Latin Percussion Wood congas made in Garfield, NJ

[Sakuntu]

Hi folks,

So I scored big today at the drum shop on some used wood lp wood congas, made back in the Garfield NJ days. $125 with stand. Can anyone give me some history on these drums? I'm assuming they are not "siam oak" being that they are a lot heavier than my Thailand made LP classics. Did LP use oak back then? Also, what about the skins? Again I'm assuming they aren't water buffalo. Cow or steer maybe. Whatever they were made with they sound great! 10x better than my Thailand LP classics. The small drum is 11 inches by 30 inches but it has 6 lugs....so is it a quinto or conga? The big one is at least 12 inches by 30. Any info anyone can give me on these drums or this era of LP would be appreciated. I was so happy to find these and add to my collection.

[Mike]

I think you scored great indeed.
The set seems to be an anniversary model from about 1984 which I also owned once,
my drums had the same odd head measurements. The smaller one appears to be a conga.
(Mine had only five lugs though).
The skins do look like water buffalo to me, but they might sound fine.
although the shells are Siam oak if I am not wrong, they look awesome, and probably are of stronger
build quality, or they chose the wood far more carefully back then.

What about the inside of the shells - is it sealed/lacquered?

Anyway, great classical set, congrats!

[Sakuntu]

Hi Mike. Thanks for the info, i did some searchs last night on the forum and saw that yes, they probably were made in thailand, but they are a different shape and sound than my modern classics. (almost built more like the salsa models except 30 inches tall instead of 28. I cleaned them up last night and got them shining again:-) the inside of the shells do not have the fiberglass around the lugs but they are sealed and laquered. there is also not as much of a finish on these drums like the modern classics. 1984....wow. i was 9 when they made these drums

[RitmoBoricua]

I have owned an 11" conga like yours since 1986 or 1987
and in my opinion they are rubber wood aka Siam oak.
I think one difference is the wood staves. On those 1984
20th anniversary congas the staves are solid wood staves,
years later LP switched to plywood staves on their congas
and bongos.

I think the LP Classics and Salsa models are 3 ply staves
and Matador and Classic II's are 2 ply staves. Basically,
LP is using the same method use to make most drum kits
today. I also owned an early CP bongo from the 80's on
rubber wood and this bongo is heavier than later years
rubber wood Matadors due to the solid stave used on
my CP vice the plywood use on modern Matador bongos.

Also I think the shape of those 1984 LP congas is much
more slender than today's LP Classic or Salsa models. I
think you have the original heads on those and they seem
to be steer/cow. Nice score.



,

[Mike]

You are both right about the shape, those LP congas had a much sleeker belly than today´s Classics.

Really nice drums.

[Omelenko1]

LP never made a 6 lugs 11" quinto, so if yours has 6 lugs is an 11 3/4" conga.

[Mike]

LP never made a 6 lugs 11" quinto, so if yours has 6 lugs is an 11 3/4" conga.

Correct! My 11" had only 5 lugs.