Help Me Decide Between These Two Sets

[mydogsowner]

After waiting all day, and thinking that they weren't going to arrive today after all, they're here!

I ended up getting the DW basket stands to go with them; in case I want to stand and play too.

I am pleased with the color after all, more of a licorice red, darker and richer looking.

I have two concerns now. They are not quite level in height? I'm not sure why. I purchased the DW stands to go with them, and thought they would be exactly even as such. I may have to tweak, or adjust my playing for the difference.

The other is that one of the conga skin, looks umm..sort of funny to me, even as untrained as I am and all. Sort of umm dry perhaps? Does this show in the pics? Is it a concern, or not to worry about?

I tuned them up, and they sound a little ringy right now. I may need to adjust more. Or they will get better with playing and age I suspect.

Now, I wish I went ahead and got the quinto too. I may still order it, sooner, then later too.

[mydogsowner]

Ok, I took the drums out of the stands and tightened everything down again, and reset them. Now they sit even!

[alabubba]

Beautiful, well-made drums with excellent hardware, and a fabulous price. I have the same (Tumbao Pro conga and tumba) in burgundy, my son has the same in tobacco burst. No quinto, but I am tempted. I have no issues at all with these drums. When I go to lessons, I play my teachers drums; sometimes LP Matadors, sometimes Timbas, sometimes LP Valje, they are all good, the Timbas and the LP Valjes are really beautiful to look at, but as for having something with solid quality to play, I don't feel like my Tumbao Pros are any less musical.

I wouldn't worry about the way the skins look, there is always some variation from animal to animal. There are some drum to drum variation in the appearance and texture of our skins, but they all tune up and play well.

Now you need a drum throne. It is much easier to sit down and play for hours than it is to stand up and play for hours!

You should notice the sound improving quite a bit for a few months as the heads get broken in. Enjoy!

[umannyt]

After waiting all day, and thinking that they weren't going to arrive today after all, they're here!

Lisa,

Your Gon Bops Tumbao Pros are real beauties indeed! As I've said before, IMO, you can't get such beautiful and high-quality hardware in tumbadoras for those prices anywhere. Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your pics.

I ended up getting the DW basket stands to go with them; in case I want to stand and play too.

Good choice!

I am pleased with the color after all, more of a licorice red, darker and richer looking.

I told you so. I like them, too.

The other is that one of the conga skin, looks umm..sort of funny to me, even as untrained as I am and all. Sort of umm dry perhaps? Does this show in the pics? Is it a concern, or not to worry about?

I wouldn't worry about it, if I were you. Animal skins do have natural variations in shade/color.

I tuned them up, and they sound a little ringy right now. I may need to adjust more. Or they will get better with playing and age I suspect.

Yes, they should get better (sound warmer) with age. Give it about 3 to 6 months.

Now, I wish I went ahead and got the quinto too. I may still order it, sooner, then later too.

Your 2 drums should keep you quite busy for a while without missing a 3rd drum. But, it's all up to you.

Best,

[Mike]

Lisa,
looking good, your congas!

Enjoy and just play them. They do need time to find their voice - or, less poetical: the skins will break in in 6-8 weeks´time, so you do not have to worry about that.

Congrats on your very nice set again.

Cheers
Mike

P.S.: I have shared your anticipation. I am currently waiting for my LP Palisades Park fiberglass quinto which is in the post - after 3 weeks of waiting I had to force the ebay seller to send it QUICK !!!

[JimG]

MDO,

The room you're playing in may add to the "ringy" tones as well. A square room without much sound absorbtion can actually be bouncing around to make it sound more ringy and louder than actual. But, you'll find these ringy until, as advised, they break in. This is the effect, also, of thin skins. If you find it too much, stuff some soft foam padding up into the shell. Not much, though. And don't cover the opening. Maybe a piece about 4" x 10". That will soften up the tone bouncing around in the shell and still get some good open bass tones. And, are those AR-48 speakers?

Cheers,
Jim

[mydogsowner]

Well, I played them all night and I absolutely love them. Very addictive! I'm going to be one sleepy gal at work today! I believe these drums are as good as any I have seen in the local stores, and even better than some of the higher dollar ones. I am so pleased with my purchase and everyone's help!

I def need a drummer's throne now. Standing is OK for awhile, but fatigue does set in. And the truth be told, even in the baskets they are a tad high for me I think.

I really love the red! It just keeps growing on me. There is blackish grain showing through, and the contrast is hot. The only reason I am thinking of buying the Quinto now is so that I will have the matched set since the red is a discontinued color. I am not sure if I will be able to find it down the road when I am ready. And the price is So cheap from Rhythm Traders right now...... Mike I hope your Quinto shows up real soon!

I am playing them in a small room and may need to relocate them as Jim suggested.

And yes, Jim, they are AR-48B speakers! How did you ever spy those? I have retired them recently, but still use them to hold my Paradigm's now. I have had them since I was 19 years old when I used to work at NAD. There was an employees' agreement between the two companies and I got them at half price back then. I also had an NAD receiver/amplifier for years, that went with those speakers. I sold them not too long ago on eBay to a vinyl playing dude. The unit was specially modded by a tech friend of mine at NAD. The buyer was thrilled! Anyhow, I think a few of the cones need TLC now, but I can't seem to part with them, unless they found a good loving home.

Well, off to work for me. I hate to leave my babies home alone all day now with nothing to do! But, I am so excited, after all I have a date with Tomas Cruz tonight!

Thanks Everyone!
Lisa

[congamyk]

New Gon Bops congas and studying the Tomas Cruz DVD... wow you are off to a great start.

Those are fine drums my fellow Missourian!

[CongaTick]

Oh man, now you've done it. You're hooked for life. Mazel Tov. The only thing that matters is how you make them sound every time you get behind them.

[onile]

Alafia Abure Mydogsowner!
I hope that you well and abundantly blessed!

Your drums look really great, the color and especially the shape. I have a set of 3 California Model Gon Bops which I ordered right around the time that they first made their debut on the market, but your Tumbao Pro series seem to have the traditional shape that Gon Bops were known for. You should be comming up soon on Holiday break from work and then look out, you'll really fall in love with them.

Many blessings!

Onile!

[Jibaro]

Bump -
This thread helped me decide which to buy for my first conga - a Gon BopsTumbao Pro Custom. Appears to be the same as any other Tumbao Pro except for the color; black cherry fade, very shiny lacquer finish... like photographing a mirror.



They apparently recently switched from rawhide to NuSkyn like mine has and I really like it. I decided on a quinto, it was a tough choice.



Got it at California Percussion in San Francisco http://www.californiapercussion.com/ - they're not really set up for retail but they were very accomodating to me and pulled several out of the boxes for me to check out.



So thanks everybody - especially Lisa... so here's a photo of my dog.

[mydogsowner]

I love my congas! I only hope you are as happy as I am with them!

I didn't realize they changed the skins on them; so that was interesting to hear. Also, the new color is great! I like the fades.

BTW, quite a nice looking doggie you have too!

All My Best,
Lisa

[umannyt]

This thread helped me decide which to buy for my first conga - a Gon BopsTumbao Pro Custom. Appears to be the same as any other Tumbao Pro except for the color; black cherry fade, very shiny lacquer finish... like photographing a mirror.

They apparently recently switched from rawhide to NuSkyn like mine has and I really like it. I decided on a quinto, it was a tough choice.

So thanks everybody - especially Lisa... so here's a photo of my dog.

Jibaro,

Congratulations! Wise choice!

IMO, for the price, you can't get a conga with a better hardware than the Gon Bops Tumbao Pro. And now, the Remo NuSkyn Crimplock Symmetry comes as standard head (optional on the Gon Bops California Series).

I, myself, just recently switched the natural skins of 3 of my 4 Gon Bops California Series congas with Remo Fiberskyn Crimlock Symmetry. And for what I mainly use these congas for--playing live gigs in an amplified dance band--I'm very happy with these heads. They project sound very well and never need retuning during a live gig. They're easier on the hands, as well.

IMO, the sound is close enough to that of natural skins. There's really not much ringing and whatever slight ringing there is is drowned out by the sound of the instruments of the other bandmembers. Evidently, Remo's continuous R&D has resulted in better and better products for them. If these synthetic heads are good enough for a growing number of world-class professional conga players, they're definitely good enough for me.