PEARL'S NEW TRAVEL CONGA

[Raymond]

Pearl has manufactured a new "Travel Conga" that was a hit during the last NAMM. (January 2007). Check the follow link that has parts of the video that was made available also during NAMM to show how the Travel Conga works. In the video, Richie Flores, Marc Quinones, Bobby Allende, Anthony Carrillo and Jose Clausell participate.

(For the video just check a little through the middle of the page). Here is the link.

http://www.pearldrum.com/newperc.asp

Saludos!

[deadhead]

Looks like a nice competitor to the giovanni compact. I like the refmo fyberskin better than the evans that come on the LP. Seems to be in the same price range as well. I think I would choose the pearl over the LP. As for the sound, it was weak as expected, but the only thing I would use it for would be practicing at home.

[Raymond]

The reason it was a hit in NAMM was that it projects sound better and actually does what the competition claims their model will do: be a substitute to a conga in small set ups and even with good mics it could. The competition's version is not even close in sound and versatility.

Several, and you can say the top of the other company endorsers, checked it out and said, that is much better. Definitively, the Remo Fyberskins makes a difference plus the wood bottom, that the competition's version does not have, provides more of a sound.

In NAMM, we had a set up of quinto, conga and tumbadora that people found it to be more versatile than the competition's model.

Price? Is going to be cheaper than the competion.

Saludos!

[congamyk]

These look and sound great. I'm in.

[Laurent Lamy]

These look and sound great. I'm in.

Yes I like more than the gio compact model...

[fed]

Raymond, what about those "Mahogany" congas? Can you tell us more about those?

[Raymond]

The new Pearl Elite Mahogany congas have two new features that are new. First the stalves of the conga are not glued together like with other congas. Pearl has developed a system that each stalves is connected together making it a stronger and more solid congas. The result is a much better sound and reliable conga.
Also, the Mahogany series have new hardware that includes a more comfortable comfort rim for the congas. Of course, they are made of mahogany.

The congas sound great and project very good. The new comfort rims are much better and hold the heads betters. (Have to admit the congas are heavier).

Personally, I am getting myself a set of the bongos. (They were not available at NAMM to try).

Missing in tha page of Pearl is a new set of Richie Flores Signature Congas, now in a color or style Pearl calls Eclipse shade. The Eclipse Shade is a light blue with silver sparkle that looks great. This shade allows you to have variations in the look of the congas just by turning the congas around (Half of the conga is like a light blue sparkle and the other half is Silver Sparkle. You could have one of your congas facing wiht color blue showing or showing silver or half showing sliver with blue, etc, etc,. It is a pretty neat effect), The last thing the Richie Flores congas have is that it has chrome hardware instead of the Pearl's standard polished steel.

Saludos!

[Diceman]

Hi All,

Anyone seen these fellas

http://www.gonbops.com/gongas/index.htm

Any comments or feedback on them?

Diceman

[deadhead]

Interesting design, would love to hear the difference in sound projection between the gon bops and LP and Pearl. They sure do look funky though ??? .

[onile]

Alafia Abures!
I hope that you are all well and abundantly blessed!

I have just recieved my Pearl Travel Conga this past Thursday, and have been jammin' on it every spare minute! BTW! They're hard to get ahold of, as soon as they (the music stores) get them in stock, they're sold out! I'm seriously considering getting another one to take out to my corporate gigs, afterall, they don't care so much about the congas, they just want the sound and sometimes not even that.....

In either case, the Pearl Travel Conga sounds much better, hands down, than the LP Giovanni Compact Conga. I've been playing the travel conga next to my Isla tumbadora and it sounds just like a full sized drum my brothers! I actually ordered it about two weeks ago and they were on back order! They don't weigh anything compared to a full sized conga, and are just as they say.....compact. I was supposed to have received a "free" travel conga case, but somehow that was overlooked. I contacted the store "ZZounds" and they said they would be sending me one out soon!

IMHO! These are a great 'compact' drum for on-the-go!

Many blessings!

Onile!

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... _Conga.jpg

[Changuiri]

HERMANO ONILE, COMO SE SIENTE?

I LOVE THAT CAJON, GONNA HAVE TO ORDER ONE!

[onile]

Alafia Abures!
I hope that you are all well and abundantly blessed!

I took my two Pearl Travel Congas to a corporate gig I had last night (Native American Flute/Guitar/Congas), and Daaaaaaaaaaaang! It was as though I had a 'full-size' set of congas on the gig! Set-up and tear-down was beyond belief, it was the fastest I've ever experienced, not to mention the fact that instead of using my cart to haul my drums and mics, I just had a soft bag with both of them in it, and my LP bongo case carrying my snare stands! Also my throne in hand!

It was a real blast, they sound just like full-size congas my brothers, much more than the LP Gios do, plus they are 11 3/4" size, plenty of real-estate to play on!

I have a Latin Jazz gig tonight, but I won't be taking them there! I'll be taking my Islas with me tonight!

Many blessings Abures!

Onile!

[congamyk]

:D



I picked 2 of these up today and I'm impressed. They sound absolutely fantastic. The LP's don't even come close, these sound very realistic and there's even bass. Very impressive sound for such little weight and size, you should love these.



Edited By congamyk on 1179979597

[Amber]

Hi,

because my neighbours are not so pleased with the "bongo noise" I thought it to be a good idea to order such a transportable conga to practice outside. Well that thing arrived, together with a bag, very practical and easy to transport around. But the sound.. lots of overtones and ringing....like a hungry cat....!
Will this improve by time, should I tape it, any suggestions are very wellcome!

Thank you and best regards

???

Amber

[jmdriscoll]

I was one of the people on the waiting list for the Pearl travel conga. I also own a Pearl practice conga and it really isn't bad if you are trying to get your hand movement technique down. I wanted the travel conga because I leave my Matador quinto at work through the week and go practice during my lunch hour every day. I thought to myself.. hey, this is a great idea, and now I will be able to practice on 2 drums while on lunch... Well I have owned it for a month or two now and have had a chence to develop and opinion on it. IMO there are positive and negative attributes associated with the travel conga.

Pro's:

a) It is very portable with the nifty travel case.
b) You can play it on your lap if you would like, or set it on a table for that matter... so no snare stand required, unlike the LP models.
c) It has a Remo fiberskin head.
d) probably has a bit more bass than the LP compacts, but still no comparison to a full sized conga.

Cons:

The only cons that I can think of, "which is a big deal to me" is that I am not impressed with the sound of the open tones or the slap's or bass. They just do not have that nice warm wood blocky sound on the slaps, the open tones are verrrrry ringy, and the bass seems very flat.

Overall, being that I just use it as the conga in a 2 drum quinto/conga setup at work to practice on, they are not that bad. Also, if I tuned it up a bit more and used it as my high drum and brought my conga or tumba as a low drum, then it may actually sound better. Considering I only have to haul in one full sized quinto each week and just leave the travel conga at work, I can't complain. The majority of the work is being done on the quinto anyway, so it is a lot better than having hauling 2 drums into work each week. However, I will admit... when I get home and continue my playing/practicing on my Matador conga and tumba... thats when I REALLY notice the difference!!! nice warm sounds, popping slaps... it warms my heart to hear drums that sound so nice.

So all in all, these things are alright, but they cannot compare to a full sized drum. If thats what you were hoping for then you may be let down. It really depends on your situation too.. if space problems are an issue, then these might not be bad either. I guess that it's all in what you want, and what you already play. If your playing tabletops right now, then these things would be a welcome upgrade...although for the price of them, I would personally rather have a set of used el cheapo congas like a caliente series or something like that. And to think... I sold a set of LP caliente 11" and 12" drums with a stand for $150 like 3 months ago. Thats less than I paid for my single travel conga..