What's the better set for the money? - I need help.

[Loman]

I'm just getting back into playing congas again, and I feel that I'm progressing and need a better sounding set. I currently have a set of Gon Bops Tumbao Series (11 & 11 ¾ ) Quinto and Conga. I was looking to add a tumba when I came across the Gon Bops Tumbao Pro Series. They look a lot like the California Series that I can’t afford, but does any know how the Tumbao Pro Series sound? Are they pro congas?

What would you suggest for the money?

Gon Bops Tumbao Pro Series
Meinl Luis Conte
Toca Custom Deluxe

Any guidance would help, even if I need to save money and wait to buy something else.

Thanks!!!

[pcastag]

I'm very impressed so far with the gon bops overseas production. Much cheaper than the LP stuff, including their ash wood alex acuna models. I'd personally go for the tumbao pro, the rim on it is basically the design Akbar came up with for his Sol congas. Pretty cool.
PC

[109-1176549166]

Loman,

I'm with pcastag on this one. Go with the Gon Bops Tumbao Pro. Very nice looking, too! You can almost not distinguish them from the top-of-the-line CA series.

If your Gon Bops Tumbaos are in natural satin color then matching the Gon Bops Tumbao Pro with the other 2 will be a cinch by getting it also in the same color.

The Meinl Luis Conte comes in 2nd for me. Only if the price difference between this and the Gon Bops Tumbao Pro is significant will I put the Meinl on top.

Best of luck,



Edited By mjtuazon on 1184720921

[JohnnyConga]

Pearl Elite Naturals I have 3 of them and they SOUND GREAT!...Pearl is making better drums all the time...chek out their New Mahogony congas...."JC" Johnny Conga...

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

[zwar]

ho loman

i d go for the tumbao pros if you like playing high pitched drums. for lower pitched backing drum i d prefer the meinl lc. cant say nothing about those tocas, never put my hands on them.
are the sonor latinos available in usa? would be cheap and good pro drums.

greets

zwar

[caballoballo]

Get a set with superior quality so you don't have to invest twice. Mass produce is just that,mass produce, cheap on the long run will cost you twice as much.

[Loman]

What do you think about LP Classics?



Edited By Loman on 1184783485

[Loman]

Thanks for all of the advice. I'm still taking it all in and I'm open to other suggestions. I love the look of the new GP Tumbao Pro Series, and I like the price, but sometimes you get what you paid for. For some reason I do not want to buy LP, but a friend of mine plays LP Classics and they sound great.

Should I just buy LP Classsics and forget about the GP Tumbao Pro, Meinl Luis Conte, and the Toca Custom Deluxe?

[OLSONGO]

Loman let me know if you are getting the classics.
I do believe there are a lot of drums in the market but from way back.... classics are the prefered drum , for a while thats all you saw on stage.

Paz Olsongo

[Loman]

OLSONGO

Whats a good price for new LP Classics? Do you know a good place to buy them from?

[JimG]

Take a look at Instrument Pro. They seem to be competitive on the internet and there is a 10% coupon at FabulousSavings.com. That brings a $379 LP Classic quinto to $341.10 with free shipping.

I bought a Gon Bops from them and was satisfied with their service.

That 10% off coupon is good for anything.

good luck,

[hueroconguero]

I play 3 LP classics (blond wood, natural skin) + 1 LP Matador (same finish) and they have a beautifully warm tone. I had a conga + tumba at first, but when I heard Toca (Kaman) was buying LP, I thought if I wanted "real" LP stuff, I should pull the trigger...I'm glad I did! I don't see that many classics now (except online), the only ones I see in the music stores are "classic II" whatever the hell that means. I bought mine from guitar center , in the upper $300- range, but they always have sales, or you can point out a scratch and ask them to discount, that's what I did and it worked....there's always a deal somewhere.

huero

[zaragenca]

I could agree with Huerocongero,since I have listened to that set,and they sound pretty good,(including the skills he adquired to play).Dr. Zaragemca

[Mike]

oo



Edited By Mike on 1185014516

[Mike]

oops, sorry....

I play 3 LP classics (blond wood, natural skin) + 1 LP Matador (same finish) and they have a beautifully warm tone.

That sounds like a really good setup, hueroconguero! The different LP conga sounds blend well. I have a mix, too, but the ensemble sound is just fine. My present setup is also a mix of different price levels (note the differences of the years!)


Centre drum 11" Giovanni Ash quinto (360€, new, at ebay in 2007)

to the left: 11" LP Classic quinto (400€, new, in 1999)

to the right: 11 3/4 Matador conga (300€, new, in 2000)

behind: ~12" Afro conga (66€ [!], used, at ebay in 2007)

As I spent a lot of money, here´s my tip: check out the used ones first at ebay or somewhere else. You can REALLY save a lot of money there.
Having said that, I´m still very satisfied with my drums though. It´s only that I now see I could have saved a lot of bucks if I had bought a used set or a set of Matadors, e.g. (which I still consider very good drums).



Edited By Mike on 1185014616