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Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2005 2:03 pm**

My instructor has a pair of afro congas that he uses to teach at the school . WOW to say the least about them they are awsome , they soud deap and warm , but he does not know if they are still around . I also have a book by Glen Caruba where he is playing on these . Does anyone have any info. on them .

rumbaman

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2005 4:49 pm**

Yes Afro was bought out by Pearl about 9 10 years ago. I still have my first set of Afro's before Pearl bought them out. Afro's were created by a guy from Europe. Pearl uses the same shape and style as the original Afro's...I love mine as well as my Pearls...."JC" Johnny Conga....

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Posted: **Tue Dec 06, 2005 7:17 am**

Hello brother JC!
Did you say you really like your Pearl congas? Are some named Pearl congas better than others? How do Pearls compare with LP as far as sound?....compare as far as price?
Thanks in advance for the info,
rick

Posted: **Wed Dec 07, 2005 10:22 am**

Hi
I have a pair of Afro congas , and they're great .
JC , are you sure about what you say , I heard a different story .
I heard Afro used to be a sub-company , but they were sued for racism (Afro , you know...) and stopped using the name .
However , they are not beeing sold anymore .

Posted: **Wed Dec 07, 2005 7:24 pm**

I know that Pearl bought out the "Afro" name. The Dutch creator of the drums jsut sold it to Pearl. I don't know about the claim of racism... Yes I think that Pearls are comparable to most of the LP congas. Remeber Lp has been around a LOT longer and have more variety of congas...Pearl has only been doing it for about 9 years,versus LP-1964. I like the warm sound of the wooden Pearls and the crisp/loud sound of the fiberglass...Prices are mixed depending where u buy them from...of course I recommend Pearl congas,been Endorsing them for 8 years,and very satisfied.....Have u seen the Pearl "glow in the dark" congas???...They look really cool too....\\

"JC" Johnny Conga

Posted: **Wed Dec 07, 2005 7:25 pm**

Here they are:...."JC" Johnny Conga...

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Posted: **Wed Dec 07, 2005 7:26 pm**

Sorry those are the Meinl's...."JC"

Posted: **Wed Dec 07, 2005 7:31 pm**

Goto the PearlDrum site goto Pearl perc news....scroll down u will see the Pearls Im talking bout they have flames coming up from the bottem of the drums and look kinda yellow...I do not know why they are not in the Pearl Drum Catalog that just came out...."JC" Johnny Conga... ???

Posted: **Thu Dec 08, 2005 3:21 am**

JohnnyConga wrote:Sorry those are the Meinl's...."JC"

:D

I was just about to say that... You being a Pearl endorsee shoulda known that.. :p Maybe your age is starting to take its toll on your memory? :laugh: :p jokes bro.

Posted: **Thu Dec 08, 2005 3:28 am**

JohnnyConga wrote:Goto the PearlDrum site goto Pearl perc news....scroll down u will see the Pearls Im talking bout they have flames coming up from the bottem of the drums and look kinda yellow...I do not know why they are not in the Pearl Drum Catalog that just came out...."JC" Johnny Conga... ???

I believe you mean these ones JC..

Hmm.. not sure I like the look of them though.... How do they sound? Are they an intermediate level drum or from their high end?
What are Pearl's top of the line tumbadoras in wood?
I ask because Ive only seen the Bobby Allende models in brown (fibreglass) and the Ritchie Flores model (fibreglass) in the green with black little figures on em. Also the blue/fade model (not sure of the name) but I was not overly impressed with these.

Edited By ABAKUA on 1134012829

Posted: **Thu Dec 08, 2005 10:53 am**

The story by JC is true! I am currently in Nashville at Pearl headquarters and I was given the same story that JC is giving you. Afro were a handcraft brand made by a dutch guy named John V. Mulden (something like that) who sold the rights to Pearl when Pearl wanted to get in the percussion game. However, when Pearl started doing them they were not so succesful because of quality problems.

Also, the name Afro was not received well because some claimed it was racists....So, around 5 years ago, Pearl changed his percussion brand to Pearl Percussion.

The quality and the sound of Pearl congas now is the same or superior of LP...the other brands watch out!.

The glow in the dark congas, I saw them here....photos don't do justice to them...The look good...They are fiberglass. They sound great too!... (I tried them here at their showroom)!

Pearl is coming with some exciting products for NAMM....I'll be going to NAMM in January and I'll let you know...

Abakua: Variations of those models you are mentioning are coming soon...(Bobby Allende's and Richie Flores' models).

Saludos!

Posted: **Fri Dec 09, 2005 4:22 pm**

Hey guys hows everyone thanks for the input on the afro's . So let me get this together , Pearl bought them out and they also bought out Gon Bops , and to make this realy intresting they are practicaly the meinl shells that i have . Wide bottom with rubber and buffalo skins . I'm i following you guys . Man i liked the sound of the Gon Bops , But pearl is just rehashing these drums .

thanks rumbaman

Posted: **Fri Dec 09, 2005 4:43 pm**

Alafia Abure Rumbaman!
I hope that you are well and in an abundance of holiday blessings my brother!

You know, I just bought a set of Gon Bops, and I don't think that they were from Pearl! In fact, the new company that I believe owns GonBops is DW. Now I could be wrong, but that's the company that I've been dealing with. Let me tell you though, they sound flippin' incredible Papa! The bass is totally sweet, and the tones, well you can work it to get whatever tone you want out of it. I would recommed them to anyone considering a new set of drums.

You can actually go into a local Guitar Center, and I'm sure that they will have a set of the "Tumbao" series, their lower end models, and you can hear how well those even sound. I have a set of the "California" series and Wow! Son increibles!

Suave!
Onile!

Edited By onile on 1134146835

Posted: **Fri Dec 09, 2005 5:29 pm**

Raymond,

Are there any news about Pearl making a traditional Rim Bongó ? I ask beacuse I remember you mention that on the past.

Posted: **Fri Dec 09, 2005 5:48 pm**

Pearl has NO part of Gon Bops,as far as I know. it was acquired by Ritchie Barrientos, who created "Timba" conga co. and I believe sold the Gon Bop name . Not to sure on it, but I think that's the way it went down..."JC" Johnny Conga...these are the NEW Gon Bops...

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afro drums - are they still around