longer term review...budget conga update.

[bongoron]

Hello everyone! Here are some of my findings after playing gigs, and practicing at home /and studio with my band. I'm referring to my budget setup...Sonor Champion conga (11 3/4), tumba (12 1/2), and schalloch quinto, requinto and tumba (11, 10, 12 respectively.)

First let me say the heads on my schallochs are half the thickness of those on the sonor, and it is apparent in the tone. However, both are very tunable, and play a very distinct open tone "note" suitable for making melodic and harmony-type patterns. The schallochs respond very well to an application of "diaper do"..brand name, not the other kind :p lanolin from the local store. They seem to dry out rapidly, which makes sense considering the thinner skin. Both brands respond well to this treatment.

This is how they compare tonally. In my living room the sound is quite damped due to all the furniture, carpet, pillows, etc. My wife has many nick nacks on shelves. When playing bass tones on the schalloch drums...all three...some of the nick nacks vibrate. When playing them on the sonors, they move on the shelves and all the cds in the changer buzz. In fact the changer will skip if you are within ten feet of it whil playing along and hitting a bass tone on the sonors. It gets worse if you hit it harder, but is unavoidable even with the lightest bass tone...lots of air moving. These can be felt outside the house on bass tones. The open tones do ring longer on the sonors, and both sets sound nice as a set or when combined into a set of five. Both brands produce a pronounced "wooden block" cracking type of slap, and a very high "pop". The sonors are much easier to tune high...and can also be retuned with a finger in the center of the head for another couple of notes..so can the schallochs but it's way easier on the sonors. An elbow works about the same on both for sliding the open tones up and down. Heel-tip seems about the same to me...a little easier on the sonors with the extra head size.

After about 2 1/2 years on the schallochs, the sonors are a nice upgrade that still goes well with them. A new set of skins would probably do even more for both sets. Still, I find the dryness really affects the tone dramatically, and make it a habit to treat my hands with the diaper do before every gig. The actual heads get it about every two weeks. It's possible my job dries my hands out so much they draw it out of the skins...I do play alot. It's also possible IMHO that the bad rap on buffalo skin is partly due to drums that sit in a warehouse drying out...great for resonant wood, terrible for skin. Every single time I treat the heads...and it's quite frequent...I am very happy with the noticeable improvement and ease of playing from reduced strike force.


Keep in mind, I experiment with these because they are cheap. I have no fear of over moisturizing...I'll just get new heads if something happens. Still, no such problem. My heads on the schallochs felt like rough paper when I played them this morning. After treatment, they feel like my motorcycle jacket, only very tight. I pay special attention to the edges between the bearing edge and rim, as this make the tuning much easier when it's not all dried out. It should also prevent tearing.
The bongos also respond well to the treatment. Being smaller sizes, they are a little more dry sounding anyway, but very crisp, and loud.

When miked at a gig (Christian rock style), both brands sound like people expect congas/bongos to sound, and I get many kudos on them from musicians and spectators after the show. The sound guys always have a kind word, too. The audience is happy, in other words.



That's my observation on these two brands. Anyone on a tight budget may like the info.

God bless!

-Ron



Edited By bongoron on 1144949994

[franc]

my fellow drummers,
any feedback or review on the ''sonar percussion'' i just heard of them lately . i went to La Antorcha a music store and saw a pair of sonar timbales which looked awsome and kind of expensive. any one of you guys know about them ''sonar'' or in the web?? ache to all!! mucho blessing!! franc

[franc]

sorry, i mean ''sonor percussion'' :^/ my best, franc :blush:

[bongoron]

They finally responded to my email...and said my congas were designed for school systems to be able to buy quality at a lower price. That's the target market dor the champiuon series of instruments. That explains the heads being thicker, while the rest of the drum is typical lower middle price range fit and finish. For the price I paid, I have no complaints whatsoever. In fact my new quinto is in town and on a UPS truck for delivery as I write this. I played the conga by itself with my buddy at our annual praisefest sunday night, and got some more positive feedback from more musicians on the drum and the tone. A couple of weeks ago somebody asked me what kind of wood it was because it looks so good. I think they are a good value. I expect the rest of the line is similar to other manufacturers at similar pricing. BTWE, they are made in China, like so many others. The schallochs used to be made in Thailand, but I bought mine a couple of years ago. That may have changed...don't know. Both are "German" companies, like meinl.

here's sonor percussion

God bless!

-Ron



Edited By bongoron on 1145962471

[bongoron]

MY three drum set is complete. The quinto has the same thick skin on the head. It is 11 inches diameter (measured LP style) and is very crisp and clean in tone. I played the schallochs in practice last night...they sounded great in the studio. In my living room, where the schallochs sounded dull, the SOnors sound bright and alive. I can hardly wait to get the whole three drum set out at a gig. I can really feel the difference since I was playing three last night, and three now today, instead of just two. Very happy!

God bless!

-Ron