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Hi guys im new to Conga Place although i've been playing Congas for nearly ten yrs now (shame on me ay?) I just wondered what the thoughts were on Patato Fiberglass Congas. I have two slightly battered and repaired Bauers, who i love to bits and are great for the little Rumba group i attend. I also do gigs in bars and clubs playing to house music, and maybe the LP might be more suitable? I have never played a Patato but im going to look at a set of 3 second hand ones complete with double heavy duty LP stand with wheels, 3 hard cases and a basket stand. The price is £650 ($964)

What do you reckon to the drums.... and the price? Or should i just save my self a load of cash and get some new skins for the bauers? (they are a bit tired)

Kind regards. Peas out

Al

p.s lovin this forum

Sumo let me be the first to welcome you to this wonderful forum there is lots of wonderful talent here. You can't go wrong with Patatos, they have wonderful projection, well built, and great hardware in fact they are ideal for outside gigs, as for the price ouchh! they are no doubt too expensive even for having all of those extras I truly believe that if you’re patient you will come across a better deal. As far as new skins, you can't go wrong if you pick the right ones just make sure that the thickness is uniform. Once again, bien venido .

Actually if you look up the prices on the LP heavy duty stands and the hard cases plus the congas that is a steal for 3 patatos i would jump on it myself and i would sell the stands since i don't use them. Patatos are over $500 apiece now.

I believe those stands cost more than $200 Abakua favors these stands. The hard cases are expensive too.

There is currently a set of Giovanni’s, 3 drums for 600.00. Keep in mind that these drums are not new so the retail price is irrelevant.

Thanks for the welcome I will defo be haggling the price, its a bit of a gamble cos they are 200 miles away!!!

Thanks fo the advice. This forum has really re-ignited my passion for drumming and Congas

I will keep you posted

Sumo

Welcome to the forum

For playing with DJ's and other styles of music (not Latin/Timba/Salsa/Son etc) then I can highly reccomend the Patato model.
Very well built, light weight, big sound and projection.

However for playing son montuno & Latin styles I dont like their sound. I prefer the warmth and body of wood congas with quality skin. Not a fan of plastic or synthetic skins. I dont use a quinto in my band set up. 2 x congas and 1 x tumbadora.
In fact I dont use a quinto at all when I play in latin/afro cuban settings (bands) even when touring or travelling, when asked for my spec sheet, I never request a quinto, I make specific mention to not supply a quinto.
Im of the belief just as Changuito, Anga and Giovanni, that a quinto has no place in son montuno, a quinto is for riffing in a rumba, comparsa etc etc..

On a quinto within rumba setting however, whole different ball game. Bring on fiberglass, fiberskins etc but I will always prefer a wood drum with quality real skin over anything fiber. Im actually looking for a requinto at the moment, either fiberglass or wood, doesnt matter, just want a super high pitched screamer for quinto action in the rumba sections of arrangements in my band where I swap with the bongocero, he will play tumbas while I play quinto etc.. And for use within my rumba group also.

Just to touch back on the Patato's... I originally purchased a set of 3 black Patato's back in the day. Bought them on a Fri, took them home and played them etc, went out that night, sat in with a friends salsa band who was using 3 Classics, I was over whelmed with their warm sound and body, the next day I packed up my 3 new congas, went back to the store and swapped them for 3 Classics! Never looked back! That was over 20 yrs ago now and have been with LP for close to 15 yrs now. Over time Ive had the opportunity to play Patatos several times, and for the settings I play in (Timba, Salsa, Latin Jazz etc) I prefer the wood drums over Patatos. But not to discourage you, they are great drums and well suited to many syles of music, I am merely stating my opinion.

I recently traded my Meinls for LP Patatos and $$cash$$
I love these drums. They are loud and fierce - look out.

The Patatos look great congratulations!

I also have a set of 3 Patato series. They are a decent sounding drum. I mostly got them because I needed the extra volume on the gigs I was playing, and they definitely give me that. They do have a bit of ringing that can be annoying in a small group I've been playing with that is all accoustic stringed instuments. The ringing is not an issue at all with a larger, louder group. I just ordered some mule skins for all 3 from Isaac, who is also a member of this forum. I am hoping it warms them up, and maybe even quiets the ring a bit . I might get them next week, so I will let you know how it turns out.

Hi Sumo, did you get those patatos in the end? If not and they're still for sale I might be interested.. Do you have a contact for the person selling them?
Cheers!

Goingquinto,

Just a heads up - if after you put on the mules, the drums still sound ringy, don't be disillusioned. Mule tends to be a ringy skin in the beginning but once they wear in, you'll be good.
Cow/steer hides are very good for getting the 'ringyness' out right away.

Let us know how they sound!

Brings back memories, I finally found the pic with my Patatos dating back to '88 - '89. Talk about projection, everyone complemented the quinto. Sold them to a Boricua by the name of Moises, hopefully he parted the red sea with them . Sold them to buy my white / black specs Lp wooden classics. Recently I bought a set of fiber salsa models in black , well one is black the other has a home paint job in a pinkish gray granite ..yakk finish... to refurbish..and an interesting thing, the inside was all covered in saw dust.. I guess to kill the ring.
Paz
Olsongo

Guys - I ended up doing an about turn and opted for some ol skool Rauls by Bauer.(picture on my other post 'how to sand congas) Slighly battered but were in need of a good home and clean up. So, that's what I'm doing at the mo, and Im really enjoying it!!!

Thanks for the advice and Im still keeping an eye open for some cheap Patatos, but for now I'm enjoyin some D & W

peace and respek

Sumo