anywhere

Mike!

Very beautiful drum indeed! Almost too fancy I really would love to hear its words...