Quinto Gon Bops California vs Quinto LP Palladium - Battle of the quintos!

[Geronimo]

Nope, never heard heard of Reiche, but they sure look good, mayby it’s an option. Thank you for the tip Zwar! Anyone else tried them yet?
Maybe a little bit off topic: Besides building strong dikes we have in holland good conga skillsmen too . You’ll remember John Vermeulens Afro percussion (now Pearl). Another conga manufacturer here in Holland is Stiggelbout, his congas are made out of one piece of dutch wood (I don’t know exacly what kind of wood). They have a very “african” look ??? , see the below picture. I ‘ve never try them, but I read an review that they sounded real nice.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... lbout.jpeg

[Mike]

Those congas look nice, Geronimo! Have they got a steel ring?

zwar, do you own one of those Reiche Congas? They seem to be of quality, and the prices are quite reasonable...

In general, I didn´t know about the conga-building scene in Holland and Germany before, so thanks a lot for the enlightenment

Cheers,
Michael

[bongo]

Some buffalo heads are cut thicker than others, and the sound is more like cow skin. I think the ringing problem (if it is a problem, most top pros seem to endorse LP drums and make them sound fantastic) is caused in large part by these thin heads.

African Rhythm Traders drums are imports with thicker buffalo heads, and they sound more like Gon Bops. I've played Giovanni's that have thicker buffalo and they also are drier, crisper, not much ring. The ringy sound is a sound, and many players like it. I've got to admit, an 11 inch quinto cranked with a thin buffalo head produces a phenominal slap. Any ringing tones will not carry through a loud band.

So, as mentioned, maybe the cow skin is best for small group or folkloric play.

One last point on the new Gon Bops, the more modestly priced line is an Asian import not all that different from other imports with buffalo heads. If you want a traditional Gon Bop sound, go for the more expensive 'California Series'.

Tom wonders how long I have played, so will tell; I have been seriouly playing conga drums for 36 years, but have played conventional trap set for 42 years. I am well versed in producing all the tones that can be had from a conga drum, but admit I do not do justice to the buffalo skin drums, probably because I'm not use to playing them.





Edited By bongo on 1180378421

[Geronimo]

Hey Mike!
Looks like the side brackets are welded to a steel ring. The steel ring is mounted into a milled circular recess in the wood shell, so there are no drilling holes in the shell. A sort of Meinl Floatune design, I guess. The shell is made out of one piece of wood, so I don’t know if they added an extra steel reinforcement ring for more strength, I doubt it however.
GreetZzz
Geronimo

[Mike]

Hi Geronimo!
OK, I understand that today many steel rings are merely cosmetic :;): as they are not really needed.

BTW where has the Gon Bop topic gone? It´s gone...

[deadhead]

Back to the topic of vintage gon bops vs. LPs: Just my 2 cents, but the older california gon bops are by far the best sounding congas I've ever played on.

[Geronimo]

Good one, Mike! LOL

You're right Deadhead, back to the topic..
Ooh man, I’m getting more and more enthusiastic about the California Gon Bops, although I never played them! :p It is sad that they are so very hard to get here in Holland. Nevertheless I found an entry: I can import them out of the USA at www.westcoastdrums.com (They charge 400 US dollars to ship three of them to the Netherlands). And I found this link on ebay: [url=http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Gon-bops-California-Series-Conga-Set-1274-99_W0QQitemZ150127336627QQihZ005QQcategoryZ3
8094QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem]California Gon Bops on ebay[/url]

It is hard to see on this picture, but I wonder what kind of heads are mounted on this drums. They normally equip them with cow skins, is that correct?

GreetZzz
Geronimo

[oscar]

in my opinion any conga drum played with correct technique sounds good.

[Geronimo]

I think it is a matter of personal taste. I mean when I hear someone with a good technique play on a plastic bucket and next on a good tuned LP conga drum. I know which one I like the most……yes, indeed the plastic bucket! :laugh:

No but seriously, I believe that there’s a great difference in sound quality between a high-end conga drum and a low budget conga drum ( maybe there are some exceptions) even if you are a very good skilled conga player.

GreetZzz
Geronimo

[yambu321]

I OWNED THE PALLADIUMS,
YET,
PLAYED THE NEW "CALIFORNIA SERIES" CONGAS, EVERY CHANCE I GOT AT MY LOCAL GUITAR CENTER.

GET WHAT I MEAN?

THE PALLADIUMS ARE,
TOO TALL, TOO HEAVY, NOT MADE OF SOLID STAVE CONSTRUCTION, AND THE CROWNS ARE SO LARGE IN DIAMETER THAT THE DRUMS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE WEARING LARGE HATS.
AND THOUGH NICE TO LOOK AT, THEY JUST CAN'T TOUCH THE NEW GON BOPS CALIFORNIA SERIES CONGAS, PERIOD!

ESPECIALLY WHERE IT COUNTS MOST, THE SOUND! ABOUT THE TECHNIQUE FACTOR? IT'S LIKE PUTTING A FORMULA 1 RACE CAR DRIVER IN A YUGO. GREAT TECHNIQUE BUT THE CAR JUST AINT THERE, GON BOPS!

AN EXTRA MENTION.

AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE GON BOPS WERE, I KNEW THAT ISLA DRUMS WERE THAT MUCH BETTER. SO I SOLD MY PALLADIUMS IN ORDER TO BUY, AND THUS OWN, MY OWN ISLA PERCUSSIONS CONGAS. TRUE PIECES OF HISTORY, WITH A LIFE TIME OF OWNERSHIP! ISLA DRUMS ARE THE NEW TRUE KEEPERS OF THE FLAME!

JUST ASK ANY OWNER, OR FAN!



Edited By yambu321 on 1187663195

[109-1176549166]

ABOUT THE TECHNIQUE FACTOR? IT'S LIKE PUTTING A FORMULA 1 RACE CAR DRIVER IN A YUGO. GREAT TECHNIQUE BUT THE CAR JUST AINT THERE, GON BOPS!

yambu321 (Charlie),

This analogy is right on the money! Even a Giovanni Hidalgo and a "La Mole", possessed as they are with almost superhuman conga skills, can only do so much with crap equipment.

In comparing the sound of different brands of congas, by using the player as a variable, you have to make the materials used on the congas being compared an equal factor or a near equal factor. If not, then the data derived from the comparison is invalid.



Edited By mjtuazon on 1187668710