Difference between price ranges?

[CongaTick]

Chris,

All the advice and recommendations from pros like zwar, charanga and raymond are worth their weight in gold. Most especially zwar's last. Most of us started "in the living room". But, like heroin, once the drum sets its hooks deep into your soul, obsession takes hold and as zwar says you start comparing your tubs to what's out there. Of course, you may be lucky (or unlucky?) enough to avoid having the drum take over a chunk of your life, but that's a big chance your taking and becomes less likely every time you listen to music played by a band that blows your head off your shoulders. Good luck,

[Raymond]

We have said this before and is in other posts in this whole forum.

The only problem in going with a non pro size is that if you believe you are going to be serious, most surely, you will like to upgrade and trying to sell to later buy could be a pain. (Also, prices go up every year...)

Of course, if you have the money, go for the pro sizes from the start and that will get you by for several years until you want to get a set of your dreams....

Nothing wrong with that 10 /11 combo, if that is what you can afford go for it.. But the recommendation is to go with the "real thing" if you want to get serious. There is a lot good things that you can develop in a learning mode if you use a pro size instead of a beginner...sound, feel, etc...

If you cannot buy it new, get it used. Believe it or not all companies are making affordable congas in pro sizes is just a matter of checking. Before I invest in something I do my homework.....

My humble opinion!

Saludos!

[GuruPimpi]

I would also go with conga and tumba. Pro series, I personally don't like intermediate instruments, had one, no thanks. Anyone has a Cosmic Percussion by LP bongos? Geeez, what a crap!

my 2 cents,
Primoz

[deadhead]

If you decide to go with Aspires or another starter kit I would definitly try to buy them used. I've noticed that the lower end sets don't hold their value at all. I see aspire sets in perfect used condition sell for $100 all the time, whereas the higher end congas hold their value much better. I highly suggest against buying a new set of low end drums as your trade in value when you are ready to upgrade will be nothing close to what you paid.

Anyone has a Cosmic Percussion by LP bongos? Geeez, what a crap!

Some of the older CP stuff is decent, better than alot of the new Aspire stuff. I had a CP Timbale for a while that was actually made out of steel not chromed aluminum and had the Tito Puente style tuning as opposed to the key tuned Aspire. The hardware was nearly as strong as the Puente models, but it sounded great.

[GuruPimpi]

I had bongos and man.... Hardware weak (black - now I know from where those creeps are coming), they were good for first month and then when I heard matador bongos, what a difference...

Since then, I'm not interested in those series, rather used pro ones. Although Matador Congas sound and look fine for me.

P

[Charangaman]

Yeah I think Matador is a good starting point for Congas or Bongo..

[bongoron]

Hello everyone! I have been very busy at work, but am around a little...I have some experience with beginner and intermediate level drums. My beginner set is a schalloch three drum set in 10, 11, and 12 inch sizes. The sound is very pure and crisp, although there is a lack of real estate on the 10 inch drum for some large handed folks, I suspect. I also have sonor champion congas in 11, 11 3/4 and 12 1/2 sizes. The sound differences are very noticeable except when miked. I use the sonor 11 3/4 conga in a live acoustic set with two guitarists every week unmiked and I believe the schallochs would not be as loud. I have not changed heads on either set. The schallochs I've had for 3 years, and the sonors for one. Size-wise, I have to agree the options for upgrade, learning the sounds, and possible resale are much greater with standard sizes. I needed a second set to minimize my moving the drums around so much since I play in two bands and play the acoustic set too. I started on the smaller sizes and use them in our practice studio now. The standard set is my primary performance set now. Hope that helps.

God bless!

-Ron

[chris hansen]

Anyone has a Cosmic Percussion by LP bongos? Geeez, what a crap!

It seems like the used drums I do find are priced kind of high. A local store has a set of Cosmic Persuccion congas, same size as Aspires, that look pretty beat up for $200. There's one at another place that I wouldn't mind cleaning up and putting a new head and see and see what happens but I don't really want to pay $125 for an old, beat up, moderate quality drum that needs work.

[deadhead]

Chris, try to find an individual seller as opposed to a store when buying used equipment. From my experience retail stores tend to want to charge way too much for used stuff. I was able to find a local seller with 3 LP Classics for $485. Thats less than half the price of new drums and they were close to perfect condition. I also sold a flawless pair of Toca Players Fiberglass congas with a stand for $100 locally, so look in your local classifieds, or place an add. www.craigslist.org is this best place to find used equipment locally.

[Isaac]

The metal quality on the lower budget congas has been
gradually deteriorating. The chrome finish is a nice way
to cover up what may be soft & brittle nickel or the lowest
grade of steel. Quality steel prices are steadily rising, so in order
to cut costs there may be a move to softer metal. This
can lower the "torque" and strength of the instrument.
If you know this going in , it may be OK if you plan to use
this conga as a beginner or student drum and don't
expect it to project loudly or last more than a few years.
The saying " You get what you pay for" is still true.
I also want to recommend getting the real sizes
of conga & tumba. Getting two Quintos and a stand deal
is not the correct move for a beginner, and this is what
the retailers push. If budget is a concern, start with
one good quality drum, and add the 2nd drum later.
We've covered this in older threads also.

~ ISAAC

[chris hansen]

If budget is a concern, start with
one good quality drum, and add the 2nd drum later

I've considered this approach. I was concerned that something might change by the time I got the second one and they won't match but I guess there's no reason they really have to.

[Isaac]

I seen Matadors with custom mounted heads in
the studio during a Tito Puente recording session
I was once invited to. If it was good enough for the KING'S
ears then that should tell us something.

~ ISAAC

[Jongo]

If it was me I would start with a Matador conga new or used in good condition. Used will save you some money. When you are ready you can add a Matador tumba. Play those until the heads wear out and then replace them with some good quality heads. By the time you are ready to replace them you will have really worked on your technique and you will hear the difference with the new heads. If you buy cheap congas you will end up replacing them and it did not save you any money in the long run.

[chris hansen]

I feel like I should explain to people what my concerns are and where I'm coming from.

My biggest concern is my ears. I did buy a set of full size congas and, during that time, my ears were bothering me and my tinnitus was getting worse so I ended up returning them. I figured that the longer I wait the harder it would be to return them and I didn't want to end up with $350 worth of drums sitting around that I couldn't use.

That's one reason I became interested in conga-cajons. I thought that if I could put together something I could play that wasn't too loud than I could still have something I could practice on.

Lately my ears haven't been bothering me the way they were, even when I play my doumbek which has a very high pitch. Maybe it was the sinus infection I had or just a phase I was going through but I'm starting to think I was overly paranoid.

I am still reluctant to go out and buy another set in case the same thing happens again but I was thinking that if a smaller set wasn't as loud and doesn't project as well maybe it could be the difference between being able to play in comfort or not.

If I can find a used set for pretty cheap then even better because there's less financial risk if my ears start to bother me again or if I lose interest in a year. Not that I intend to lose interest in a year, I'm very excited about it right now, but things like that happen on occasion.

[zwar]

ho chris

its a good thing to buy some earprotection device. you will get it in every good musicstore. i do never play timbales without protection. once your ears are damaged, the game is over.

greetz

zwar