LP Giovanni Palladiums...

[rhythmrhyme]

I'm up in Victoria BC and have a 14" Palladium tumba that I'm actually looking to sell. I put a custom head (from Moperc) on it a while back, which improved the sound considerably. The condition is mint, I think it's only been out of my house for gigs 3-4 times.

From my other posts, I've been rounding out my SOS set. I also have a full set of Giovani Galaxy congas and a set of Isla's that I've been looking to get sorted. There are just too many drums here for me to play, some have to go.

I'd take $375 for the drum, but the buyer needs to pay shipping. I'll go snap a pic and post it.

[b0ng0]

Saludos pavlo,
Yea I think the palladiums are expensive where you go, but your right they might be a bit more expensive down under...glad to hear you are happy with your set! Soon I look to purchase the tumba, the weight isn't so bad, you get used to it & you find way around it.. now the price of the special palladium congas bags, that's another story...

[pavloconga]

Saludos pavlo,
now the price of the special palladium congas bags, that's another story...

Someone I know is an upholsterer (as well as a percussionist) and makes and sells conga bags:
http://www.bongobag.com/

I had a set made. I'm pretty happy with them. They are very strong, well padded and better than most I've seen for the price.
If you decide to order some just make sure he makes them plenty big enough, as mine were just a little too tight especially on the tumba and super tumba.
Also I suggest asking for 2 handles on each bag. I had to take mine back to him and get extra handles fitted. One handle per case for such heavy congas is not enough in my opinion.

Prices for 32" conga bags are on his website.
Contact details on his site.

[b0ng0]

I've noticed that the palladiums don't have an alma inside of the shell, is this something I should consider having installed by an artisan? All I see inside of the shell is a coating of fiberglass around where the sideplates are...I don't want them to get out or round in the future... any info would be much appreciated..thanks..

[pavloconga]

I've noticed that the palladiums don't have an alma inside of the shell, is this something I should consider having installed by an artisan?

Just my opinion: they seem to be really solid and well made congas so I don't think so.
I've had mine 5 or 6 years and the shell integrity seems the same as the day I bought 'em.

Would be interested to hear what other people think though.

[Mike]

I wold not worry about the Palladiums either,
beacuase they are built like a tank!

[Mr. Conga]

I tHINK THAT IS SOMETHING YOU DONT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT b0ng0......
that is something you dont need to waste money on, anything a artisan conga maker installs on your conga or makes will cost you T least $75.00 ranging FROM $75-100 plus shipment ...if you do it out of state, Ralph Flores dosnt put almas, he probably could make you one and installed it, but no conga artisan is gonna wanna work for cheap, so think if you do doit is going to be costly, unless you someone in your family can make one and install it, and i would not do it if i was you , you dont have practice, you could just whole trough the drum.

My point also , bro is that more then one experiece conga artisan dosnt put almas...that have beenmaking cogas for some years
i havent seen almas on Valje's , Islas dont use it, i havent seen moperc congas with almas, requenas,
the only artisans i know for shure have used almas on congas for years was Junior Tirado, Jay s.o.s, Mathew, J.C.R

But the rest don use them, consider that....also i inspected the palladiums real closely and stared in and out for a long minute, i noticed they are built to last, like tanks, i havefelt other artisan conga staves in my hand, and my opinions is that palladiums are very sturdy, very strong, i checked out the staves, and the drums look more on the artisan made categorie.

The only thing i noticed that i didnt comment to you before, is that the quinto which i played, they didnt put the bands nice and snug, which looks ugly if you pay attention to the drumas you are playing or holding it between your legs.
the only bands that fit snug properly are the bottom, and the top band..the middle and one above look too big they dont hug the drum all the way, like they dint curve them turn them all the way sized properly..is your conga like that too?

That is the only thing i hated, they did a better job on fitting the bands on the rumba series.
I would consider putting a classic rim on it my self.

The sound on those drums is crisp, loud, superb...i would compare them in sound to Mopercs loudness no disrespect at all to moperc, the only quality difference i would notice is that mopercs have very beffy hardware and hardware on mopercs look beefy and thick metal & more rustic unique, i compare on that type of quality sound..Putting hand picked costume skins would improve them too. When i picked up the palladium i tried to ignore that it was lp made, and it felt heavy like a moperc, very sturdy, i payed attention to the staves and they looked like hand made detail drums, except until i looked at the middle top thick stripe of glue like material around the side plates inside, looks like thick glue, i reached in to touch it, i think is to reinforce the drum.

I have been around lp congas for like 15 yrs and i use too admire that they all look appealing to the eye , like they are perfect, nothing wrong withthe shells, and hardware of ycourse because they are assambly lined made is the way they look.
I have never seen a wood lp conga out of round, only fiberglass whch it tought would never happend, the ones that have been left in hot temperature, and the fiberglass kind of melts it out of round, but never seen and lp wood conga out of shape m, including matador line.

I have seen very few gonbops, and valjes out of round, that is too show that if missed attended congas will egg shape, if not taken care of properly, even the best conga.

i am shure your lp palladiumswill last your whole life. Perhaps you canuse the money you were considering spending on the alma, to a conga bag. Potection Rackets are real good, they carry drum bags at sam ash, but right now you may have to special order the conga bags, because they only have other type of protection racket bags for drum sets. Sometimes you can get a deal on them.

Musician friend had a special on conga bags at some point for like 2 for $40 or very hot deal, i wish i had bought some then cause i really need bags. But hopefully they go back to liquidaton scratch bags sale.

[b0ng0]

Well its been a while since I got my palladium conga, and I've been searching for a tumba for a good price, couldn't find anything under $650...until I came across guitar center's website and they had an in store used tumba for $350, I got in contact with them, long story short the tumba has a small crack that's not that bad & is pretty much an easy fix, I talked the manager and he gave me a reduced price of $260 shipped to my house from their las vegas location, should be at my house by Friday..very excited to have the pair soon...