Congas or "Mini" Congas??

[Masterjazz]

Hi all
Im new to this site and this my first post.

I play percussion in a funk/acid jazz type band. I have bongos, shakers, cowbells, chimes and all sorts of stuff like that. I'm now thinking abot getting a set of congas. Ive never had any percussion lessons (although I do play drums) and I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts about which I'd be better of getting, full sized or the small kinda half sized congas?

The reason i want congas is there is their wider variety of tones u can get from them compared with say bongos, Do congas and mini congas play the same? and do they sound similar enough?( I will be gigging alot with this band so size may be a factor in my decision)

And finally do u think I would need lessons to learn the basic techniques, tones of the Conga?

If there's any percussionists out there I'd be truely grateful to hear what you think, and any advise will is welcomed

 

[mikeh]

I traded some entry level CP conga's for Toca mini Conga's which gave me a sharper attack than the CP's but no meat in the low end, so I traded the mini conga's for full size Toca's.

Like anything you need to trust your ears, but I regretted getting the mini's (they were lighter to haul around, but the fullness of tone just was not there).

 

[NRHarris]

I believe that you are talking about the "junior" congas. I have several sets of congas and also the Meinl version of the LP junior congas. The junior conga sound is entirely different than full-sized congas. I use them both, but for different things. Unless you are planning on playing a specific genre of music that requires specific types of drums, I would recommend listening to both and see which one meets your needs.

To my ear, the juniors have a greatly diminished attack but a higher deep end as compared to the congas, and they sound more similar to some African tribal drums... at least that 's what the guy I play with says (he's from Toga - he says they sound like what he calls "talking drums")