LP Performer Series Heads

[soulvacation]

I recently purchased a Quinto and Tumba in the LP Performer Series. While the construction seems to be high quality, I'm having difficulty getting the tones that I want (I am a beginner . When I did a bit of research, I found that other folks have had similar problems - and replaced the heads with Lp hand select heads. I'm not sure exactly where I can find these (I did an Internet search with no luck)...or how much it will cost to replace them?

Has anyone played with LP Performer Series drums and/or replaced heads on them??? How do I go about ordering some?

Any recommendation for me?

[jmdriscoll]

soulvacation, here is a link to artdrum which sells "LP hand select" heads... The page doesn't specifically say for LP performers, but they will probably work out. call the guy up.. he's pretty personable and is very willing to talk to you. If you are already going to spend money on heads though, you might want to consider getting flat mule skins from Fat congas, Latin Rhythm Traders, or somewhere like that. They will give you optimal sound in regards to heads anyway.. A link to the art drum site:

http://artdrum.com/LP_HEADS_CONGAS_X_SERIES_CONGA_DRUMS.htm

Another question... You say that you are a beginner.. How much of a beginner? You can practice for years and still be considered a beginner to a lot of people. Certain things like nice round open tones, crisp slaps, heel/toe movement, closed opens or muted hits, touches, bass hits... all of this stuff takes a LOT of practice before you can accurately execute these hits. The slap by itself provides a great struggle to many before being able to consistently produce the nice dry, crisp pop that an open slap should sound like. So depending on where you are coming from, your answer can vary. New heads might be what you need... Practice might be what need as well. I can buy the nicest drums on the planet and still only play to whatever my ability level will allow me to play at. I used to do a bit of amateur MC racing, and we would say that your speed consists of the following equation... 2% bike, 98% rider. Same can hold true fopr a lot of things in life.

MD



Edited By jmdriscoll on 1190295590

[G-Man]

Soulvacation,

Welcome to the forum!

You have just found an invaluable source of direction, opinion, experience, and dedication.

As you persue your percussive dream, this forum will be here to help make it happen...

Try Instrumentpro.Com or Anydrum.Com. They are both LP dealers.

I owned a set of the Performer Series drums for 3 years. The heads are not the best, but they will work for a while. They do take some time to break in, so you will have your challenging tuning moments.

Do some searches in the forum to find what other players are using for heads. Mule seems to be the best for the natural heads and Fiberskyn for the synthetics.

The problem you "might" have is actually getting the new head to fit under the rim on the drum. I tried a set of Nuskyns last year and the Quinto would not fit.

The drums are very good quality for the price. Just like most of the large producers out there, the heads are usually the weak spot.

Let us know what happens.

G

[tfunk]

welcome to the forum bro,
I have a set of 3 LP performers I got about 4 years ago. As is common knowledge, the heads are sub-standard, but the shells and hardware are pretty OK. I got in touch with Isaac at funky tradition on ebay. I got some great mule skins form him. Luckily, I live in NYC, so he came by and got and custom mounted them for me. What a difference, I giged and recorded with those and they did great. Still use them for practice, but have upgraded to some used Classics, that I also got from Isaac...awsome drums. I'll be in the studio this weekend with those! Get in touch with him at [email]funkytradition@yahoo.com.[/email]

Peace, and good luck

Theo
myspace.com/urbansun
urbansun.net

[soulvacation]

Thanks everyone for the helpful insights...I will do some more research, and keep you posted. I'm excited to have found CongaBoard...it seems like at invaluable resource!

MM

[yambu321]

SOULVACATION,

THE REAL REASON WHY YOUR "PERFORMER SERIES" DRUMS KEEP GOING OUT OF TUNE, AS OPPOSED TO DRUMS OF A HIGHER QUALITY, IS DUE TO THEIR POOR HARDWARE. THE SKINS ARE NOT OF A HIGH QUALITY, BUT WITH THAT SAID, I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE WITH THEM, THAT THE HARDWARE BENDS RIGHT DOWN TO THE CROWNS.

IF YOU TRULY WANT TO DEDICATE YOURSELF AS A CONGA PLAYER. SELL YOUR PERFORMER SERIES DRUMS, AND BUY LP "MATADORS" OR SOMETHING OF SIMILAR, OR OF EVEN HIGHER QUALITY. USED IS FINE, AS LONG AS THEY'RE IN GOOD CONDITION AND AT A FAIR PRICE.
UPGRADE, AND YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID!

HOPE THIS WILL HELP YOU,

CHARLIE "EL COQUI" VERDEJO

[otto]

Hello SV
I have the same Performer Series drums I got them a little over two years ago.
I had rthe same problem as you are having.
I did what Johnny Conga suggested and I loosened the skins way down then I took a little LARD (Manteca) and using the tips of my fingers I rubbed it into the skins and left the drums out in the sun on a really warm day(85-90 degrees) for about 4-5 hours. Then I took a clean soft cloth and wiped them down.
I tuned the drums up and I noticed a big improvement.
And as was stated he before the more I practiced the more I heard the improvement. I have done this about 6-7 times in the last 2 or so years.
Getting new skins or a better set of drums is great if you can afford it but this is a cheap way that you can use now.
I have noticed that having to work hard at getting the right tones on these drums helped me when I played ny friends LP Classics I was able to get a better tone then he was, I think it was because it's harder on a low end drum then a good drum so my efforts translated to a much better sound on a better drum.

Peace be with you drum on
Otto

[GuruPimpi]

Welcome SoulVacation!

I just ordered skins for me and friend from Isaac and... Can't wait!

This forum is The right place for CongoseroS!

Primoz

[PRDRconguero]

Hello SV
I have the same Performer Series drums I got them a little over two years ago.
I had rthe same problem as you are having.
I did what Johnny Conga suggested and I loosened the skins way down then I took a little LARD (Manteca) and using the tips of my fingers I rubbed it into the skins and left the drums out in the sun on a really warm day(85-90 degrees) for about 4-5 hours. Then I took a clean soft cloth and wiped them down.
I tuned the drums up and I noticed a big improvement.
And as was stated he before the more I practiced the more I heard the improvement. I have done this about 6-7 times in the last 2 or so years.
Getting new skins or a better set of drums is great if you can afford it but this is a cheap way that you can use now.
I have noticed that having to work hard at getting the right tones on these drums helped me when I played ny friends LP Classics I was able to get a better tone then he was, I think it was because it's harder on a low end drum then a good drum so my efforts translated to a much better sound on a better drum.

Peace be with you drum on
Otto

I've been using cocoa butter, which was recommended to me by an old school conguero I am friends with. It does more for extending the life of the skin than the sound.

He has some LP's from the 70's with their original skins, and they still sound and look great. He used to gig and play a lot, rub a little into the skins every couple weeks, and let them dry in the sun.

His drums have a lot of Central Park time on them....wish they could talk.