LP Valje vs. Moperc Tropical - Better Quality & Sound?????

[glj]

What is the better purchase in terms of quality & sound? The LP Valje or Moperc Tropical bongos? Any opinions are appreciated.

Thanks,

[caballoballo]

GlJ, I had an Lp Valje For about 20 years until almost 2 month ago when I traded. Moperc, I own The Salsa Club Model.

The Valje is not too heavy & sound Ok,factory heads need to be change,conical, chrome hardware and the tunning lug are differrent from the others Lp Bongos. To me the Valje should be their top of the line.

Moperc, Stainless Steel hardware,Cilindrical Shape (more projection ) better craftmanship,Superior heads,not heavy,ash Wood.

In my opinion ,there is no contest between the Moperc & the Valje but other people may think different. The Moperc is superior. The only big different is the price,LP Valje from $245 to $280 plus you have to invest in 2 good heads ,that may add $75 to the price, Moperc is close to $490 but you get 20% if you buy directly from Michel. Chek the one painted green.

[Tonio]

Good call Caballo.
Will add that the Mopercs do weigh more than LP Valje.
That is what I like about the LP Valje's, nice and lite. But the build quality of Mopercs are of higher caliber, and project like a cannon

T

[glj]

thanks for your help. I've decided to go with the Mopercs since, I live within 100 miles of Moperc's shop and so i can get the Tropicals for +/- $350 while the Valje's are actually more expensive.

[Tumbatimba]

thanks for your help. I've decided to go with the Mopercs since, I live within 100 miles of Moperc's shop and so i can get the Tropicals for +/- $350 while the Valje's are actually more expensive.

Look around I have seen the LP Valje's for around $220

[caballoballo]

GlJ, Good decision,you won't be dissapointed. Moperc is just superior. You get a superior sounding instrument out of the Box no need of head change. Make sure Michel install a very thick head on the Hembra. About thickness, My choice is 1/16 on the Macho & 1/8 on the Hembra. GlJ,Take a closer look to the Green one.

[umannyt]

What is the better purchase in terms of quality & sound? The LP Valje or Moperc Tropical bongos? Any opinions are appreciated.

Thanks,

Hi glj,

I don't know if you're dead set on choosing between just the LP Valje and the Moperc Tropical bongos? But, have you ever heard or considered the Gon Bops California Series bongos?

Initially, I thought long and hard between ordering the renowned JCR (1-piece Macho and 1-piece Hembra) and Timba Percussion (made of solid North American Oak staves).

Then I called Mario Punchard of Isla Percussion, soon before I received my set of 3 Isla tumbadoras, to ask for his well-experienced advice. He recommend to me to call Yambu321 even before he joined CongaBoard. Mind you, to this date no one among the 3 of us has ever met anyone else in person.

Yambu321 recommended the Gon Bops CA series. He himself owned a pair and was extremely happy with them. Also, he used to own a pair of JCR bongos.

And after several (even long) phone conversations with him, I was sold on the Gon Bops CA. My decision was based not so much on their already-established master-class performance (by this time, I had already been convinced of it) but on the simple common-sensical reality that I just couldn't justify buying a pair bongos that cost about 2 times more than something already as good as a pair of Gon Bops CA bongos.

With JCR, Cali Rivera makes his world-class intruments in batches. So, you really never know soon enough when he'll start making bongos. And with Timba Percussion, there was at least a 2- to 3-week which wasn't bad at all.

But, the Gon Bops dealer here in California that I was able to hook up with, he had a ready stock of the Gon Bops CA and even in the color I desired--Cherry Red--to match my Rosewood Red Isla tumbadoras.

Gon Bops CA are handmade with North American (Red Appalachian) Oak solid staves, have great skins (horse on Macho and cow on the Hembra), very sleek hybrid traditional hoops, immaculate construction, beveled bearings for "superior attack, warmth and clarity" (according to their website), light weight and wide color selection--all for "just" the UNBELIEVABLE starting price of about $240! The price only gets higher if you prefer fancier paint and finish. And you can even buy a pair of thigh pads to make playing the Gon Bops CA series even that much more comfortable!

With their very reasonable prices (to me, they're a "steal"), I'm surprised that it seems that not a lot of bongoceros are snatching up the Gon Bops CA series. And, if you find the right dealer, you won't have to wait.

Needless to say, I'm a very happy camper with my Gon Bops CA bongos!

Compared to the LP Valje, for about the same price, you get superior wood and almost superior everything else. And you get excellent skins off the bat, thus potentially further saving you money. And compared to the Moperc Tropical, you'll save weight and some significant change to be able to buy other "toys"! LOL!

If you're interested, check out the Gon Bops CA on http://www.gonbops.com/california/bongos.htm

Remember, I'm in no way connected with either Gon Bops or its parent company, DW, and, therefore, do not receive any commission from either one.

Best of luck on your search,



Edited By umannyt on 1197235866

[caballoballo]

The difference between a Moperc & GonBops Other than the price is the Shape, Cilindrical versus Conical. The cilindrical shape would give you more volume and better deep sound of the Hembra . A conical shape is like a ported speaker where the port shape,size and lenght control the range of frequencies out so in a cilindrical shape you have a wider range of frequencies. I have own both types & I do prefer the cilindrical shape. Anyway everybody has their own preferences so enjoy,get a proper technique & you can get good sound of either shape.



Edited By caballoballo on 1197482045

[Coco]

Qué tal

I have Meinl, LP, cedar Sonoc and Moperc Custom Cubano bongos. The Sonocs and Mopercs kill the others. The two sound quite similar.....dry and old school. The Mopercs are finished better. I haven't heard the Gon Bops. Just wanted to say that I'm a fan of Michel's drums.


Coco



Edited By Coco on 1197211210

[vinnieL]

The true shape of the Gon Bops from my understanding is conical on the outside but it is cylindrical on the inside so the projection should be the same as any cylindrical bongo. And if you study the outside of the shell it is actually more of a flare than conical shape.

[Tonio]

Speaking of Mopercs. My set is getting to the point of being "broken in". The Macho is really sounding good, with that nice POP. The Hembra stills needs alittle more time, its starting to resonate and sustian more than before. Its so different from Lp's, especially the hembra. I almost reskinned the hembra for more sustain, but stopped based on yesterdays rehearsal.

T