Help me buy a conga set, please...

[boze]

I'm looking at a low, middle and high end option.

For the low end I'm looking at the aspire series 10" and 11" (maybe even shopping on ebay, where they have buy-it-now auctions for like $210)

Here's the middle priced option in a craigslist ad:

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CP Wood Congas for Sale- Like New!

10" and 11" oak congas with chrome hardware and double stand. Quality hardware and curved rims offer precise head tuning and easy-on-the-hands play.

They provide great value at affordable prices and are crafted from kiln dried, environmentally friendly Siam Oak. They stand 28" tall. They also include 9/32" diameter tuning lugs and natural rawhide tucked heads.

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Lastly, I'm really tempted by this deal at musiciansfriend.com- their performer series for $420 with the larger quinto and conga and a free tumba as well. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...8083810/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/441049/

but then I'd have to get a double stand and basket separately because I can't afford the triple stand.

SO, my questions are:
Are CP congas better than aspire? (i'd have to have them shipped so the most i'll get of those is a picture- the ad says 'get the quality of matador' but i've also seen cheap fiberglass LP's that say CP on the label so I'm confused on this)

also, are the LP Performer series a quality set or a good value at that price? (seems good to me and I don't mind working around the stand purchase if I'll get a better quality instrument)

I'm just starting out but I hope to keep these congas forever rather than upgrade and tumbas alone cost as much as the other two sets.

you can tell i want the performer set- i'm just not educated enough to know if it's the right call.

Thanks!

 

[boze]

=)

okay, so i didn't give you very long to help out.

i ended up getting what i thought was a nice deal at guitarcenter:
the LP Performer series with the three drums- 11" quinto, 11 3/4" conga, and 12 1/2" tumba.

i had initially struck a deal for the three drums and a double stand for $500 after tax, but after i paid they couldn't find any in the dark finish like we'd agreed on.

ultimately i had to go with the natural finish but i negotiated to get the LP triple stand instead of the double stand as a way to compensate me for the getting the wrong finish and waiting around for an hour while we tried to find the dark wood at another store. i was happy with this deal because that stand goes for $175 and wasn't much cheaper on ebay. it's a pretty top-notch stand except that the drums end up in a circlular layout instead of lined up.

anyway, i'm psched and and i'm all tuned up (near as I can tell) and trying to learn how to get a decent slap sound.

i'm now requesting educational videos in a separate thread just to see what folks recommend. might try to take some lessons locally (washington dc) as well.

thanks anyway and happy holidays everybody!

 

[maskedman72]

nobody ever thinks to do this but it has worked for me. at my local library they have some conga instructional videos you can check out for zero dollars. and you know dam well you can copy them.

 

[boze]

yeah, i think i saw your recommendation in another thread when i searched for 'conga' before my post.

but i searched at the online thingy for my local library and it didn't turn up anything.

i also don't have a vcr- just dvd on my computer so....

i ended up getting a giovanni hidalgo dvd on ebay. it's not beginner enough i don't think but if he even takes the time to show basic technique for the three tones then the rest will be gravy and i can try to learn his sicker stuff when i'm ready.

thanks, and happy holidays!