Difference between price ranges?

[chris hansen]

Hello,

I was just wondering what is the difference between say a top-of-the-line conga and a student model? Assuming both are the same size, made of similar material and are solidly constucted; what would make the more expensive one worth more? How different would they sound and what would cause the difference? Is there a price range of diminishing returns?

Thanks.

[Thomas]

Hi Chris!
The difference between "top-of-the-line" and "student" congas can be following:
Type of skin (LP uses what they label as "handpicked skins" for their "pro-line", but anyway IMO they are nothing compared to mules), hardware (durability and quality), type of wood (also thickness), shape of the drum (but as you may know, that makes only a sound difference, it is not an indication for a good or a bad drum).
For reference compare LP Classics and LP Matador: The difference between both is only the hardware and the skins (but IMO the skins should be changed on both and I don't know anyone who had problems with the matador hardware), but I don't want to discredit the classics (I own them and with the new mule skins, they sound fantastic)
Hope that helps!
All the best,
Tom!

[chris hansen]

Thanks for the reply!

It sounds like, if I can get a lower priced but well made drum, I can put a good head on it later and it should sound just fine?

When I look in the stores, it seems like some of the higher priced ones are bigger but are tuned about the same as lower priced, smaller ones, is that so they will be louder?

My budget is kind of limited. I'd like to find a cheaper set of congas but I don't want to end up getting something and later wishing I didn't.

I'm not playing in a band or anything and I would actually prefer if it wasn't the loudest set of drums around, I'm just looking for something that's fairly well made and decent to play. What would you consider to be a lower priced set of drums that's worth getting?

Thanks.

[zwar]

hi chris

i bought some lp fuego congas several years ago. they are not built anymore. it was shell like the lp classics but weak hardware and bad heads. i changed both and its ok. if you take tuning lugs from lp they have to be 5/16" diameter at minimum, otherwise they will not stand pulling a good skin to tune. the rims are normaly not that big a problem. the handpicked skins from lp are ok but not top. i agree with thomas, mule or even cowskins are better.
i dont know the us prices but in germany i paid less than the half for the cheap drums, new hardware and new skins, compared to the lp classics.
a problem can be mounting premounted skins then. if they fit the drumshell you are lucky.

greetings
zwar

[deadhead]

My biggest suggestion, and I'm sure that almost everyone here will agree with me, is be sure to buy FULL SIZE congas. The lower end sets like LP Aspires, Toca Players, and Meinl Headliner are not traditional sizes, they are usually 10" and 11" and I've seen 10" and 9" before also. Other full size drums are better to buy as a beginner because they are upgradeable. Get a set of LP Matadors, they are well made drums using the same wood and construction as the higher end drums. Once you get the feel for playing congas you can throw some new skins on and they will sound fantastic.

Traditional size drums are 11", 11 3/4", and 12 1/2". Look for those sizes.

[zwar]

Deadhead is right. but i would take the meinl professionals. they are the same as mongo santamarias, just hevea brasiliensis instead of white ash (what is no disatvantage), the hardware is as strong as only lp galaxy or paladium is, the skins are the best, meinl has to offer. lots of promusicians play them whithout ever changing anything. they are high end drums and in germany they are available for about 300,-euro each.

zwar

[CongaTick]

Chris,

http://www.samash.com/catalog....eID=615

$350 for 2 full size tumbadoras

...and put on some mules later.

[zwar]

with the ardientes its like i said above. they come with ez-curve rim and 9/32" tuning lugs. that is the same hardware as comes with the aspires. the tuning lugs are definitely not strong enough for good heads!

greez

zwar

[CongaTick]

zwar,

Not to make an issue of it-- and with all due respect-- have had my Ardientes for a couple of years replacing the heads with thick mules from JCR, and never had a problem with tuning them. The tubs have been on dozens of bar/club gigs and rims and lugs have performed without any problem and are still no worse for wear. Excellent value for the price, solidly built, great sound, and as long as tuning and de-tuning techniques are maintained, I look for them to last longer than me.

[zwar]

ho congatick

i just described my own experiences. not with one drum, but with four. when i recognized, i had to change all the lugs, i was i was not very happy, as you easily can imagine. by the way, the skins mounted then where not superthick mules or cows, but just normal lp handpicked skins. and it was not the money for the new lugs, the new lugs (5/16" what comes with matador and above) had to be ordered, it took two weeks, two weeks i could not use my congas.
you say, your congas are all right even with thick skins.
may be, your drums are from times before the quality level of lp went down? i dont know.
anyway, i thought it was fair, to say what happened to my drums, before somebody makes the same experience
to give you an image of what happened, i try to attach pix

peace

zwar



Edited By zwar on 1173112104

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ation1.jpg

[CongaTick]

zwar,

Your advice and experience with your drums is extremely valuable to Chris (and to all of us), and I for one, greatly appreciate your explanation and the caution you advise. My Ardiente experience is just one piece of the picture for him to look at. Many thanks for your detailed reply and valuable pix. Chris?

[Raymond]

Just adding my five cents here. Some have been said before but there is additional info.

Believe it or not...all major manufacturers of percussion make their instruments at about five factories in Thailand.

The difference between the top of the line is like everyone said, quality in the finishes, inside and outside, the quality of the hardware and the heads. Top of the line will have of course the top materials and features. Some companies, the differences between their top of the line and their mid level is more significant. (Example is Meinl and Headliner). During the last couple of years, LP has been increasing the quality of their Matador, mid level line by giving them features they no longer use in their top of the line. Matadors are actually the shape of the classic LP conga and LP is actually moving into the Patato/Giovanni shape model as their top of the line for new models. That has been a great hit for LP, which is selling more Matador than LP, and everybody is following it. (A good example is Pearl that is going with their Pearl Primero Pro).

In congas, the difference is not that much with the exception of the things I mentioned. Another thing to watch out is the finish of the conga inside the drumshell. A mid level conga will not have the good finish a top line will have.

In bongos, you start seeing bigger difference. Sonically, the top of the line of all major brands project more that the mid level. (Good example is LP Generation II and III in comparison with the Matador. The Matador has bad heads and after change of heads they could be good bongos to play professionally but their sound does not compare with the Generaltion II and III. The same is with Meinl and Pearl).

In timbales, forget it....the difference goes a long way. (The only good timbales to play with mid level are Meinl's Marathon and Pearl Primero's. Their cowbell holder and features of the stand makes it acceptable to play professional. Forget Matador...they need to get rid of that cowbell holder that is awful).

Notice that if you see a mid level played by a professional you will see them in congas and no other instrument. That tells you a lot....

All major companies are noticing the flooding of the market with cheap instruments made in China and other places that people are buying so they are making arrangement to work with that. These instruments will do the trick for a beginner and by changing heads and or other things they could sound good but eventually their quality will give them up and they will not be able to perform to the standards of the professional level. LP has issued Ardientes, Fuego and other special lines for stores that are not officially part of their catalog trying to compete with those cheap instruments.

I hope this helps! Saludos!

[chris hansen]

Wow, lots of advice to consider!

My biggest suggestion, and I'm sure that almost everyone here will agree with me, is be sure to buy FULL SIZE congas. The lower end sets like LP Aspires, Toca Players, and Meinl Headliner are not traditional sizes, they are usually 10" and 11" and I've seen 10" and 9" before also.

Just to clarify, what is bad about smaller congas like 10" and 11"? Does being smaller give them a higher tone, are they not as loud, do they just sound bad? The reason I ask is because I will just be playing in my living room for the foreseeable future. I can go to the local music mart and get a set of lp aspires for about $250 which would be the most affordable option I've seen so far. If it's something I will later regret though it might be worth saving a little longer and getting something nicer. If they are just not as loud I might even prefer that. I do get the impression that the tuning hardware might not be strong enough for nicer skins though. Is that something that can be upgraded if it becomes an issue?

[Charangaman]

Hey Chris,

There is nothing "wrong" per se with a 10 & 11 inch set
You could tune the 10" to sound like either a Conga or quinto.. It's just not standard.

[zwar]

ho chris

the aspires...

10 and 11 inches. and 28 inches high instead 30 inches what is standard. so you can imagine there ist not the same resonance like you have wither larger drums. that is imho not a great disatvantage. if you play on stage or in a band together with drumset you normaly mike the congas anyway.
the shells of the aspire are well made. no problem for that. what you will miss is the base sound of the tumbadora what is standard 12/50".
the largest aspire-conga is 12".
the heads coming with the aspires are not that bad, one could not play them. to go and start beating congas they are surely ok.
i say, it depends on how serious you will take your congaplaying. if you are playing a lot, spend plenty of time making musik, maybe for years, meet other congueros with better drums, try different tubes in the drum stores, there will certainly came the moment, when you will start feeling uncomfortable and disappointed with your aspire drums.
and if you buy new lugs and put better skins on (what is a bit tricky doing it the first time), you will have somewhat about a requinto/quinto-set.
normaly something for soloing parts, and backed by a conga/tumba-set.
so - to make it short - i would take a few more bucks and buy a 11/34-12/50 conga/tumba-set and one day (if necessary) buy a 11" quinto.
(the ardientes for instance, good price that).

greetings
zwar