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Posted: **Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:26 am**

Hello all I am new to the board and wanted to ask if you could give me some input on what to start out with. I don't want to end up with complete crap but i cannot afford to spend a huge amount of money either. I saw the LP aspire congas but I am not sure if the smaller size is something I'll be happy with. Help steer me in the right direction so I don't end up wanting something else in a year. Any help is appreciated.

Posted: **Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:05 am**

Someone else on this forum coined the phrase;
"Buy wise, buy once"
This kinda rules out Aspires. Try the next level up. Wood LP Matadors or Meinl Loius Conte for example

Posted: **Wed Jul 11, 2007 12:14 pm**

Welcome to our family. A search of topics and threads previously posted will bring up a chunk of advice given to newcomers who've joined us with the same quesion.

Posted: **Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:49 pm**

LP Aspires are a complete load of crap.

Go to the next level up, look at Pearl and Meinl...

However I recommend getting used, you can get really good deals.

I got a Matador Tumba with a bag from craigslist for $125.
I also got an LP fiberglass conga used for $75.

Both are waaay better tha LP Aspires.

Posted: **Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:13 pm**

Welcome to the family, vinnieL!

If you prefer brandnew congas, I second the vote on the LP Matadors and the Meinl Luis Conte.

There's got to be equivalent level models from Pearl and Toca. I just don't know what models they are off the top of my head. Perhaps, our Pearl (Johnny Conga and Raymond) and Toca (if any) endorsers can enlighten you here. Tycoon Percussion appears to be a fast-rising dark horse, too, offering a wide selection of models and fancy colors (just not my type, though). Did I miss out on any other major brands?

The Meinl Luis Conte gets my top vote, though. You get traditional rims, which I much prefer (and so does Luis Conte, BTW, who specified it in the first place) over so-called "comfort" rims. Everything else should be equal with most of the competition: Thailand-made, so-called "Asian" or "Siam" oak (in reality, rubber wood) and water buffalo skin.

Needless to say, buying used is also a wise alternative. It usually just requires more patience and involves more hassle (checking for condition, fair price, color uniformity, etc.), an experience not too different from buying a used car.

Hope this helps,

Edited By mjtuazon on 1184186520

Posted: **Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:02 pm**

I have to agree with all the suggestions here: Aspire sucks stay away from them! Used is always the best bet for a nice set of drums at a good price. Watch ebay, but even better check your local craigslist and you can save on the shipping cost which is usually quite alot. You're in a good area for used congas too, so keep an eye out.

Posted: **Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:04 pm**

Ditto on the Aspires....cheap...but nasty...in a baddddd way

Posted: **Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:41 am**

Thank you very much I guess i will look at the meinl conte's and see what i can do.

Posted: **Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:37 am**

Equally as good in my opinion are the Meinl Marathon Classics , I own a set and I am very pleased . I understand the coments about the comfort rim but if you have an option to buy the maratins do because they sound great . Im at the stage now were i want to change the water buffallo skins for bull or cow skin.
IMHO meinl are well manufactured like all things German . HTH

I made the same mistake of busy ing a hoby set the reason was i had not then found the very useful reasource of this forum

marco

Posted: **Thu Jul 12, 2007 6:06 pm**

After playing several "starter" sets..the only one with tone I like is the schalloch. You can get the 11 and twelve separately on musician's friend I believe. The 10 inch is more of a requinto sounding drum...not much room for anything else. The aspire is not even close to the sound of the schalloch. If you ust go cheap, go schalloch. Another inexpensive, but full sized drum is SONOr champion series, but they are pretty hard to find...they are aimed at schools and parents with youngsters starting out..price-wise. The tone is pretty good...better than any of the starter sets. A new set of muleskins later ...hmmm.

I own both the schalloch and the sonor in three drum sets. I gig with the sonor and keep the schallochs at the practice studio. I have also gigged with them. Either one sounds great on mic. I have also gigged on a borrowed set of aspires...not even close....avoid.

God bless!

-Ron

-Ron

God bless!

-Ron

Posted: **Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:52 pm**

bongoron wrote:After playing several "starter" sets..the only one with tone I like is the schalloch...If you ust go cheap, go schalloch. Another inexpensive, but full sized drum is SONOr champion series,...The tone is pretty good...better than any of the starter sets...

I agree.

Schallock and SONOR are two other German-owned companies. They may also be made in Thailand (by the same manufacturing company), like the great majority of mass-produced congas, but at least you have German R&D and manufacturing supervision behind them, like Meinl.

Edited By mjtuazon on 1184270248

Posted: **Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:04 am**

I would take a serious look at the Gon Bop tumbao pro, for a great price you can get a set that sounds just as good as any matador or other mid-range thailand production drum. I was very surprised when I played on some of them a couple of weeks ago.
PC

Posted: **Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:21 am**

:cool:

Edited By yambu321 on 1196045832

Posted: **Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:28 am**

Yambu I sent you a pm

Posted: **Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:30 am**

:cool:

Edited By yambu321 on 1196045900

congaplace.com

new to congas looking for suggestions