Requinto/Conga/Tumba or Quinto/Conga/Tumba? - Which Set Would You Choose and Why?

[Tuco]

I'm about to plunk down some serious dinero for a set of three drums . . . do you guys recommend getting a the standard quinto/conga/tumba set or maybe getting a requinto instead of a quinto?

I hadn't even thought about it until I watched some videos including this new one from Isla were the lead player *appears* to be playing a requinto--I love those slaps he's getting and the way it floats over the bass line.

Isla Percussions Video

One thing in favor of the quinto: you could probably tune it up to a higher pitch, but you may not be able to tune a requinto down very well.

The music I'm interested in (from a conga-playing perspective) is a mixed bag of Afro-Cuban, Afro-Caribbean, a little Brazilian and Roots Reggae, and some Senegalese / Malian guitar-based music. I'm a new player though, long way to go

So what do you think, drop the quinto for a requinto (and maybe pick up a quinto later on), or just go with the standard quinto/conga/tumba setup and be happy with it?

[Congadelica]

Id go for the quinto . Th requinto is from my observations a single player in a Rumba setting a la Isla video. If your going to be playing with 2 or three other players then requinto comes into its own in this setting.
Im also looking at new I currently have a Quinto Conga Tumba set up , TBH the quinto is pretty much redundant unless I tune it down as a second low drum . Im thinking of 2 congas and a Tumba or maybe 2 tumba one Conga . Quinto or requinto will come later if at all .

Its all down to your personal choice ofcourse .

Marco

[Thomas Altmann]

Hi Tuco,

this is one of the questions that are generally hard to answer because the choice of the drum sizes has an effect on the sound you will produce, and nobody knows how you actually want to sound, what your voice is, so to say, or what you hear in your mind. Also, what we don't know, is how big your hands are.

Those Isla drums look great, and they sound great, too. The lugs look a bit like they could tear your trousers, but I don't know.

Whatever your idea is, sound-wise, I would recommend you to consider that the music in which you are involved now may not always be the only music you want to play. In a situation where your principal drum has to carry the band (like in a traditional Salsa setting), a drum like the "Requinto" model has proven to be too small to be capable to make that. This size is nice for soloing, like in a Rumba or Comparsa ensemble, or perhaps if you have a drum set player in the band. Sometimes in Salsa bands, congueros play sizes like the "Conga" as their main drum. Anyway, who knows: Maybe you will be a future star innovator who has established a new conga sound!

If I were in your place, I would choose Quinto-Conga-Tumba as a triple set and put the Requinto aside for traditional Rumba sessions. If you buy the Requinto instead, you might end up using only the two larger drums one day, because the Requinto would sound too high to really fit in (at least for my taste).

The denominations of "Requinto-Quinto-Conga-Tumba" are referring to the different drum sizes only for marketing. That's why I used them in quotation marks.

All the best for your new start with these beautiful drums,

Thomas

[No.2-1820]

The requinto would probably fit well with the roots reggae, filling a high tuned Kette drum role. Although a higher tuned quinto would do the trick. A conga and tumba will cover most of your needs so the quinto / requinto decision I would view as an indulgance and go with what ever you fancy.

Barrie

[Garvin]

I would agree with everyone else. It may speak to my inexperience with requintos, but I remember bruising the hell out of my hands while playing on a requinto owned by a friend of mine. I have big hands and tend to hit hard, and I was trying to play it like a regular quinto. I just ended up choking the sound out of it by trying to muscle the slaps.

:laugh: Ouch! Requinto novices (like me) be warned! :laugh:

Also, those Islas are beautiful drums. You will be a happy man with those no matter what you decide to go with.



Edited By Garvin on 1204573429

[umannyt]

....Those Isla drums look great, and they sound great, too. The lugs look a bit like they could tear your trousers, but I don't know....

Thomas

Hi Thomas,

I own a set of 3 Isla Percussion drums: quinto, conga and tumba. I'm completely happy with their sound!

Re: Isla lugs, to me, they're reminiscent of old Gon Bops with teardrop-shaped lugs. I actually think that their design is quite smart: (1) They actually serve the same function as comfort rims should you accidentally hit them while playing; and (2) They make Isla drums distinct from other drums--both handcrafted and mass-produced. You can easily identify Isla drums even from a distance just by seeing those lugs.

I can perfectly understand your concern about Isla lugs being sharp. Just based on their pictures, I too initially had the same concern as you. In reality, though, they're actually filed round and smooth, as are all the edges of the entire stainless steel rim.

So, I strongly doubt if they could ever tear your trousers. Speaking only from my own experience, none of my trousers have become victims (LOL!) at any time that I've placed either the quinto or conga between my thighs while playing either drum seated.

All the best,



Edited By umannyt on 1204581077

[BMac]

Somebody needs to pony up and buy that discounted requinto from Michel. Man oh man, if that drum was from the Salsa Club Series, to match my other Mopercs, or if I was already in the market for a requinto ... I'd buy that thing. The price is right and Michel's drums are the bomb.

http://www.moperc.com/congas_used/congas_used.php

If the link doesn't work ... go to the home page and follow the "congas" link, then the "used" link.

I know ... I'm a little off subject.

I don't play requinto, don't know much about 'em.

Sorry, Cheers, Whatever,

BMac

[Tuco]

Thanks everyone!

Well, it looks like the quinto/conga/tumba set is the way to go in most cases. I might entertain a requinto down the road as a separate single drum to take along when I know other drummers will be playing their standard sets. One lightweight, small drum--sounds good

No.2-1820 mentioned a kette drum (also known as a kete, akette, repeater, etc.)--right you are, the kete comes out of the Rastafarian/Nyahbinghi tradition. Just the ticket for reggae. I have one made from Padauk wood and elk skin. Could you play a kete with congas? Sure, why not? The kete would make a good substitute for a requinto. But the kete is much shorter . . . you'd have to work out some kind of stand or support to bring the kete up to around the same playing height it seems to me. That would be a good combination though, as bongos and congas are.

Question: why have two congas and a tumba, or two tumbas and one conga as congadelica suggests? What's the idea with the duplicate drums? Just different tunings . . . one high, one low?



Edited By Tuco on 1204581768

[zumbi]

yes bmac: i've been looking to that moperc as well...
like everyone says islas are wonderful drums, so whatever you choose is going to be a great choice.
i've seen some pictures of weather report with mino cinelu on percussion on a set of four drums, a requinto being the center one.
as others said: is all about the sound and applications you're going for.
peace & blessings

[Tuco]

Thanks Zumbi,

I saw Grupo Fantasma recently in Sacramento; their conga player Sweet Lou also plays four drums with what appeared to be a requinto as his lead drum (but it could have been a smallish quinto--hard to tell). In any case the small drum was front and center.

[No.2-1820]

I have a kette exactly the same as the red, gold and green drum played in the center of this segment. Goat skin, I had it made to spec by a jamaican drum maker when I was a tad of a reggae fanatic some years back. I still love the ring of a nice tight kette.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w3enATGsQs

Barrie

[Tuco]

That's the one Barrie. Mine looks a little different, extra tall. Rebuilding it now with an elk skin (similar to deer, maybe a little thicker), which should end up mellowing out the sound, making it less metallic--will post a photo when it's ready.

Here's a clip with the kete in the background (and related drums) along with some serious passing of the pipe

Deep Roots DVD

[No.2-1820]

Nice, great the way the rhythm just slowing builds as the pipe does the rounds. I always wanted to seriously study nyahbingi but could never find any group of study, which kind of surprised me for the bay area. The different parts are so well defined I think it would be amazing to lay down those technically quite simple but very deep rhythms.

Barrie

Is your handle (Tuco) from the spaghetti westerns ?



Edited By No.2-1820 on 1204601338

[Tuco]

You got it amigo . . . I look kind of like him, but I'm not quite as handsome, courteous, or sweet-smelling

[No.2-1820]

That's funny, you know those films were very popular in Jamaica, lot's of references to them by the likes of Lee Perry, I own them all, I watched them so many times I have to watch them alone now, the family wont take it any more ! I always fancied myself as more of an Indio - but not tough, ruthless, ruggedly good looking or Italian, I think I did smoke a cigarette like him once though...

Barrie