Matador Congas... your opinions please!

[Tumbas]

http://allentown.craigslist.org/msg/2780776081.html

These drums are available for $275. They were $300 yesterday when looked.

I'm going to go see them today. Spoke to the guy, he says no cracks and he hardly even used them.

Good deal?

I can't afford anything better than this right now and I'm not too familiar with LP Matador. I know they are lower quality drums but I never played them. I have seen coments here of people who like them for what they are.

I'll be meeting with the guy after 3:30 today.

[Marcus]

I have played a Matador. Sounded good. Lots of people like them. Sounds like a good deal 2 for about $300. If they are in good condition meaning no cracks or immediate head replacement----go for it.

marcus

[RitmoBoricua]

That's a fantastic deal for them Matadors and oh by the way Matador are just as good as any other professional drum out there.

[jorge]

+1
I would not look down at all on Matadors as "lower quality drums". Pedro Martinez uses Matadors as his every day gig congas at Guantanamera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEWLdim- ... re=related
At local rumbas, people have brought Matadors that sound as good as the Juniors, Skin on Skins, and other "higher quality" drums people bring. For amplified band gigs I have not heard better sounding congas. Of course Pedrito's talent and playing technique are outstanding and he can make even plastic skins sound great. Jhair Sala gets a great sound out of those congas too. If they are structurally sound, you would be getting a great deal. Regarding the sound, its (almost) all in the hands and brain. Be on time to your meeting today, and bring cash.

[KidCuba]

I purchased a Matador tumba back in 1996 and it sounds great to this day.

Never changed the head on it, kept the stock LP that came with it. Definitely my favorite drum and sounds great in rumba settings.

[CongaTick]

You won't find a better value. Matadors are solid workhorses that perform as well as any drum on the market--depending on the skill of the drummer.

[niallgregory]

+1
I would not look down at all on Matadors as "lower quality drums". Pedro Martinez uses Matadors as his every day gig congas at Guantanamera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEWLdim- ... re=related
At local rumbas, people have brought Matadors that sound as good as the Juniors, Skin on Skins, and other "higher quality" drums people bring. For amplified band gigs I have not heard better sounding congas. Of course Pedrito's talent and playing technique are outstanding and he can make even plastic skins sound great. Jhair Sala gets a great sound out of those congas too. If they are structurally sound, you would be getting a great deal. Regarding the sound, its (almost) all in the hands and brain. Be on time to your meeting today, and bring cash.

Your not a fan of plastic heads i take it ?

[jorge]

I never bonded with plastic heads, never learned how to get a beautiful sound out of them, how to keep them from high frequency overtone ringing, or how to enjoy playing them. Let me stop being polite. I brought my friend's LP fiberglass drum with a plastic head home after a gig and couldn't even keep playing it in my studio for more than 2 minutes, it sounded so horrible. Horrible. Painfully horrible. I had to stop. I couldn't even play my own wood drums with real cuero while that plastic drum was in the same room, it would even ring when I hit another drum. Horrible. I had to put a towel over it just to be able to keep it in the same room. Horrible. I was really glad when I gave it back to him a few days later, just to get it out of my house. Even just thinking about it is horrible. Maybe I'm just too old and set in my ways, it could be an old dog new trick thing. Or maybe I am just opinionated and prejudiced. I don't like fiberglass shells too much better, although I have to admit they are much better at falling down stairs than wood drums are.

Now back to our regularly programmed thread.
Tumbas, did you get the drums yesterday? Don't keep us in suspense. And don't even ask about putting plastic heads on them. Horrible sound. Horrible.

Niall did I answer your question?

Horrible...

[busyflyin]

Here's the thing... if those Matadors where here where I could buy them, I would. Then I would throw away the drums I have with the plastic heads. I heard that plastic heads are horrible...

Actually,, I'm ready to trash can my Remo heads. I've watch all 15 or so Youtubes Remo produced that show how well the pros like them, but I guess Remo isn't paying me enough to keep em...

Go fer the Matadors!!

[Hawker]

I never bonded with plastic heads, never learned how to get a beautiful sound out of them, how to keep them from high frequency overtone ringing, or how to enjoy playing them. Let me stop being polite. I brought my friend's LP fiberglass drum with a plastic head home after a gig and couldn't even keep playing it in my studio for more than 2 minutes, it sounded so horrible. Horrible. Painfully horrible. I had to stop. I couldn't even play my own wood drums with real cuero while that plastic drum was in the same room, it would even ring when I hit another drum. Horrible. I had to put a towel over it just to be able to keep it in the same room. Horrible. I was really glad when I gave it back to him a few days later, just to get it out of my house. Even just thinking about it is horrible. Maybe I'm just too old and set in my ways, it could be an old dog new trick thing. Or maybe I am just opinionated and prejudiced. I don't like fiberglass shells too much better, although I have to admit they are much better at falling down stairs than wood drums are.

Now back to our regularly programmed thread.
Tumbas, did you get the drums yesterday? Don't keep us in suspense. And don't even ask about putting plastic heads on them. Horrible sound. Horrible.

Niall did I answer your question?

Horrible...

I guess I'm not clear on this...are you suggesting these drums are horrible?

[busyflyin]

I just sold my Remo heads and the package is in shipping waiting for Fedex. I was convinced that that were horrible, but I may need more of an explaination on that.

Seriously,, they are gone. I struggled with those things for a month and finally put stock skins back on. There is good and bad but overall I am convinced that Skyndeeps and my drums are not compatible pairs. Tuning was an absolute nightmare, and the sound on my tumba was like something I couldn't have imagined. It was like some kind of a rattle sound. I cranked it up but then I couldn't balance it out with the other two drums.

But BUY THE MATADORS! BTW; a conga/tuma set just sold 50 miles from here for $305 with stand. They were nice drums.