Feeling a bit lost: which should I choose? - Lots of questions from a beginner

[Alan Friesen]

First off, I was very glad to find this forum. I've been scouring the Internet for information and have just not had a lot of luck. bongomania is one site that has been very useful, but I do have some more questions that I thought I'd ask here, if you don't mind. I'm currently teaching English in South Korea, and while I was here I picked up a set of LP Aspire bongos. I've been using them for about a year and am selling them rather than bringing them back with me to save on luggage space. I'll need a new pair when I get back to Canada, so I'm in the research phase.

I'd prefer wood over fibreglass as I don't use a stand and would prefer a set that's as light as possible. I feel like I'm still starting out, but I'd like to invest a bit more money and get a set that will last me for a while. I'm likely looking at $200 USD tops - I'm not sure that I can justify any more at the moment. I'll likely be using the set three or four times a week to practice (20-30 minutes each). These are the options I'm looking at:

-Pearl Folkloric - about $200
-Pearl Elite/Primero pro - $179/115
-LP Matador - $125

What I haven't been able to discover is the difference between the cheaper Matador/Primero Pro and the more expensive Elite model. I plain haven't found *anything* on the Folkloric except for a few comments on this site that they're lighter and sound good. What are the key differences between these models? Are there any others in my price range that I should be looking at? As durability is important to me, have I been too quick in dismissing fibreglass bongos? How heavy are each of these sets?

Finally, are there any other Internet resources I should know about? Where else can I find info on makes and models of bongos? I'd love to be able to go to a store and try some out, but I'd like to arrive with some answers before I do so. Thanks very much!

[burke]

Hey Alan (fellow Canadian),

My two cents worth ... this comes up alot on the forum - I've been hangin out here for a couple years and watching the many opinions flow. I too had some crappy "aspire' (called thus be cause one soon 'aspires' to own better equipment and wanted better. I ultimately decided that Matadors were the best bang for buck that would move you too the medium/barely pro level. Also easiest to get round these parts. Put a set of mule skins on em and you probabily have a preety nice set.

Before that could happen I accedently bought a set of Gon Bops on Ebay and totally lucked out on price and the great guy who sold them to me.

There will be other opinions - all perfectly valid, most better informed than mine.

[burke]

Really must learn to read!

You were talking about Bongos!

However - I'd still say the same thing (including the mule skin part).

[Mike]

Hi Alan,

due to a lack of further experience I always say the same when it comes to bongos:

I own the AFRO Elite ones (the predecessor of PEARL Elite, if you want - it´s looks pretty much like exactly the same, if you ask me) and they are -WOW..

I mean with the original skins on them, the Afro sound great, fat sound on the hembra, which is vital and a nice ´n´crispy, slappable macho. (I´m going to change the head for a synthetic REMO one, but only because the old one is worn out.)

But on the other hand, you won´t ever hear many negative things about Matador products, they are built in a very solid way, it´s only that the heads sometimes need replacement, especially with bongos.

Hope this helps

Mike

[twinsbongo]

hi from twinsbongo:
i do not know what is is but those afro, aspire, pearl elite, etc. for some reason they just do not sound good.you can not get the crispy sound on them. i will recomend you to go with an economical way. matador or generationII LP BONGOS WITH JCR SKIN HEADS ON IT. will be a perfect deal for you. try ebay on the genII
good luck
julio rodriguez
dallas tx

[Alan Friesen]

Thanks for the opinions! One of the reasons I've been looking at the Folkloric is because they're supposed to be great out of the box. I'll likely be able to try out the other sets in-store, but the Folkloric set is a bit less common. Has anybody used them who can comment on them in particular?

[Mike]

Hi twinsbongo!

Oops I didn´t know why the AFROs should be that bad. I get along with ´em quite well,
Maybe the Elite series by Pearl does not have the same level of quality as the Afro Elite? ???

But then, I´m not really an expert and I don´t have much to compare to as I focus mainly on congas...

So Alan, what I´m suggesting anyway is to check out and play various bongos in a good music store. It´s not only a matter of quality, but of taste as well what you should buy.

[Jure]

Hello Alan

I had a set of Lp Aspire and soon after that i sold them. I was choosing between Lp Matador,Pearl, and Meinl. I bought Meinls Fwb400. For me they looked and sounded the best and the price was same as LP and Pearls,....

But i think the most important is the skin so you can buy some middle class bongo(or even used one) and put some quality skin on ( example remo syntetic or nuskyn or one of the natural ones,...)

Hope that helps,....

Just do the best because you wont have those bongos for a year or two,...!?


J

p.s.: a quality bongos are never light ones at least i did not saw or try them (compare to LP Aspire)

[Raymond]

The Pearl Folcloric bongos are the best bongos of any manufacturers "out of the box." I own a set and they are great. ( I have two more sets of bongos from Pearl and had to do "improvements" specifically with the heads).

What makes them so special is that their heads are not the regular heads from Thailand. They are Venezuelan heads which are thicker and "broken in" more than your regular heads from manufacturers. No need to change the heads and they are ready to play. Pearl is seeking for a more traditional sound trying to appeal to the Latin American player. (The same is true with the congas).

In regards to other features, they have traditional rims, inside the drums there is a thin fiberglass lining to help in the projection of sound, and different to the other Elite bongos, they are actually 7 and 8 1/2 versus the 7 and 9 of other Elite Bongos.

The folcloric bongos are the only bongos I have purchased, and I have purchased over 7 sets of bongos, that I have not changed the heads once I got them out of the box. Have to admit that I busted the macho head for leaving them tuned once. The hembra original is still there..... (The macho head from the factory is a great head. Very crisp and great sound).

I believe they are worth every penny! Saludos!



Edited By Raymond on 1178286986

[Alan Friesen]

Hmm... some good information here. Once I get back to Canada I'll check out a few stores and see what I can get my hands on. I'd prefer the traditional rims over the comfort rims, which is also why I was looking at the Folkloric. I emailed Tom Lee in Vancouver, and they said that it would cost the same for the Folkloric set (retail $329) as for the LP Matadors (retail $219) - the Folkloric is on sale for $200 CAD, and the Matadors are reguarly $200 CAD. Anyway, we'll see what we see when I'm back in Canada. Thanks again!

[zwar]

ho alan

i played the folkloric bongos on frankfurt musikmesse. found them good and worth the money. the matching congas did not convince me. they do not project loud enough for stage. i love thick heads, but those were somehow uneasy to play on. disappointing, had expected a lot more. but as i said before the bongos were all right.

greetings

zwar

[Mike]

hi zwar,
have you ever "found" (I mean seen or played) some gon bop bongos in germany? seems las if they are really one of the top of the shelf-drums..
But it´s only hearsay, I´m just curious (as always).

Anyway, you always seem to be well-informed. Frankfurt Messe is within reach for you as well, that´s cool.

[zwar]

ho mike

they had gonbops/dw bongos on ffm musikmesse, alex acuna series and cal series. good and solid things, but not as outstanding in quality and tone as the congas. as far as i know there is none of the big musikstores with any gonbops products in selection, so it will come out difficult to test them other then during musikmesse.

zwar

[Mike]

Thanks again, zwar,

it´s not easy to be able even to see those instrumente if you live in the province like me...

but anyway, my budget is ...... low at the moment, I was just curious.

Nice to have your input again!

[alabubba]

I recently bought a pair of the Gon Bops Tumbao Pro series bongos for one of my sons; I am well pleased with them and consider them a professional grade instrument, although their price point was mid-grade (I paid about $130 for them). Surely when the skins are replaced sometime down the road with mule, they will lack nothing.

Nice light shells, nice finish, nice skins, excellent hardware.

Upon tuning them up, they sounded great with nothing undesirable in the sound (no ringing, overtones, etc.).

I did have to wait about 2 1/2 months after I ordered them for them to arrive, but they are well worth the wait.