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Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:07 pmby G-Man
Hi guys,
I have been on this Conga journey now for over 3 years now and have been reading this forum for over 2.5. 
Thank you all for all the invaluable information, opinions, experience, and philosophies shared in this forum.
I would like to source you for any info you have on these sets of drums I am considering. They are:
Lp Matadors
Meinl Pro Series
Gon Bops Tumbao Pros
I know that these aren't high end drums, but I am looking for the best bang for my budget. :p
I am also planning to put some nuskyns or fiberskyns on these and would like to hear of any experiences along those lines with these drums.
I have done a couple of searches of this forum and only been able to pick up a few threads here and there.
Thanks for all of the info.
G 
Posted:
Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:13 amby Dejata
G-man,
This may not help you with all that you asked, but I own a pair of Meinl Headliner series that I bought about 4 years ago. I am very satisfied with them. I am assuming the Pro-Series would be a step up, so I would say yes.
Pricing is something I cannot help you with, nor can I answer you question on the changing the heads.
That's it.
Posted:
Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:55 pmby zwar
ho gman
first to say, all those three drums are ok, the differences not that great.
my ratings
optics:1 gb,2 meinl, 3 lp
wood: all the same
projection: 1 lp, 2 meinl, 3 gb
hardware: 1 meinl, 2 gb and gb
skins: 1 gb, 2 meinl, 3 lp
size: 1 meinl and lp, 2 gb
my choice? meinl pros
question of taste.
greetz
zwar
Posted:
Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:54 pmby MichaelB
I got some Nuskyns for my Aspires....(desperate)....terrible sound...rubbery/plastic sound.....IMHO....of course the drums themselves don't contribute much....
Posted:
Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:25 pmby ozrivera
Saludos Hermanos
Hey G-man, the Meinl Pros are definately high end drums. they are the equivalent of LP classics with similar price tags.
the Meinl marathons are equivalent to the Matadors and the gon bops tumbao pro.
either way marathons, matadors are good solid drums. and i have seen many percussionist play them proffesionally. the gon bops tumbao pro are fairly new ive never heard them before. gon bops just recently revamped their entire line of drums and the tumbao pros now come with the same shell as the californias series, in my opinion they are all solid drums with pretty much the same price tag. i think its a matter of preference. gon bops is selling the tumbao pro series 11", and 11 3/4 with a set of bongos for $398. with a set of bongos.
good luck
oz
Posted:
Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:32 pmby G-Man
Thanks for the honest opinions and sharing your thoughts.
I have been playing drums off and on since I was in high school many years ago and picked up a set of LP Performer Series about 2.5 years ago to learn conga with. They are OK, but are a little "off size" for some of the synthetic heads.
I really like having 3 drums and maybe even 4 someday.
I've banged on a few Matadors and other LP's before but haven't seen any Meinls or GP's in any of the shops.
Anyway, thanks again for the info!
G
Posted:
Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:27 pmby CongueroLI
Hi folks,
I'm new to this forum Not sure if I should have started a new thread, but here goes...
I started playing Congas about 8 months ago. At that time I bought a set (quinto/conga) of Meinl Headliner range drums.
I have not been happy with the sound. I have to tune them really high to get any kind of decent sound out of them, and even then they don't compare to the sound of the ones I use in class (Hi end LPs, not sure right which line). The sound is more like a bell than the warm drier sound that I think of as a conga sound.
I'm thinking of trading them in on a set of Matadors.
What do you guys think? Is it me or do the Headliner Range drums just not compare to better quality drums?
Thanks for any response!
Posted:
Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:41 pmby deadhead
CongueroLI, Headliners are a lower end starter set with cheap heads, this why they sound more like a tin can than a conga. You would be much happier with the matadors.