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Hey fellas. I've narrowed down my choice for fiberglass congas. I'm looking at the Pearl Bobby Allende congas in Brisa Tropical finish or the LP Raul Rekow Matador congas in that green sparkle. Turqoise is one of my favourite colours and these congas are the closest to that colour, also they are fiber glass and around my budget. I was wondering if any of you have had experience with either drums. My only problem are the hoops(I like traditional better), the distance between head and the hoop (there doesn't seem to be alot of distance between them and I would like at least 1 inch clearance), and the fact that they are both 28'' (I like 30'')... What do you guys think? I need your advice.

All the 30" fiberglass drums I know are higher cost than those you listed.
Least expensive are Meinls... you might like them.

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mrhands wrote:. I was wondering if any of you have had experience with either drums. What do you guys think? I need your advice.

A friend bought a set of 5 of the LP Raul Rekow Matador congas in the green sparkle colour with Fyberskyns. He loves them (but then he's really into Santana and the playing style of Raul, even down to Raul's on-stage body language ). I played them once, they seemed pretty good overall, maybe they lacked a little bottom end but that may just be the Fyberskyns.

If you really want turquoise then get the drums that you want and paint them turquoise. You can fine everything you need at the local auto parts and plenty of info and experience with finishing fiberglass. You could even do the prep work yourself and have the local auto body shop spray them for a relative low cost.

Thanks for your advice guys. roberthelpus made an interesting point. I'm interested in some white fiberglass palisades park congas. The problem is they are an hour away. Would you guys drive that far for these congas? Better yet, would you paint them? Here's what I have my eye on...

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell ... Z193663661

An hour away? Warm up the car and bring some good tunes, get going. I don't see how you could lose on them. Looks like the heads need a cleaning and lubing and may or may not need replacing, but even with that you could get your money back out of them.

If you want them turquoise then make them turquoise, unless someone on here jumps in to say that you shouldn't make them un-original for collector value.

I'm guessing that the hour drive will seem longer on the way home because you will be wanting to play them.

mrhands wrote: I'm interested in some white fiberglass palisades park congas. The problem is they are an hour away. Would you guys drive that far for these congas?

I don't understand why, or how, anyone who has spent any time on this board would ask a question like that!! I't's hard for me to believe that you are serious and not just here busting chops.

Psych1 wrote:

mrhands wrote: I'm interested in some white fiberglass palisades park congas. The problem is they are an hour away. Would you guys drive that far for these congas?

I don't understand why, or how, anyone who has spent any time on this board would ask a question like that!! I't's hard for me to believe that you are serious and not just here busting chops.

LOL! I was being serious!! Does anyone know what Remo heads would fit on these? I was looking at Nuskin original crimplock. The guy selling them says they are 11'' and 12''. Does that sound like the right sizes for these congas? You guys are fun to ask for advice! This forum is awesome!

Don't you want to try the heads that are on them first?

roberthelpus wrote:Don't you want to try the heads that are on them first?

I obviously would, but I don't like hide heads. I like Remo heads. Easier on the hands, don't detune, and are much louder which is important for me to be heard over my funk band.

Hmm, easier on the hands. That's interesting, why do you think they are easier on the hands? Anybody else think the same? I could see where they don't take as much oil out of your hands, but that's what moisturizer is for.

Disclaimer: I am a dyed in the wool natural skin guy. Personally, but don't have anything against anyone else preferring them.

roberthelpus wrote:Hmm, easier on the hands. That's interesting, why do you think they are easier on the hands? Anybody else think the same? I could see where they don't take as much oil out of your hands, but that's what moisturizer is for.

Disclaimer: I am a dyed in the wool natural skin guy. Personally, but don't have anything against anyone else preferring them.

Hi Robert ,

I would agree with the point that fibre skins are easier on the hands .They take hardly any effort to get good sounds from compared to some thick hide skins . The problem for me is people just starting out going straight into playing synthetic heads , they will struggle with hide if they ever play them i reckon .Im a big fan of the remo skins , have some evans on an old set of tocas and there crap compared to remo .I also love original raw hide skins ! cant beat playing a beautiful set of congas with some amazing hide skins that just sing .. The problems associated with hide is what turns me off using them for touring etc .I have lots of hide drums in my rehersal studio and its great to mix and match synthetic and hide in the recording studio .. Both have there positive and negatives imo . Cheers .Niall ...

roberthelpus wrote:Hmm, easier on the hands. That's interesting, why do you think they are easier on the hands? Anybody else think the same? I could see where they don't take as much oil out of your hands, but that's what moisturizer is for.

Disclaimer: I am a dyed in the wool natural skin guy. Personally, but don't have anything against anyone else preferring them.

The head that was on my quinto when I bought it, was a hide head from Moperc. Don't get me wrong, they can sound great. However, when I started gigging with it, the head would detune at least twice during a set. I can hear the pitch drop gradually throughout songs. And that was indoors. Luckily I bought the synthetic heads before an outdoor festival show.(btw I live in Canada i.e. humidity, winter, other variables effecting hide heads etc.) Apart from the detuning were problems with projection. I play in a loud funk band. When I first started with the band I was playing the hide heads and it was difficult to hear me. At one point there were 9 members (2 saxophones, trumpet, trombone, bass, guitar, drummer that hits hard, keys, plus them singing) but by that time I was playing synthetics. Even mic'd I would've barely been heard. With synthetics I stand a chance. And now that we are back to 5 members, I'm present more than ever.

The issue about the hands..like neilgregory says, it is easier to get a sound out of synthetics than hide. This means I wont have to hit as hard to be heard. Also, the hide is thicker and much harder than the synthetic heads. I get all I need out of synthetic heads without worrying about all the things that come with hide heads. This is just my experience , of course.

The only issue I have with synthetic heads are finding out which ones will actually fit my conga. Remo's customer service wasn't that great and I spent a few months trying to find out which heads would fit my model congas.

I'll tell you what I told a friend of mine who suddenly started sporting tape on his hands while playing in a full salsa band. You sound great in the house mix, just quit setting up in front of the trombones