Meinl Pro Series Free Ride Bongo

[mangorockfish]

Has anyone got any review of these or even tried them or heard anything about them? Am considering a set. Also if I do, which set 7 & 8 1/2, or 7 & 9"? Thanks for your advice.

[caballoballo]

Mango,there is plenty info on this page about the different brands. Do some research before you decide,you get what you pay for,aka quality,good sound, projection,durability,the heads,ect,ect. How much can you afford ? The answer is yours. 8 1/2 or 9 ? Cali Rivera at JCR told me that if the thickness of the wood for an 8 1/2 is right,you get the same sound as if the Hembra was a 9". Invest your hard earn money in a good Bongó ,you know what I mean.

[mangorockfish]

I did a search and found that all the posts concerning Meinl bongos were positive, so That is what I think I'm going to buy if I do in fact buy some. I have found the 500 Free Ride that has the 9" Hembre for $175. Does anyone know of them for less?

[caballoballo]

Mango,
I use to own a pearl elite with and hembra 9". Did not matter what I did to taylor the sound to my like,including changing the heads type,as an example nuskin heads,results Dull sound,Fikerskin,result so so,Natural thick steer skin on the hembra,result so so. I wasted over all,about $454 including original price trying to taylor the sound,Result,sold it for $200,got rid . It is better to invest in a top of the line Bongó even if it is expensive,you bet you get a good sounding Bongó from start and don't have to expend a lot more looking for that elusive sound. But this is me,somebody else may have a different opinion.

[mangorockfish]

Hey Caballoballo,
What are the best bongs made in your opinion and what is a ballpark price on them?

[caballoballo]

Mango,

The answer is your budget. There is an online retailer named The drums works who sells Gonbops model california series made of Red oak,hand made,good skins,$282 which is not too expensive. He may still have the Lp Valje Model $219,I got 1 about 19 years old,not too heavy,good sound projection. You can contact Isaac,he sells JCR,also hand made. Another good one is Moperc,they have abot 3 different models ,the owner will give you 20% price drop,contact him for a better price than the ones posted on his web page,Bongomania.com sells Timba,they have an 9" model hand made of Red oak $389. I can talk about some models beacuse I either own them or had play them. The first 2 I sugested are the less expensive.There is a post abot the Gonbops on this bongo forum section. As I said the answer is in your wallet.



Edited By caballoballo on 1147087133

[Ivan]

Has anyone got any review of these or even tried them or heard anything about them? Am considering a set. Also if I do, which set 7 & 8 1/2, or 7 & 9"? Thanks for your advice.

I own a pair of the Meinl Free ride 7 & 9" bongo... They are good sturdy drums, BUT!!!! As my ear matured and my playing as well, I did some minor upgrades to the drums...

These drums came with meinl's version of the comfort curve and like all mass produced drums they come with the cheap water buffalor hide... I replaced both skins; the macho with a Mule skin I got from Isaac and a thick cow skin for the hembra. I eventually replaced the crowns with the traditional crowns and I have to say they sound even better!

Some guys don't like the 9" hembra... The two most common reason is the bigger the shell; the more overtones - I cured that by ridding myself of the over use of metal for the comfort curve... The other is the size itself...too big and clunky for some guys... My hand are pretty big - so I prefer the larger hembra... After the little modifications - I am a happy camper... Everyone that has played my bongos has really enjoyed the sound they project...

Hope that helps!
Ivan

[mangorockfish]

Thanks Ivan. Where did you get the traditional crowns?

[Ivan]

Thanks Ivan. Where did you get the traditional crowns?

Thru member buddy Isaac. He happen to have two traditional rims laying around; the hembra was an original meinl traditional and the macho was a proto-type of JCR (I beleive).

The macho is easy to find a replacement part; it's the hembra I had a hard time finding... I must admit I got lucky on the find thru Isaac... If you decide to go with the smaller sized hembra you should have no problems finding replacement parts... The one thing that annoyed me about Meinl is trying to obtain traditional rims thru them...

1st they didn't want to deal with me because i was neither an endorsee or a business...

2nd I got a local store to start contacting them and there was such a run around... I mean all of this just to get traditional rims which they use to make for all bongos and congas... ???

My point... If you need to get traditional rims find them at local stores or contact Isaac... maybe he has more... Just don't attempt to fall in the black hold of beurocracy @ meinl... :;):

All in all... I love my bongos and the only replacement I see coming are some Hector Rotcha bongos I am working on restoring...

[caballoballo]

Mango,
You don't need to replace the rims on the Meiln with the 9" Hembra. The only model they have with those specs comes with traditional rims. Now if you are talking about other model,they have the replacement part numbers on their web page. Now,why to buy something which you have to invest more to make it sound or look better ? That happens to me with the pearl elite and I have to sell it for less. But like I said,it is MHO. I will never ever buy something mass produce if I had the chance the buy something made to my specs even if it cost more but this is my way of thinking,you learn sometimes the hard way and I did.I rather pay in the range of $350 to $450 for an instrument by one fo the respectable hand makers.

[Ivan]

Mango,
You don't need to replace the rims on the Meiln with the 9" Hembra. The only model they have with those specs comes with traditional rims.

You are correct it's not a "need" to replace, but it was my preference... When I purchased my bongos they did come with the comfort curve... You can see the type of bongos I have by clicking here; these are the bongos with the traditional rims...
http://www.congaplace.com/cgi-bin....5&t=486

True, it is personal choice - but some of us don't have 350-450 dollars to spend... :;): It's been a while, but I think I spent 180.00 for the set of bongo with shipping and handling I may have spent close to 200.00... Actually I bought them thru a vendor in FL Aj's Pro Percussion...

If you don't have the resources caballoballo is right... It might not be worth the trouble I went thru.... In the end I learned how to modify my instrument...

When I first got them they looked like this:

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -Meinl.jpg

[mangorockfish]

Talked with Meinl Wednesday and they told me that the 9" Hembre in the FreeRide line is no longer available.
Mango'

[caballoballo]

Mango,are you steerring yet into the same dilema ? The Drums works.com has the Meiln with the 9" Hembra & traditional rims for $279. The hand made Gonbops with an Hembra of 8.5" traditional Rims,superior heads and craftmanship is sold for only $280. Your Choice,go head and check them. I still don't understant the replacing of the wooden block for a metal rubber device on the Meinls.They said it cuts the resonance between the shells, do you guys think we will be able to distinguish any difference in sound when you are playing in the middle of the band ? Hummmmmmm,

[Ivan]

Mango,are you steerring yet into the same dilema ? The Drums works.com has the Meiln with the 9" Hembra & traditional rims for $279.

Mango,
Here's the web site caballoballo is talking about...

thedrumworks.com-MEINL

In my humble opinion, these are a nice set of bongos... And if you are really wanting to got with a 9" hembra GO FOR IT!!! Another website Bongomania.com/gallary he has good things to say about the Meinl bongos... If you are looking for more insite... In fact, the meinl bongos in his gallary are exactly what mine look like - color and everything (with the exception of my newly added traditional rims.)

I can't speak for the newly owned Gon Bops company... I have heard good things however - nothing specifically about their bongos, but overall I hear their craftmanship in the making of their drums is solid... Afterall, LPs, Tocas, Meinl, Pearl and now Gon Bops are all made in Thailand... I wouldn't imaging too much of a difference... :;):

Ivan

[caballoballo]

I undertand that the tumbao series are made in Thailand,the California series is not. I got the info below from the GonBops web page . Sound comes first.
California Series bongos are crafted to sound like no other. Utilizing a special beveled bearing edge and unique custom head combination (horse hide on 7" Macho and cow hide on 8.5" Hembra), they're designed to provide superior attack, warmth and clarity.

In addition, minimal hardware and compact design provide optimal postioning when seated, and Contour™ crown hoops make them easy on the hands.

Check the Timba Bongó while you are at bongomania.com.Sometimes is hard to select an instrument,keep looking.

Tonight I have a gig with the Band,2 Trumpets,1 Baritone Sax,Up right Bass,Piano,Congas,Bongó,Timbales and 2 Singers.Salsa And Son Montuno. I will use my El Piernas Bongó Or The Moperc,nothing Else.You Guys have a nice weekend.