Another "Are these good congas" question

[busyflyin]

Here's the deal.. you guys have been great giving me feedback on my LP PP Craigslist find, and my GP Tumbao Pro CL find, but I struck out on both.. they were both sold before I could get at them. That's what I get for dragging my feet a bit, but I'm just trying to make sure that I'm doing the right thing. I've now turned to Guitar Center and looking at used Gon Bops. They have some Acuna's with synth heads.. they look mighty nice, but I just don't have enough experience to know. GP's site doesn't show Acunas with synth heads. What kind of feedback can I get on this approach to buying and the model? Forever greatfull for humuring this newbie!

[Jerry Bembe]

As for new Gon Bops models, I recommend the Mariano model over the others for value $$ (the California series is nicer but not a value with the price tag). The Mariano is less than the Acuna and most like the Mariano over the Acuna as well.

The Mariano has Cow heads and and modeled after a classic design.

I like some of the Remo heads but I find the Acuna heads to be to plastic for my taste.(maybe it is just me)

But it is a matter of opinion and ultimately you have to like what you get. Get your info and go with your gut.

Enjoy your drumming.

[pcastag]

I had a set of ca. series and a set of acunas, one with plastic and one with buffalo. They're very warm sounding, even with the plastic heads ( i had the special editon with the black heads) the ones with the bufalo sounded good, I just worry about the tuning lugs, a bit thin, the CA series I didn't really like, they're really dry and tinny and I could never get a sound out of them I liked. Very well made and solid buy not a sound I would go after. maybe some aging of the wood would help.
PC