Getting antsy for new tubs!!

[Tonio]

Hola congueros!! Its been a long time.

I'm getting antsy for a new set of tubs, and wish to hit up the esteemed bros for some opinions !!

GonBop Ca models are looking great. I 've read many people say they are bright? what about the Alex model? Too bad they put on water buffalo. Which is more to the real Gon Bop sound?

My friend got a Meinl Louis conte model and changed skins to cowhide, and man they sound great. Sure is inexpensive . you can get a set for under $600 LOL. Are the Mongo SE bueno? or hype? What the heck is rubber wood anyway?

currently using LP classic custom finih and LP Valje's. Need something with less ringing.

Appreciate any opinions, thanks !!

[folkloricoSD]

Hey Tonio,

Nice to see another conguero on here from San Diego The only congas I can speak for on the list you gave are the Gon Bops CA model. I played them about two days ago at a friends house, and they are very nice congas. They are built well, and have the classic Gon Bops shape. The pair I played still had the factory skins on them, so I would say with a new pair of skins they would sound even better. But to be completley honest with you, I did not hear to much of a difference between these drums and my LP Classics. Maybe its because I'm so used to the sound of my own drums. but to be honest the sound of the Gon Bobs did not impress me. But... I was impressed by the construction of the drums and the nice hardware they had. Anyways, this is just my opinion and of course the best way to determine is to play them yourself. (I think the guitar center in La Mesa has a pair of CA models).
Happy Hunting, from a fellow San Diegan

[Tonio]

Great info forkloricoSD!! CA's at GC? Did they still have the GIO Paladiums/Galaxies?
So the Gon Bop Ca's sound like LP's? hmm guess I'll have to check them out.

T

[ozrivera]

Tonio
your budget should be the determing factor. if i had an unlimited budget i would look at all the congas that i really like (gon bops cali, palladiums, islas, etc. if i had a limited budget i would look at the best thing i could get for the budget i have.


Good luck

Oz

[Tonio]

OZ!! yes budget is a concern. However,budget not unlimited, I am willing to the limit of at least a Gon Bop size quinto 10-3/4 and 12" tumba. Something I like about the size for tones. Maybe the Alex Acuna model.
The Meinl Mongos seem to be the ones to shoot for on the Meinls, but its hard to even make a guess without playing/hearing them.
Something about the Meinl - rubber backing of the brackets really interest me. I did have a floatune quinto 11", so I know what Meinl genreally sound like. Just not the current Louis/Pro/Mongo models.

Will check out the Isla's thanks.

T



Edited By Tonio on 1181256779

[ozrivera]

Man, I know what you mean by not being able to test them out for your self. No music store carries high end congas on their floor, Matador's, and aspires it all thats on the floor. seems like now a days you have to rely on friends and sites like this to even get a feel of how the drum sounds. and you still have to make a purchase based on that.
oh, another option is to go to NAMM and play them all there. but the trip alone will cost more than the drums.

either way, Good choice, cant give you any info since ive never played them before but, they sure are pretty.

God Bless

Oz

[caballoballo]

Rubberwood is a hardwood from the maple family of woods Rubberwood has very little tendancy to warp or crack Rubberwood-Eco Friendly .Rubberwood (Hevea Brasiliensis) which is a medium density hardwood with a hardness similar to Oak and Teak. This makes Hevea relatively harder than most other plantation timber species. The drying shrinkage of Hevea is relatively low compared to most hardwood with same density and this makes Hevea more dimensionally stable than most other timber species used for timber flooring. Most importantly, Hevea is easy, biodegradable and does not produce toxic waste or fumes during production, use or disposal. .

Congas Size,the tendency of the Congueros down here in Puerto Rico is to use two 12.5 instead of the common 11.75 and 12.5 set up. Bongos,I would not buy any mass produce,I rather save and buy 1 handcrafted which will sound excellent out of the box,no need to change heads ect,ect. That is my humble opinion.



Edited By caballoballo on 1181306784

[bongosnotbombs]

No music store carries high end congas on their floor, Matador's, and aspires it all thats on the floor. seems like now a days you have to rely on friends and sites like this to even get a feel of how the drum sounds.

I'm lucky, here in SF, Haight Street Music stocks high end congas, they used to have Sol, now DW Gon Bops and many of the higher end LP and Meinl.



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1181325059

[Tonio]

Rubberwood is a hardwood from the maple family of woods Rubberwood has very little tendancy to warp or crack Rubberwood-Eco Friendly .Rubberwood (Hevea Brasiliensis) which is a medium density hardwood with a hardness similar to Oak and Teak. This makes Hevea relatively harder than most other plantation timber species. The drying shrinkage of Hevea is relatively low compared to most hardwood with same density and this makes Hevea more dimensionally stable than most other timber species used for timber flooring. Most importantly, Hevea is easy, biodegradable and does not produce toxic waste or fumes during production, use or disposal. .

Congas Size,the tendency of the Congueros down here in Puerto Rico is to use two 12.5 instead of the common 11.75 and 12.5 set up. Bongos,I would not buy any mass produce,I rather save and buy 1 handcrafted which will sound excellent out of the box,no need to change heads ect,ect. That is my humble opinion.

caballoballo!! Thank you for the great information, did you research that ? Or did you have a favorite link?
Do you know about canoe wood (Isla)?

Either way that is great info.

True dat, the wood is the biggest deciding factor of the price.

West Coast Drum seems to have most lines : LP, Toca, Meinl, Pearl & Gon Bops.

Anyone in LAX been there? I may have to take a treck up there.

I checked out the Isla, wow real tubs : Carved staves "NOT" steam bent?? woah, thats like old school.

The old Gon Bops were solid wood, but pneumatically bent no?

T