Do You Keep Your Congas in Bags?

[manderson]

I just bought the "LP LP546 Pro Conga Bags with Wheels". I have the older LP Valje Armando Peraza rosewood congas with mule skin heads. (Isaac, if you're still out there, you know who this is.)

Anyway, up till now I always wrapped my congas in blankets when goind out to a gig. This may be a stupid question, but I'm not sure about leaving the congas in the bags while not being used. Because they sit with the head on the bottom, and all of the weight would be concentrated on the head, I'm not certain I want to have them sitting like this for any length of time. I know there is a pretty decent pad in the bottom, but it still concerns that the weight bearing down on the head might not be good for them.

Haven't posted here in a while. Maybe this has been asked before. Just looking for some thoughts and suggestions.

Thanks

Mark A.

[Chupacabra]

I've been told constantly to ALWAYS keep them in some kind of protection when not in use, preferably a bag or hard case. It just takes one wrong move and there's a 4" scratch in the shell, gouge out of a piece of furniture, screaming kid, etc...

If you don't have bags you might try asking a moving company if you could have some used "China Barrels". These are heavy duty triple-wall corrugated cardboard boxes that are used for packing fragile household goods in. Like congas. They probably won't charge anything for them, even if they do it probably wouldn't be much. Just try to make sure they are the correct height for your congas.

I wouldn't worry too much about the heads. As long as they are on a flat surface with nothing poking into them they'll be fine. Especially if they are good skins.

[manderson]

I wouldn't worry too much about the heads. As long as they are on a flat surface with nothing poking into them they'll be fine. Especially if they are good skins.

Thanks. This is what I am talking about. They are excellent skins. Real mule skin and the best I have ever had. Isaac Gutwilik got the skins for me from JCR Percussion and personally mounted them for a me a couple years ago.

So just to clarify, you do not believe that leaving them upside down in the cases while in storage will adversly effect the heads. In fact, these skins are so good, I have to be very secure about this, because I do not want risk damage in any way, shape or form. I'm cool with the shells. It's the skin I am worried about, and want to take no risk.

Thanks again.

[willie55]

i went to the dollar store and bought 3 garbage cans with wheels and lids, and used them to haul my TIMBA congas, but now i just haul everything around in back of my truck 3rd door area, using blackets or whatever in between so they dont hit, but all of my congas (8) got war injuries, so treat them right, for a long life of drumming

[Ernesto Pediangco]

I have always use the LP padded gig bags w/ additional interior padding which are fabric covered foam rubber exercise mats. I use cocktail service platters on the inside bottom to stabilize them so they do not tip over. These platters also are used under the drums on carpeted stages. These duffel bag designs do not have a Zipper which can fail. I do not want wheels since these drums in the bags can fit into my Humes & Berg rolling cases when needed. I prefer a 2nd hand set of a folding luggage roller that I can stack 2 drums & other items on and it takes less space to transport in cars and is more easy to use than wheeled gig bags. My bags are 20 years old now & I only had to use pop rivets to re secure the handles. When I am not playing my drums, they remain in the bags. Since 1998, not a scratch or dent in my 1998 Gon Bops. They look new. I had these bags from previous owned drums and never had a problem.

[Chupacabra]

If you don't have bags you might try asking a moving company if you could have some used "China Barrels". These are heavy duty triple-wall corrugated cardboard boxes that are used for packing fragile household goods in. Like congas. They probably won't charge anything for them, even if they do it probably wouldn't be much. Just try to make sure they are the correct height for your congas.

After reading this again I thought I should clarify it a little. I would only suggest this in a situation where cases or bags weren't readily available, which in your case is not relevant because the LP bags that you have look to be a really solid piece of kit. At some point I will be looking to replace the bags I have for my congas because they are not the best quality and are showing signs of wear after minimal use. The ones you have might just be the type I buy when the time comes!

[Derbeno]

I use Meinl bags. Great padding and design and the Congas go and stay in upright,

[Ernesto Pediangco]

I use Meinl bags. Great padding and design and the Congas go and stay in upright,

Is a great padded bag. My Lp gig bag has no zippers to fail and I still have option to put drums in upright or upside down when I add a cocktail service platter inside to protect the head. I have sworn off Zipper bags after seeing others w/ repairs to zippers costing so much. The only repair I have done to any of my bags is to use a pop rivet gun w/ fender washers to secure the handle when the stitching begins to fail. Since the bags do not have awkward wheels etc to break, I just use portable folding wheel carts or place the drums in bags and in to Protector brand or Humes & Berg hard cases w/ wheels. I tie them togeather w/ quick release straps for transport on streets or in air ports etc. Those days are over since I will not pay to transport my inst. when I can rent acceptable alternatives our of town.

Protector hard cases are less prone to cracking than other plastic body cases.

l521_ipprotectcases.jpg (8.96 KiB) Viewed 7028 times

[Ernesto Pediangco]

Check online for cases & instruments from 3A. the shipping is of course an issue, but the quality and functionality is worth it ! You may as well purchase the quality instruments from 3a & get the wole deal for the shipping efforts I really like the claves, maracas and bell beaters. None of the Asian made junk is up to par compared to 3A.

[Ernesto Pediangco]

he he he... I know if I could find a matching Tumba to a friends Q & C sized Peraza model Cherry Lp/Valje's, I would love to buy it and add to my friends set so I could finally have a matching 3 drum set. Those were in my opinion better sounding than Lp's own drums and stronger made than Valjes own models. They were perfect for Salsa band volumes & tonal for more accoustic settings & Latin Jazz etc. The happy medium drum ! Of course you had to change from the Asian heads if you wanted the best from these drum shells. To bad Issac does not mount a few sets at a time so I could buy the 2 nd pair of heads & save myself the work. I would totally trust Issac w/ my drum heads. OK...Regarding gig bag alternatives...G.I duffel bags come in a few sizes. Using 2 nd hand foam rubber exercise mats as interior bag liners works well to protect congas. U.S. postal service uses larger sized bags that may fit bigger bellied tumbas that are larger than typical bags.

I just bought the "LP LP546 Pro Conga Bags with Wheels". I have the older LP Valje Armando Peraza rosewood congas with mule skin heads. (Isaac, if you're still out there, you know who this is.)

Anyway, up till now I always wrapped my congas in blankets when goind out to a gig. This may be a stupid question, but I'm not sure about leaving the congas in the bags while not being used. Because they sit with the head on the bottom, and all of the weight would be concentrated on the head, I'm not certain I want to have them sitting like this for any length of time. I know there is a pretty decent pad in the bottom, but it still concerns that the weight bearing down on the head might not be good for them.

Haven't posted here in a while. Maybe this has been asked before. Just looking for some thoughts and suggestions.

Thanks

Mark A.

[GregNoiz]

I only spent about $100 per drum so I didn't want to spend nearly the same amout on a bag. I looked into GI duffle bags but they seemed too small. I ended up buying sailor's sea bags for about $15 per. They're made of heavy canvas and one size fits most (fits over my fat vintage Slingerland tumba). I just slip it over the drum and tuck the rest of the bag into the bottom. I store mine upright. No handles or padding of course, but I don't really need that.

seabag.jpg (3.84 KiB) Viewed 6833 times

[CongaTick]

I did blankets and such. Fuggedaboutit. Protection Racket bags. Get them.


http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... CHEQ8wIwAQ

[pavloconga]

I use custom made nylon padded bags for my Palladiums.
Well made and well padded.

from: http://www.bongobag.com/

[windhorse]

I did blankets and such. Fuggedaboutit. Protection Racket bags. Get them.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... CHEQ8wIwAQ

Yeah CongaTick!
Most recent purchase has been a full set of protection racket bags.. I keep it all in the bags now, since I'm taking the drums to other places, and not so much in-condo play these days. Lovin' the ability to carry like a backpack with the shoulder straps! Also the quick and easy two-sided zipper drum entry and exit method.

[dub town]

Ive used 'Kaces' brand conga bags (With Wheels) heavily for the last 5 years. So happy I bought their djembe bag (which was significantly less effective).

I typically do keep my drums in bags when not in use as well.