Need some advice - Dont know what brand to buy....Help!!!!!

[aircol55]

Hi - found this site by accident. Hope someone can help me. I've been playing congas for 20years on an old CP set. Got into so many bad habbits and, in all honesty, haven't really mastered anything. Starting to take more time to practice now but I need a better set of drums - ideally Quinto with Conga with Tumba. I want to spend approx £800 sterling ($1200??) and do not want to upgrade unless I come into some serious cash. I want drums with as much of a professional sound as possible but haven't a clue what ones ones to go for. I know LP are big but comments I have seen could suggest that there are better brands for less money.
Any suggestions will be hugely appreciated....Thanks...col

[Berimbau]

Dear Aircol55,
First, drink lots of good Scottish ale.......just kidding. I may be in the minority here, but unless you are willing to shell out BIG bucks for Sol, Timba, etc., you need to consider OTHER alternatives. If you check E-bay and pawn shops for good used congas with the old Cuban type tapered shells and SOLID old style hardware you can't go wrong. By putting some good mule skin or a Remo Nuskyn on these older tubs you will be surprised how grteat they sound. I got an old pair of Royce tubs at a pawn shop in Memphis for $200.00!! I painted over a few dings and scrapes in the shell, polyurethaned them inside and outside, oiled all the lugs, and put Nuskyns on them. My total investment was under $300! I now play these fine sounding tubs as much as my LP classics! So happy hunting, and when you get your tubs, l'll buy the Tennisons!

Saludos,



Berimbau