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I think I am gonna buy a set of 4 Giovanni Palladium series. They seem to be the best thing on the market right now. I have been looking for a while and this set is made of ash wood, so the sound will be rich but still cutting, and it looks a little like the old Gon Bops (with the bands). It is a big set, with the tumba at 14" and the quinto at 11 3/4". I haven't had the chance to play them in person, but they sound great on recrded tracks from LP. If anyone has any feedback it would be greatly appeciated. Especially if you have personally played the drums.
Otherwise, just tell me what YOU think the best congas are, and why. I'd like to keep it to congas that are in production or are available now. Who knows, maybe you will change my mind. :)
Otherwise, just tell me what YOU think the best congas are, and why. I'd like to keep it to congas that are in production or are available now. Who knows, maybe you will change my mind. :)
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Colorado
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Thu, January 6, 2005 - 10:34 PMyes the Giovanni congas are always top of the line. Take a look at meinl too they have some interesting stuff out there and the prices are competetive. But you know how it is....its all about whats right for you and your style. Peace and good luck!
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Fri, January 14, 2005 - 10:24 AMYo Dusty!
I have the original Giovanni series and I do love them. I had LP classics before that and they were very good too. Before that I had tocas, and other brands and frankly I thought the sucked compared to what LP offers. There are other great brands out there that meet or exceed LP too. I've seen some great Bauer congas and I play a set of Timbas in a Cumbia group that I play with and they are very sweet too.
Good luck and enjoy!
-John
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Wed, January 26, 2005 - 11:22 AMI just heard that Akbar, the maker of Sol percussions is designing a new line of cuban style drums for LP. This very good news!!!!!!
I think its all personal preference. LP's are too wide for me, as I am short. I love the old valjes and gon bops, but the cuba style, my favorite is often too tall for me. I haven't yet found my favorite brand. I'll play anything, cause it is often the player not the drum -
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Wed, January 26, 2005 - 6:00 PMI've got his Mahogany Classics and love them!!
Went to his shop last summer, and he spent over an hour giving me a tour and showing off his whole process and some of his latest stuff.
He's making Gon Bop shells for for some company - there were what looked like 50-100 different sized shells from Bongos to Tumbas all in that customary Gon Bop shape.
Not sure who's in charge of it all, but you be assured that if Akbar's making them, then they'll play!
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Wed, January 26, 2005 - 1:19 PMWhen i was in Cuba I saw a guy making congas and Bata drums out of a single piece of wood! It was awesome seeing the freshly shaped drums, clean sanded and styled, sitting in the sun waiting for their lugs and paint. In Colombia I also saw drums made out of Ceiba and Guayacan wood. It must be awesome to be able to make the drum that you will play. I know its a little off topic but i just wanted to share some drum talk with you guys. :) -
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Wed, January 26, 2005 - 6:02 PMThat's extremely cool!
Did you play any of them!? I bet they're great!
>When i was in Cuba I saw a guy making congas and Bata drums out of a single piece of wood! -
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Wed, January 26, 2005 - 8:38 PMI only got to play Boku drums and Batá that were made that way. It was really cool. I learned how to play a basic rhythm for Obatala on each of the three Batá and then how to play it an all three drums at the same time. It was one of the happiest learning moments in my life. :)
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Unsu...
Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Thu, February 17, 2005 - 11:45 PMThe best congas out there, hands down, are handmade: Timba, Sol, Skin on Skin, and a few other old-fashioned drum makers.
I sell Timba drums on my website, so I am biased in favor of them, but really once you play a nice set of drums handmade by a real artisan, you will never go back to that crap from LP. LP drums are made in a factory in Thailand, their quality control is poor, and they sold out to Kaman, which is a giant war-profiteering corporation that manufactures military helicopters and parts for bombs and missiles.
If you have the kind of bread to shell out for LP's top of the line Giovannis, go ahead and take the next step and get some drums with real flavor to them, something with character and integrity, and support an independant smaller artisan.
If you'd like to check out the Timbas, visit:
www.timbapercussion.com and
www.bongomania.com/timba.html
And of course check out www.soldrums.com for the Sol congas. Unfortunately Skin on Skin and a lot of the other smaller makers don't have websites, but their phone numbers are available on the web.
Hope this helps! -
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Fri, February 18, 2005 - 5:34 AMThere's also Joe Platz www.platzpercussion.com/index.htm
making stringed congas hand made.
We just played Eric's set last night and they sure lit up the room with beautiful tones!
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Mon, February 21, 2005 - 6:37 AMI would take exception to calling LP congas crap. I wouldn't argue that they are in the same class as Timbas, Sols or other high end lines in that catagorey but to call LP congas crap I think is a little unfair. I play the Hidalgo model. They are nice drums and when I compare the prices to what I see listed on web sites, the Hidalgos are less expensive. I paid between $300 and $400 per drum. New, sealed in the box. A friend of mine (a very well known conguero from Havana) played my drums many times and commented many times about how good they sound.
Regarding the parent ownership of LP... I wasn't aware of Kaman being a "giant war-profiteering corporation that manufactures military helicopters and parts for bombs and missiles" company. This is a troubling thing. Can you post references to information about this so I could learn more about it? The google searches I've tried haven't returned anything useful on this.
Thank you. -
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Mon, February 21, 2005 - 9:39 AMYeah, it's all a matter of opinion when you go saying something sounds better than something else.
I used to take on the attitude - from one of my friends who's opinions I valued - that it had to be Mahogany to sound best.
Later, I came to understand that Mahogany gives a mellow tone that isn't as sharp and loud as Oak, and it might get swallowed up if you're playing on stage.
I also sided with the opinion that it had to be natural skin to sound right,, and that synthetic just wouldn't do..
Later, I realized after playing it, that synthetic can produce great sound in a band setting, where a sharper crack on a slap cuts through a big noisy party scene.
So, it definitely depends on what music you're playing, what instruments you play with, and the setting ie. stage, drums & singing, isolated instrument recording, etc.
Some of my favorite drums are now my friend's old LP's with thick heads. They definitely thunder the planet, and that's at least sometimes a good thing!
Dave
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Unsu...
Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Mon, February 21, 2005 - 11:53 AMwww.kaman.com
www.kamanaero.com
www.kamanmusic.com
The first is an overview of their corporate areas of business. The second is a promotion of their aerospace and military business. The third is a promotion of the instrument brands they own.
I have a book called "The history of the Ovation guitar", published by Kaman, in which they explain that they got started as a military-industry company, and only turned to making guitars as a hedge against slower sales during peacetime. The Ovation line was successful, so they started buying other instrument brands.
As far as my opinion about their quality, I compare them against not only handmade brands, but against Meinl, whose quality control (especially of heads) is much higher even at middle-tier price ranges. And LP's middle-tier drums are (IMO) poorly made.
But mainly I called them crap because of the political stuff, not because they are somehow unmusical. It's an important distinction, and I should have been clearer. -
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Tue, February 22, 2005 - 5:22 AMI had no idea that Kaman was such a diverse corporate thing. Wow. Now my conscience tells me not to buy them. The war machine is using enough of my money anyway.
Now I just have to find another set with a 14" tumba. Time for some more e-mails.
Thanks for the info ;)
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Tue, February 22, 2005 - 6:49 AMCyrus, thanks very much for this information. I had no idea and I'm usually pretty aware of something like this. I wouldn't have thought that a company that is involved with music instruments would also be involved in military supply production.
Thanks again for bringing this up here. It certainly changes how I feel about the owning company and any interest I once had in purchasing from them.
Cheers,
John -
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Thu, February 24, 2005 - 5:47 AMOK, you may want to flame me,, but I've had musings about our (human kind's) destruction of the planet since I was in grade school. Several years ago, I came to the conclusion that just by being alive in this society, we are contributing to the overt destruction in many many ways. If you drive a car, you haven't a leg to stand on - as far as arguing that you're doing anything to help out the world. Or, if you have kids - the adding of the sheer numbers to our society is helping to kill off other societies and mostly our world's precious dwindling speciation and resources.
If you eat packaged food, drink chlorinated water, use antibiotics, or do most anything we do,, then we're helping to destroy future as well as present lifeforms on earth.
Sure, you can recycle, make "good" choices - where you actually have them, etc.. But, nothing will affect it as much as if YOU WEREN'T HERE ALREADY.
Here's what I told myself in my musings years ago:
(The following isn't directed to any of you,,, it was an internal debate)
"So, if you really want to save the world you'll have to kill yourself."
I chose to live. But, knowing that I'm not helping - at least biologically anyone else.
It's selfish, but hey,,, we're alive right?
In the presidential elections, I voted for the other guy,, probably like most of you. But, if they control the machines that do the counting,, what the heck are we doing?
We all care about what happens around us,, but we use a computer... What are you gonna do?
Become an ascetic?
Go to war against the war machine?
Think that would help?
Go the mountain and find a cave? Meditate the rest of your life?
So,
If you chose to live in the "crap" with the rest of us,, then....
Is it so bad to get the drums you want?
What about the fact that the wood in the drum comes from a tree somewhere, and what if they chopped it down for your drum? Isn't that as important as what the company does with it's investments?
What if your choice you make actually causes more damage to the world in ways that you aren't aware?
OK,,, rant over..
But, I say.... Get the good drums, and don't worry about the Corporate war machine. The fricken criminals are all of us, even the "good" guys. -
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Unsu...
Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Thu, February 24, 2005 - 9:42 AMDave,
This is not a flame, but I do disagree with you. I stand by the saying "nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something". Sure, we all impact the planet in a myriad of negative ways. It's unavoidable as Americans. But these impacts are cumulative, and it really does help overall if everyone who cares even a little bit does something to reduce their impact.
I think this is especially true when talking about negative person-to-person impact. Maybe my lifestyle unavoidably damages the planet, but does that mean I have a license to go out in the street and kill people randomly? No, obviously not. This is the standard I am applying to Kaman, and to Coca-Cola, and to other companies whose business ethics don't flinch at profiting from killing people.
I realize all drums come at a price, ethically speaking; it's just a question of what you are willing to pay. National defense may be necessary, but people should know when they buy a conga or a guitar if they are also paying for a land-mine trigger at the same time. -
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Thu, February 24, 2005 - 12:50 PMNow I'm confused. Why do you single out Americans in your statement below? I've been to many parts of the world and I think it's safe to say that Americans don't have exlusive responsibilty for what I think you're describing.
"It's unavoidable as Americans."
I live in a pretty PC part of the US. I have friends that live on organic farms and live off what they raise. They travel by bicycle almost exclusively. I wouldn't agree with them but they would challenge you on your "unavoidable as Americans" comment. -
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Thu, February 24, 2005 - 3:39 PMGood point Chu,, we really all aren't the same..
Though our society has got hell to pay for the large scale destruction and devastation,, not withstanding the new military occupation.
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Thu, February 24, 2005 - 3:37 PMI agree Cyrus,,
Being the Devil's advocate there..
BTW, Dusty knows me quite well as we are all the time talking about politics and how we like to make a difference where we can! Carry on!!!
Dave
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Sun, November 22, 2009 - 6:07 PMI agree with you about the custom drums being the best. I bought a Valje quinto drum years ago that was made by LP. The drum kept cracking. I kept taking it back and exchanged it for a new one, but the problem kept occurring. Rick Buscemi of Fat Congas told me that it was the type of wood from Thailand that LP used to make their drums that was causing the problem. I own a maple Fat Conga and everyone who has heard it fell in love with the sound. Now I am inquiring about a company in South Africa called Custom Congas. Has anyone heard of them? They say that they make their drums from authentic African wood and is carved from a single piece of wood. Also what do you think about Volcano Percussion and their Hawaiian mango drums? Peace.
Musically yours,
Seneferu
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Unsu...
Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Thu, February 24, 2005 - 6:15 PMChu wrote:
>Now I'm confused. Why do you single out Americans in your statement below? I've been to many parts of the world and I think it's safe to say that Americans don't have exlusive responsibilty for what I think you're describing.
"It's unavoidable as Americans."
I live in a pretty PC part of the US. I have friends that live on organic farms and live off what they raise. They travel by bicycle almost exclusively. I wouldn't agree with them but they would challenge you on your "unavoidable as Americans" comment.
>
If you look at how many people in the USA actually don't own a motor vehicle, pay taxes, or use a credit card, and compare them against the number that DO, the first group is statistically insignificant. I applaud people who take those steps, but they have stepped far outside "normal" American culture. I was speaking in a broad cultural sense, insofar as it is widely acknowleged that the USA consumes over two thirds of the world's material and energy resources, while having only a tiny percentage of the population. Certainly there are exceptions to any generalized statement.
For what it's worth, I have always been a bicyclist and have never had a car. This has prevented me from playing gigs with congas. Anytime I brought congas I had to get a taxi, and even then a set of three won't fit in most taxis. So the choice to be a "Latin" percussionist here in San Francisco has essentially forced me to support car culture. Sure, I could get a really big-ass trailer for my bike, and ride it down Mission Street on a Saturday night to a gig, or I could move to some extra-PC rural area and haul the congas by horse, but the fact is most Americans have circumstances that involve them in the larger economic machine of the USA. Very few people have the luxury of choosing otherwise. -
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Sat, February 26, 2005 - 5:34 AMAll we can do is try to do the best we can in each situation we come to. The old saying comes to mind "lord grant me the strength to change the things I can.........". This is one of the things I can change. Easily.
I find that what Americans suffer from the most is apathy and unwillingness to change their ways even when presented with the facts. Once we find out what's up, we are responsible. We can either say we're going to hell in a handbasket, or you can at least stop pushing the basket. I choose to stop pushing the basket. It might be going to hell anyway, but if theres any way I can stop helping, I'm stopping. Unfortunately, it seems like we are all forced to help a little. We aren't left with many options these days in the battle to stay out of the war machine. I feel I have to take each option I can to make a statement if nothing else. I also plan on sending a big F.U. letter to Kaman and LP.
The more we resist, the more we get to piss off the elite in this country who are pushing us to war. And I call that a good thing. -
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Sun, November 23, 2008 - 9:35 PMI love my 35th anniversary Lp Matador sparkle congas with Remo fyberskin heads. 100% man made materials so I bet a lot of children's brain cells were damaged laying up the glass,sanding and finishing them. Nut i bought used so no one was hurt, no trees were cut down and no fuel spent to transport them. Best of all they look awesome and cut through the music like i need them to.
G
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Tue, November 24, 2009 - 5:24 PMThe fiberglass drums that LP make or made are their signature drums. The wood they use to make their drums are of a poor quality from Thailand. The Giovanni Galaxy congas are made from ash, but you are going to pay a pretty hefty price for them. So the fiberglass drums are cool, but I prefer the warmth, richness, and fullness of sound of a wood drum. Peace out,
musically yours,
Seneferu
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Wed, March 18, 2009 - 7:07 AMI see this discussion recently got bumped up after years of neglect ... I also notice that no one has mentioned Moperc congas unless I missed it. Mopercs are typically bought straight from the maker, Michel Ouellet. He has a good website showing his many hand-drum types and a sample price sheet you can download. Anyone stepping up into top of the line LP's might want to look into www.moperc.com. I'm not trying to get political with y'all, and surely no one can say what the best drum will be for someone else. But when you step into the price range of top of the line big maker drums, the options open into the handcrafted market. Once you have the money in hand ready to spend ... look around! Others already mentioned some other small makers. I've got a quinto and a segundo from the Moperc's Salsa Club Series line ... solid ash staves, extra beefy stainless steel hardware ... they're amazing. I love them over any big maker drums I've heard in music stores. I acknowledge that at home I've got the time to tune and consider in an environment very different than a store ... but that doesn't cover the difference. I think my Mopercs are just a lot nicer and musical than the best big makers offer. I've tried the Giovanni Palladiums ... and I'm not disrespecting them ... but my Mopercs are just magically musical.
Cheers
BMac
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Re: What's the "best" conga or set of congas
Tue, November 24, 2009 - 5:05 PMI think the best congas are the ones that are not production models. If you want something that comes close to the old Gon Bops, you need to check out Timba Percussion. Mel bought the old tooling machines and hired alot of the craftspeople who worked for Gon Bops. You can even find some old Gon Bops in some second-hand shops. Personally, I like the old Fat Congas, but Rick Buscemi, the founder and sole craftsman is no longer making these drums. Right now I am checking out Volcano Percussion, which are made in Hawaii,and Custom Congas which are made in South Africa. The South African drums are made from a single piece of wood and in the old African fashion and tradition. If you going to spend alot of money on Giovannis, you might as well check out these companies. Good luck. Peace Out,
Musically yours,
Seneferu
