ROLAND MEINL MARATHON?

[traumtyp]

Hello congueros,

I request your help to identify my set of congas, were acquired in Mexico in 2000.

I suppose are Meinl Marathon, but I certainly hope I can help.

Many thanks and greetings from Mexico.

here some pictures:

[Mike]

Hi Traumtyp,

Judging from the hardware (rims + side plates), they rather look like Meinl professionals - which is an even better model than the Marathons.
But I am not too sure, the overall look is like Meinl Marathon.
Nice drums anyway.
Did you get the set of three for a good price?

And: what skins do you have on them?

Greetings from Meinl country - no, not Thailand

Mike

[traumtyp]

Hi Mike!!!

Thank you for your reply!

I am also confused, I sought catalogues previous Roland Meinl but does not appear this model.

And if .... this set cost me $ 500 dollars along with a Tumba Matador Wood, a big business!

The skins of the conga and tumba are the originals, the quinto has a synthetic skin EVANS with excellent sound!

I will seek copies of purchase invoices to review the number of model and have an additional data.

Salseramente!!

[Mike]

Hola Traumtyp!

Wow - 500$ only, that was a very good deal indeed!

Thinking twice about your Meinl congas, they could a special Meinl anniversary model from 1998 or so,

which would explain why they do not appear in any catalogue. I can rememember I bought one of those

for my school´s percussion group at least, it also has got chrome sideplates and the rim yours have.

Tremendous sound! You can´t go wrong with those Meinls...

Enjoy them!

Greetings
Mike

[maelopr]

These congas are Meinl Marathon Exclusives- I had a set, bought them around '99, 2000. Excellent sound and quality, I think I read somewhere that Meinl stopped making them to boost sales of the Professional series, since they basically had similar features...they're great congas, I still regret having to sell mine...

[Mike]

Aahh! Meinl Exclusives...Thanks for enlightening us, maelopr,

and I think that is good news for Traumtyp - now you know

not only THAT the congas you play are good but also WHY they sound good...

It is a typical marketing strategy by a big company like Meinl to ditch a series that

is too good but not expensive enough

A bit like the old-skool Matadors...

[traumtyp]

Meinl Exclusives!

WHAT GREAT NEWS!

It's good to know that!

maelopr have a photo of your set?

I wonder if there are more Meinl Exclusives in the forum.

Thank you for your support and I hope more comments.

[traumtyp]

With the correct model name I find in Google more info:

Meinl Introduces Marathon® Exclusive Congas

July 21, 1999

Within the Meinl Marathon® Conga Series, the recently developed Exclusive Congas set a new standard for an instrument which is ideal for ambitious beginner or a seasoned professional. These instruments are made from rubber wood which has been laminated in a sandwich fashion and cut into double layer staves for superior stability.

Marathon Exclusive Congas are available in three sizes: 11", 11 3/4" and 12 1/2". The Congas are equipped with 3.2 mm SSR rims, select buffed skin heads and include adjustable chrome plated steely stands. The Marathon Exclusive Congas have a warm, open sound and are priced very competitively

http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/1999/Marathon-Conga.html

[maelopr]

Sorry, I don't have any pics.of the set I had, mine were more a brown color-I think it was African brown or something like that. Well, anyways I sold them to buy a set of fiberglass Tocas (lighter, less hassle), but afterwards to tell the truth I regretted having sold them...if it weren't for space limitations (and a nagging wife...I'm sure Omelenko can relate ), I would still have them to this day for sure, they're great sounding drums. I still have an ooold Meinl marathon Quinto with traditional black hardware, first conga I bought around 10-11 yrs.ago..that one I will NOT let go, for sure...

Saludos!

[Mike]

Yes, you can really fall for them good old Meinls

[thomas newton]

These don't look like my Marathon Exclusives.
Mine have very obvious rubber around the sideplates, round badge, and a little badge on the opposite side saying Marathon Exclusive Series.

I luv em btw.

R.

[traumtyp]

My dear thomas newton,

I think this are the new model of Marathon Exclusives, check the old model in other link, is the same like my congas!! but model 1999-2000.

What do you think?

[KING CONGA]

These don't look like my Marathon Exclusives.
Mine have very obvious rubber around the sideplates, round badge, and a little badge on the opposite side saying Marathon Exclusive Series.

I luv em btw.

R.

Man! I love those lug guards, they look like they really protect, I wonder how they would look on my soon to come SOS's?

[traumtyp]

I find another pic of Marathon Exclusives !!



Looks very similar like my set!

[Mike]

Hey, take a look at those beauties:

http://cgi.ebay.de/MEINL-CONGA-SET-MIT- ... 286.c0.m14

They look great too, but I am sure yours are way better, Traumtyp
I wonder: they are called "Meinl Classics"
Utter confusion now about the series by Meinl.

What have we got in Wood Congas? Let´s see (NOT in ascending order):

Meinl Marathon
Meinl Live Sound
Meinl Classic
Meinl Exclusive
Meinl Professional
Meinl Mongo Santamaria

etc...