Help Me Decide Between These Two Sets

[umannyt]

Hi Lisa,

Welcome to our CongaForum!

I know how you feel, I think. No wonder the Matador Custom Wood wasn't available on Musician's Friend and other big internet music stores.

But, I agree, this might be a blessing a disguise.

You can definitely look into vintage drums and pawn shops in your area. But, if I were you, I wouldn't hold my breath--unless you have lots of patience, not picky about the color, condition, set matching, etc.

Given what I sense is your budget, I still highly recommend the Gon Bops Tumbao Pro--brandnew. IMO, it has the best hardware in its price range (even most congas above its price range) and, with a starting price of about $230, it's about a $100 lower than the price of the Matador.

I own a set of 4 Gon Bops California Series (top-of-the-line) congas (priced at about $1,000 each) and their hardware is identical to that of the Tumbao Pro. Even the design of the latest hardware of the exotic handcrafted Volcano congas (http://www.volcanopercussion.com/), also priced at about $1,000 each, seems to have been influenced by Gon Bops.

Best of luck in your search,

[congamyk]

Musicians Friend is a good place to browse and learn while investigating new congas.
They have several good deals, some with free shipping that would be great for someone.


Latin Percussion Classic II 3-Piece Conga Set with Bongos $699
http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/Latin-Percussion-Classic-II-3Piece-Conga-Set-with-Bongos?sku=491026




Meinl Luis Conte 3-Piece Conga Set with Free Basket Stands $750
http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/Meinl-Luis-Conte-3-Piece-Conga-Set-with-Free-Basket-Stands?sku=445855




Meinl Luis Conte 2-Piece Conga Set with FREE Basket Stands $490
http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/Meinl-Luis-Conte-2-Piece-Conga-Set-with-Free-Basket-Stands?sku=445856




Latin Percussion Matador Custom Accent Conga Set $600
http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/LP-Matador-Custom-Accent-Conga-Set?sku=489715




Toca Elite Pro Fiberglass Congas with Stand $439
http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/Toca-Elite-Pro-Fiberglass-Congas-with-Stand?sku=500254

[mydogsowner]

I located the closet Gon Bops Dealer to me from their website. It's 3 hours away! I may make an adventure of it anyhow, just to check out the congas, esp now with gas prices so good!

There is a Matador set on ebay right now. One of the splines has a crack though that goes through. Is this a big deal?
http://cgi.ebay.com/LP-MATADOR-AUTHENTI ... 240%3A1308

[Mike]

There is a Matador set on ebay right now. One of the splines has a crack though that goes through. Is this a big deal?
http://cgi.ebay.com/LP-MATADOR-AUTHENTI ... 240%3A1308

Hi Lisa and welcome again!

Yes, this kind of Matador is definitely worth the buck, them ol´skool looking and sounding matadors, decent traditional hardware.

My two thumbs up for this set. A crack like that can easily be mended. There is surely plenty of help on this forum,

especially for a conga lady like you

Seriously, try to grab those tubs!

EDIT: ON a second look, I saw they are 10+11" sizes - well not the traditional measures, but theyre still OK.

Regards
Mike

[doctor bloor]

If you're interested in the Matadors, you should probably browse through completed auctions and craigslist listings to get a sense of the price of a used set, and then subtract the estimated time/money repair cost from your maximum bid. It looks like the sizes were approximated--does LP even make the Matadors in those dimensions? Probably a quinto/conga pair.

If you're going to make a road trip for the Gon Bops, definitely call ahead to see what they have in stock. I live in the northeast, where dealers are pretty scarce, and for whatever reason the places I've run across never seem to have them on the floor.

Good luck!

[umannyt]

I located the closet Gon Bops Dealer to me from their website. It's 3 hours away! I may make an adventure of it anyhow, just to check out the congas, esp now with gas prices so good!

Lisa,

You also have the option of buying the Gon Bops Tumbao Pros out-of-state (and avoid paying sales tax as well as saving yourself a 3-hour one-way or 6-hour two-way trip to your nearest Gon Bops dealer) from the following websites:

Casio Interstate Music:
http://www.interstatemusic.com/webapp/w ... &langId=-1

Instrument Pro:
http://www.instrumentpro.com/P-GONGBT10 ... ce=froogle

West Coast Drum Center:
http://www.westcoastdrums.com/gonbotuprose.html
Note: Basket stands come with price

Shipping should be free.

I've had excellent experience with Casio Interstate Music.

And if you place your order by phone instead of online, you may even get further discount than their posted already-discounted prices. Look for Jeremiah, if he's still there. He's given me extra discount about 99% of the time!

Personally, I won't have any qualms about buying the Gon Bops Tumbao Pros now, from any of the above websites. I mean you were willing, originally, to buy the LP Matador Custom Woods from Drum Works in California without first actually having seen, touched and played them. So, obviously, I don't see how buying the Gon Bops now and trying them out later would be any different--riskwise.

Besides, you can always return them later, if you end up not liking them. The cost of return shipping them will be offset by the gas savings, car wear/tear, time and energy you'll save by not having to visit your nearest dealer. Besides, I doubt if you'll want to return the Gon Bops Tumbao Pros.

Again, best of luck,

[Sakuntu]

If youre ever up in the Upsate NY region, I got a buddy selling 3 old school Matadors with matching matador bongos and cases for 500$! great deal. He keeps good care of his gear too! If I played more, and didn't already have 6 Congas, i would totally buy these!

http://rochester.craigslist.org/msg/910938219.html

[umannyt]

Lisa,

Btw, there's a 2-page earlier thread here in our CongaForum specifically about the Gon Bops Tumba Pros that you might be interested in reading (complete with pictures):

New Gon Bops Tumbao Pros
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4056&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=gon+bops+tumbao+pro

[umannyt]

If youre ever up in the Upsate NY region, I got a buddy selling 3 old school Matadors with matching matador bongos and cases for 500$! great deal. He keeps good care of his gear too! If I played more, and didn't already have 6 Congas, i would totally buy these!

http://rochester.craigslist.org/msg/910938219.html

Sakuntu,

Not a bad deal!

[congamyk]

If youre ever up in the Upsate NY region, I got a buddy selling 3 old school Matadors with matching matador bongos and cases for 500$! great deal. He keeps good care of his gear too! If I played more, and didn't already have 6 Congas, i would totally buy these!
http://rochester.craigslist.org/msg/910938219.html

What a fantastic deal! Someone should jump on these.

[mydogsowner]

I agree! I emailed asking if he would ship them to me. I wish they were for sale locally here in the Midwest! He hasn't responded yet.....

Someone's going to get a smokin' deal!

I went to The Guitar Center today to check out their models. They don't carry the Matadors anymore there. The sales clerk said they basically replaced them with the Performer Series as far as their display pieces.

They did however have a few Djembes that really impressed me. They were from Africa, imported by Overseas Connection. I am not sure what wood they were made from. I have two Djembes here. My first a Remo 14" and my other an Ivory Coast Djembe made from Iroko wood. I have to say I strategically placed some Moongel on the Remo "skin" and it did the drum a world of good.

I really love playing my Djembes, but find the Congas calling my name now! LOL! I can't ever seem to get away from them whenever I am near one.

[Mike]

I went to The Guitar Center today to check out their models. They don't carry the Matadors anymore there. The sales clerk said they basically replaced them with the Performer Series as far as their display pieces.


I really love playing my Djembes, but find the Congas calling my name now! LOL! I can't ever seem to get away from them whenever I am near one.

As to your first statement: Its a shame that the Guitar does not carry them anymore! Matadors are really a better league than the Performer series by far!

as to 2nd: Hey, you call that love at first sight!

http://rochester.craigslist.org/msg/910938219.html -> Awesome set = something to get!

[JimG]

MDO / Lisa

Welcome.

2cents... Better call first to see if they have a set of Gon Bops available on the floor before making the trip. As a fellow Midwesterner, there aren't alot of Gon Bops out here.

On Ebay, today, a pair of Gon Bops Tumbao Pro 10.75 and 11.5, each for $219. $438 TOTAL all in. Red or Tobacco Burst. IMO, you will not find a better set of drums for that price. No stands, however. I recently played this set right next to a set of Classics. I would walk away with the Gon Bops 8 days a week, and at $200 less. Let it be known, I am partial to Gon Bops over Latin Percussion. The Tumbao Pro drums have water buffalo heads, but project a good tone, tight slap and there is less ringing than the Classics, IMO. The skins may have came off the same animal, but they felt less like wax paper.

These are coming from Rhythm Traders and they have the price on their website as well. There's a picture of a wall of these drums, so it looks like Gon Bops are clearing em out! Wonder what that means...??

Good luck!
Cheers
Jim

[Sakuntu]

The overseas Djembes at GC are made by Kangaba from mali

www.kangaba.com

The shells are good (made of traditional hardwoods). The rope is not the best but that can be changed. I got one that works pretty good. Ok, I'm done thread jacking!

[mydogsowner]

I made about 6 phone calls to Gon Bops Dealers who also carry LP. Five out of six would choose the Tumbao's over the Matador's. Cited reasons were the same as posted here: construction quality, hardware, and rims. Only negatives were the head sizes for skin replacements, and the fact that the drums are not "tradtionally" sized themselves.

I am seriously considering these now: This is the best price I can find too.
http://www.latinrhythmtraders.com/html/gonbops.html
They are discontinued colors, so they are very inexpensive. I think someone already mentioned this deal in another post.

I am a fickle Gal I guess? I will post when I actually purchase! I am still agonizing over the perfect set for me!