Manufacturers, brands, skins, maintenance, stands, sticks, michrophones and other accessories for congueros can be discussed into this forum ...... leave your experience or express your doubts!
Shortly I'll be buying new drums - after selling a few household items on Ebay (Fridge, Cooker etc!!!). I quite fancy the 3 drums - quinto, conga and Tumba. I reckon I will go for either Meinl Marathon Exclusive's or Proffessional (bit more expensive). However, I have seen the new LP 40th Anniversary 3 drum set at a knock down price (approx £850 brand new).
I'm sorely tempted but would like to know if anyone has heard or played any of these drums and to know how they stack up against each other (I heard a very small snippit of the LP drums on their website- but really didn't think they sounded as good as the Giovanni series). I'll probably not buy another set of drums so I want to make sure I make the perfect choice for me - as they will have to last.
From what I can see reading other comments Meinl make good drums - as good as if not better than LP for less money depending on what you go for. So can anyone help me out here.
AC55, I have the Meinl Pros and they are great. All the hardware is super nice and heavy and the workmanship is very nice also. You won't be disappointed in them if they are the ones you choose.
To Mangorockfish - Thanks for your note about the pro's. I'll wait to see if I get any comments about the 40th's before making a decision. Thanks again....Col
Conga Kid - Hi....Thanks for the link - it didn't work (probably my PC) but I think thats where I heard the snippit of the 40th's...sure its only a few seconds long.
To Mangorockfish - Thanks for your note about the pro's. I'll wait to see if I get any comments about the 40th's before making a decision. Thanks again....Col
Conga Kid - Hi....Thanks for the link - it didn't work (probably my PC) but I think thats where I heard the snippit of the 40th's...sure its only a few seconds long.
This better work cos every time I try and add a reply somethin goes wrong...must be the cold here!!!
Anyway, Akabua - thanks for yer reply. I'm now completely torn between the Meinl Pro's and the LP's. Reckon the LP's will stay quite cheap for a while so I've got some breathin space.
I'd go off and get some practice in just now but its half past midnight.
This better work cos every time I try and add a reply somethin goes wrong...must be the cold here!!!
Anyway, Akabua - thanks for yer reply. I'm now completely torn between the Meinl Pro's and the LP's. Reckon the LP's will stay quite cheap for a while so I've got some breathin space.
I'd go off and get some practice in just now but its half past midnight.
I've been an LP guy all my life. Bongos, cowbells, and Congas, and Timbales...never had a problem with one of their drums.
I've never tried Meinl or Pearl, or any of the other companies, but they must be good too.
Still, across the board, I've seen players of all genres playing different LP types, usually LP Classic Wood, LP Fiberglasses, LP Giovanni Galaxies, and LP Matador congas...
Timbales, mostly LP models...but I've seen some of the Toca models aroudn too.
I've got two LP Conga sets, LP Classic and LP Patato Fiberglass. Both are real good, and Giovanni Hidalgo selected my LP Classic set when he performed with me, so...it got the blessing of the "best"
Looking for a pro, but cheap model? Go on Ebay. I've bought both of my LP Classic and Patato sets of 3 congas for $650.00 each (that's 50% off), and my LP Gen II bongos for $125 (also 50% off). You can find killer deals.
I love my instruments, retrofit them with Remo Fyberskins (quinto, conga) and LP rawskin for TUmba, and on bongos, black placa or Remo NuSkyn on macho, and LP Handpicked for Hembra.
Sound awesome, and do the job.
I recommend LP...but if you REALLY want THE best...I've heard Cali Rivera's JCR custom makes some KILLER congas...but be prepared to pay up your booty for it. His bells are also THE best as well.
Thanks Mr NoChops re the Pearls.....Had a go a few weeks ago but werent tuned so I cant comment on the sound. They did look fantastic though.
Thanks Firebrand.......reckon I'm going to go for brand new...although I do keep an eye on Ebay. Should have £900 pounds sterling with will get me the Meinls. If I go for the 40ths I should have something left over for those black rubber feet things - cos I prefer to play seated. Have toyed with the idea of new skins for my CP's but they are not common standard sizes (believe thy are possibly 9 and 10 inch heads). Reckon I'll have to take the heads to the drum shop - see what they can do. I'd love to hear how the sound would be.
Thanks for help.
I hope this works properly cos every time I post a message it appears twice for some reason!!!!!!