Cheap vs Expensive Congas

Just a comparison video between some "beginner congas" which are pretty affordable when it comes to conga purchasing.... and one of the most expensive mass produced congas on the market today... which I own smh... I'll explain one day...
If you don't feel like hearing me talk, just skip to 4:00 and you'll hear the comparison for yourself.
I hope you can enjoy.
Austin Rojas Channel- / themraustin489
LP Aspires- amzn.to/2CYFNUq
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[@Meinl_Percussion_Official]

Thanks for featuring our Headliner Congas in this video. Keep up the good work.

[@hernanarieldiaz7208]

Este muchacho se merece unas buenas congas

[@jacklallapoopestfan99lalld96]

MEINL Percussion xxxx

[@jeffdiala17]

Bro you are bad ass

[@sethpettman5491]

Also as a side note you're totally boss level on the congas! Hope I can be this good one day!

[@gunnarwaage4343]

Chingon !!!

[@michaellavin8599]

Dang, man. You are real ripper. Nice work. The craft needs dudes like you putting videos out there like this one. I appreciate your dedication, contributions and diligence. You are a true craftsman, hence a rarity. Thanks for the direction

[@Eurodrummer666]

On the LP one, the lower conga is distording a bit. But yeah, they all song good. What´s important is the player and the tuning.

[@totoroutes5389]

Within budget get the most solid build congas. The part of the conga that makes the biggest difference is the head. Change the head to natural steer, or premium cowskin, and the sound would be awesome. Check out the skins at ManitoPercussion and at Moperc.

[@davidecorazza7856]

You made both sound amazing! The cheaper ones actually have a great fundamental tone, especially in the hands of a great player such as yourself. Although the slap sound on the Giovanni’s are so crisp.... and once I hear that immediacy in the tone, there’s no going back haha. Great playing. Love your channel! 💪🏆

[@APercussionLife]

Davide Corazza thanks Davide! Really appreciate your input

[@chuckhubbard8435]

I’m a guitar /piano/bass/ukulele/& newly conga player, I really enjoy your videos & have learned a lot . I find your videos informative & entertaining. Keep up the good work!

[@michaeljamesca]

I just stumbled on this video. I played many decades ago and am thinking about getting back into congas so I stumbled across this video. YOU SOUND INCREDIBLE. Thanks.

[@sharmatime]

They all sound terrific. I think you could make trash cans with plastic bags on top sound great! It is the player amigo.

[@APercussionLife]

sharmatime haha thank you!

[@joeyv4362]

To a certain extent

[@oshitomaha]

Sounds good, but the expensive ones sound 3x better. Notice the dynamics!

[@Gk2003m]

If I could contribute here... yes it is the conguero. But it also requires well-tuned drums. My setup consists of four drums: a Meinl 10” quinto, an 11” CP (cheaper LP), and a set of LP Caliente 11” and 12”. The quinto and 12” tumba sounded very good, but the two 11” drums sounded just OK. There were too many mismatched overtones, and no solid fundamental. That is, until until I switched the heads (and rims) on the two 11” drums. Suddenly, my setup sounds GREAT. And it is because switching those heads allowed each of those drums to find their best natural voice. They each now have a beautiful fundamental tone, and the overtones ire harmonically balanced with the fundamentals. And those fundamentals happen to be a major chord between the four drums: I III V octave. My playing sounds much better, which inspires me to practice more.... it’s a great positive feedback loop. So you don’t have to spend big bucks on the drums. But ensuring you get heads that bring out the best in those drums might cost a few bucks.... but it’s worth it. From there, yeah it’s the player.

[@emilioconguero9811]

Apart from people that are sponsored this is like the only video of its kind very informative thank you much. you have proved its the player not the congas 👍 great playing

[@feoysabroso]

I love Meinl because the mid range cheap ones sound as good as more expensive brands, for people like me who are not 100% percussionists (I'm a guitarist) and like to touch to other instruments, Meinl is very good, very good quality for the price.

[@YaoEspirito]

I used to have a generic budget conga I bought in a pawn shop many years ago. Whenever I took it to the drum circle in my town, the Afro-Cuban drummers there often wanted to play it, coz it just sounded sweet! I'm a Matador guy all the way now.

[@pascal62]

Great video, thanks! I'd say the GH set is studio material, they sound "like on the record"... the cheaper ones are for the road. But they all sound great. Personally, I love to play cheap congas... that's the best way to test your chops.

[@SPAZZOID100]

They all sound great, and your playing is incredible. Flawless technique.

[@TheLateBoyScout]

Awesome demo!

[@Tex_I_Can]

Great to see you here!

[@brucecollis8609]

I find that steer or cow heads sound warmer. Less overtones. Just the sound I prefer. To further reduce overtones if that is your thing you can glue a piece of hollow foam ( like the foam used on hot water pipes.) on the inside of the drum shell ( takes some experimenting). Don't know how it works but it does. You can have the same effect on kit drums or probably any drum.

[@DrumandPianoDude]

I'm making the transition from the drum set to the hand drums, and this video has helped me a lot! Awesome playing, grooves, and composition!!

[@michaelhicks5150]

I have the LP Palladium Super Tumba. Love it! I’m saving up for the rest of the set.

[@reallife828]

I grew on the older Mark Cohen LP classics that a lot of the older salsa greats use to use. Both of these have a different vibe. Its all about what resonates in your heart n soul. Peace.

[@danc9504]

I bought a used set of 2 lp city series congas for $200 in excellent condition. I've played other hand drums for 5 years. But this is my first set of Congas. I think they sound great. I have a few sound demo rhythms posted I am mostly self-taught. But I have been learning from your videos. Thanks

[@vwrivera]

Nice video. Why don't you make a video about tuning the congas? No one has covered tuning 4 drums in a video and I like the way yours are tuned.

[@APercussionLife]

Thank you! Yeaaaa I'm eventually going to show how I tune.. A lot of people have been asking me about that. Thank you for your suggestion.

[@Jrenglehorn]

Yes! Looking forward to it

[@sethpettman5491]

I like the sound of the dark rimmed ones more but is it just in the tuning? Can't help but wonder if you tuned the others lower if they sound almost identical 🤔 Whats say you??

[@Fangsinurface]

Truth is they all sound great. Yes the tones are a dif but siam oak isn't really that bad at all and you can always change heads on the "cheaper" congas for some quality skins and get an even better sound. I've been playing for years and I have no problem using or recommending any of those. If budget is an issue then sure , get the less expensive one and make em sing and talk for you. Make em yours. If there's a little extra cash in the pocket get a top of the line mass produced or artisan drum. Either way you will make beautiful music with em. Never feel your drum isn't good enough just because Joe blow says... Oh those suck..siam oak..blah blah. Get what you like. Not what everyone else likes. Bro... I have to say I like hearing you play man. Good stuff man. AAAAAGUAAAAA

[@Gk2003m]

I have a ‘set’ of four: a wine Meinl 10” quinto, a natural 11” CP conga, and then a pair of wine LP Caliente 11” 12”. All wood. The Caliente 11” is happier in a higher register than is the CP, and I switched the heads on those… and they all sound good. Total spent on the four drums plus stands, all new when purchased: $500. I got lucky that when they were purchased, all had good quality skins.

[@barisaxlive111]

Thanks for this awsome video Eric!! Im fresh in the conga world as a sax player in a Latin Jazz Band, practicing a pair of Headliners (Rubber tree wood) 11+12 from your instruction videos with a great joy. Now I would like to try practice with a third conga, but I don't know if it is a better idea to combine it with a single Lp Aspire Tumba Siam Oak (12 inch), or buy another pair of Headliners 10+11 or 11+12 to make it sound more coherent. Thanks for any suggestion on that. Love your channel :).

[@ccfunk1]

Excellent playing. i definitely hear cool sound in both.

[@cjtsn466]

Darker color set sounded so much richer to me but of course you made both sets sing

[@dougtaylor3021]

Killing it on all of them!!!

[@shonuffgroove]

As I heard (first maybe superficial impression), I think (I prefer) the low frequences of Meinl- Aspire & the high (quinto, slap) of Giovanni !!! Thanks !!!

[@adewilliams8]

Good combination, you can hear a warmer clear tone of Meinl, which i like.

[@totoroutes5389]

The head is the part that makes the greatest difference. Use good cow skin (example: Moperc), or good natural steer (example: ManitoPercussion). I'd go with the best drums i can sensibly afford, with one of those heads. If with a large enough budget, preferably from a small shop independent drum maker.

[@CurtisGabrielMusic]

Listening on high end monitor speakers, the LP Aspire's (affordable) actually sound fuller, more balanced and just overall more present in these particular recordings. The recordings distort a lot though to be fair. I imagine the Giovanni Palladiums sound a lot better in person. Recording is a funny thing though, moving the mics and drums a small amount can make quite a difference so it's not always easy to do a fair comparison. I think this perfectly demonstrates how great the Aspire's can sound though, especially from a fantastic player such as this.

[@Jaburu]

I agree the Palladiums don't sound good here. I guess the tuning was to high for them. there is a sweet spot where the resonances of the head match the resonance of the wood

[@pedroleoneldelgadoosorio9771]

Amigo mío, reciba usted de mi parte muchas felicidades y mi agradecimiento por el tiempo que usted dedica para lograr este programa el cual nos sirve de mucha ayuda, pero, sería de mucha ayuda para aquellos que no dominamos el inglés, que también estos fueran hechos en castellano, se que usted ya ha hecho algunos, es por eso que sin tener conocimiento de causa me atrevo con mucho respeto hacerle esta observación, muchas gracias.

[@samuelmedina5700]

it is what it is, it takes a good Conguero to bring out the best sound on any given Conga. to each his own.... NO BIG DEAL..

[@Caballeroscuro78]

Don't you think it will be actually a more objective test is you tune both sets the same pitch? Conga heads also makes a big difference in tone.

[@lajeanette33]

I abide by that quote: average player+average gear= good sound. So no pressure. When you get better you’ll ear the difference and will invest in better équipment.

[@ginelleamps]

New to your channel. You made them all sound killer!! The only thing that I didn’t like was the rattle on the blonde drum on your right hand. Was that normal for that drum? I saw your video from UD. I’m in Ardmore, Pa. Mainline Music on Lancaster Ave. are you near by?

[@jimmccullough4923]

cheap or expensive--you are awesome Eric...thanks

[@mmiranda1743]

Your presentation is Informative and educational - specially coming from a practitioner like yourself. How ever.... I would be curious about your opinion on products crafted to perfection by Juan (Juancho) Figueroa congas right here in the home of Salsa - Bronx New York.

[@LeftCoast_TomP]

Thanks for taking the time to make the comparison - great playing. One thing is pairs of cheap congas new are typically much smaller sizes like requinto and quinto vs conga tumba. Like in this video it sounds like the cheaper set has a higher snappier slaps etc but the smallest one looks smaller than the Palladium set. So that is not really a totally straight across comparison if my eye on the sizes is correct. No manufactures that I am aware of even the one off handmade ones do anything to the insides of the congas unlike bongos. They all have unsanded barrel staves with pressed out glue. IMHO I think you might as well get ones that look good to you on the outside. Has anyone ever seen a pair of Aspires with cracked shells unless they were dropped off a truck? I think it is more about the quality and thickness of the heads or just luck of the draw on the animal hide (karma? juju?) and tuning or..... fiberglass shells with or without synthetic heads.

[@bongoscongasantiquecashreg4544]

I just got my LP Aspire congas tuned so now they blend nicely with my three giovanni galaxy quinto,requinto & conga. I have to use yeah my conga as a tumba for now & requinto as my main drum & sometimes switch to quinto as main drum just depends on what mood & sound looking for along with my LP Aspire congas, conga, quinto & requinto have in Aspire series as my accent drums. Love how you play the Aspires & Headliner congas! Nice blend they have! My request try LP Aspire congas with the LP Giovanni galaxy congas not the LP Giovanni palladium ones for with the right tuning they will amaze you with the sound for they did me today with tuning adjustments on my LP Aspire congas! They sound like a set & I am fussy about my congas & how they sound so let's say a blessing from God that my LP Aspire congas sound great with my LP Giovanni galaxy congas due to a tight budget! Love how God is everything to your life for he is mine as well & also play for him & for the joy percussion gives me!

[@kurtpatterson1296]

First thing is the player makes the sound.Second thing is tuning, third is the type of heads used.This applies to almost all drums....

[@marknelson3715]

You had me at "that's what she said" :)

[@rayg3408]

Wow great Comparison...I owned a set palladium's and on this video the other congas sounded better to me. I personally liked the ring on the Meinls.. you sure are right in some cases it the Drummer...Amazing👍👍👍👍

[@JFairweather]

I didn't hear anything about the difference between cheap and expensive congas. About all that is said is American ash vs Siam oak (that is SIGH-AM, as in the name of the country, Siam - Thailand). How about differences in hardware? Construction? Note that even with my $600 monitors I couldn't tell much of a difference but since the competing models were different pitches it is hard to tell a difference. Great drumming on your part, by the way. Could you do a true side-by-side and discuss construction methods, etc., that would be great. Thanks.

[@jamieanderson7757]

I have very accurate monitors and dac and I preferred the sound of the cheaper congas. I just assumed they were the more expensive ones until figured out they weren't. Giovannis had crisper slaps but inferior overall sound.

[@bongoscongasantiquecashreg4544]

You would be amazed to hear my LP Giovanni galaxy congas & bongos with my three LP Aspire congas being played. I have to save money will upgrade to lp giovanni galaxy congas when can afford. You play all congas very well. Very pleased.

[@paragozar]

I love the sound and feel of Giovannis and high end LPs over the cheap stuff. Is it just my imagination?

[@davidhadley370]

He played the hell out of them! Fantastic...

[@APercussionLife]

David Hadley hahaha not even man! But thank you!

[@reallife828]

If you like deep low tones fiberglass ones are great too.

[@alexsaucedavaldez7316]

I did my first gig on a set of aspires and the sound was great

[@manuelgastelum5421]

valdez

[@eeshdsgn]

Great and useful video. What is your thought on traditional vs comfort rims? I am thinking about purchasing Luis Conte MEINL vs. Marathon conga, and rim is the main difference there I guess. btw in your video, It sound to me like the quinto on your more expensive drums has a bit of detuned harmonics :)

[@APercussionLife]

I love traditional rims!!!! But my playing style would cause me to always get cut up with the edge of the rim... hence why I use a “comfort curve” now.... I do prefer Traditional on bongos tho.... in regards to sound... I don’t hear a difference... it’s more based on playing style...

[@bongoscongasantiquecashreg4544]

Eric, Yeah done with my LP Aspire congas doesn't go with my LP giovanni galaxy congas tried it but the galaxy congas took over sound wise so done with LP Aspire congas so glad they went to someone who loves them! Now want the luis conte conga set is that bad?

[@chrisvelour3679]

I have personally played all of the drums in this video and am not a fan of the sound. However, your skill and your tone, along with your wonderful technique proves the point that an excellent drummer can make any drum sound good. Excellent playing and thanks for sharing your input. I own vintage mahogany Juniors and North American Oak vintage Gon Bops with cow and steer hide - those would be my preference. I will also say humbly that your video has inspired me to practice more. Keep up the good work!

[@dd007x]

I recently sold my Yamaha kit and are going to buy a conga, timbale and rototom set up. A change. Something new.

[@Gk2003m]

5 years down the line, and comparing this to your vid on the Moperc Sanchez vs Tropical…. the cheap Meinls sound closer to your exalted Mopercs than do the expensive LPs!!

[@dm102155]

I currently have an LP Conga and Tumba. My hands feel too big for the conga. DO many players just buy two Tumbas and just adjust the sound thru tuning? Thanks

[@totoroutes5389]

Interestingly the $80 no-name bongos i got in Cuba sound and feel nicer than upper price range brandname bongos sold in U.S.

[@Marcus538]

I get all kinds of sounds puyt of my djembe , cool insteument

[@dreamyagent007]

Excellent video, been subbed for a while now and there's no regret all. 👍

[@sushimamba4281]

Nice work on the congas bro. I have 4 sets of congas - from late 90's LP Aspires, 80's LP fibreglass, 70's era wood Gon Bops and 4 Palladiums. What I have found is they are all great in their own way and have different tonal qualities. The Palladiums are easier to get a good sound out of, I don't have to work as hard. Yet I still do certain acoustic gigs mixing the Aspires with the LP fibreglass or GBs. I find that if I practice on the old cheap drums it seems easier later on to get good sounds out of my expensive drums. When I studied in Cuba mi maestro (R.I.P.) played on the most beat up looking, sorry excuse for congas I have ever seen, with skins that looked like they should have been tossed out 20 years ago... but he made those things scream! Enjoying your channel. God bless!

[@chancepercussion]

Brother man, that was excellent! Your playing está volao

[@josephselkow2845]

What a treat, thank you Maestro.

[@joeyllanos7573]

Hello I'm a beginner, can anyone tell me that when your playing 4 5 or 6 Conga's. What are the sizes, especially the ones directly in front of you?

[@Excalibur-PR]

Both sounds great...but also would like to know about the size combo, is the 10”and 11” or 11” and 12” matters. If it does please tell us or anybody out there like to post anything about it...appreciated.

[@JoseTorres-wp3qi]

No es la fecha, es el indio. Puede ser unas congas matraca, and you'll make them sound great. Love your videos bro. Thank you

[@gpellicer1]

Definitivamente es el congueri y no la conga je je. Usted definitivamente es un maestro. Saludos.

[@fideldely5988]

Amo el contenido de tu canal! Muchas gracias hermano! Un abrazo desde Panamá/Nueva Delhi

[@lamaludwig1470]

Somehow the cheaper mixed set sounds better imo.

[@ric9452]

Great Demo my friend!!!!!

[@mrchow3233]

Hey bro, as for someone who’s not going to play congas that often, and wants something budget friendly. Should I go with Meinl Congas, or Toca Players series? Thanks!

[@spunkito3]

I put a Manito Percussion amber head from Peru on the Aspire! Sounds so much better!

[@Idnaflesymem]

I prefer Meinl and aspire : awesome sustain !

[@MidniteClubII]

Hey Eric. can you give the specs on the 4 Palladiums and some insight on your "which I own smh... I'll explain one day".... Inquiring minds want to know.. ;)

[@EveryDaySlacker]

The meinl just blew the LP out of the water in my opinion. The rich, pure tones are intoxicating.

[@umutkosar8983]

Thx for your effort. Please tell me the tunning of the first set up. as I understood Meinl - Aspire set (Quinto D, conga C, tumba ? on your left, tumbadora F on your right) Correct? and what is the tune of conga ? Thx

[@blairmacewancrosbie8646]

excellent playing amigo. I'm a Meinl man so I am a bit biased!!

[@jordiegundersen1465]

I really like the dark skinned deeper sounds so far @ 6:29 into it.. What are these Congas??

[@MrPDTaylor]

I just got my first bongos, LP City Series. Do you think I should have gone with something else?

[@bubbly871]

The meinl’s sounded real good to me. Awesome skill bro

[@johnmorrow1253]

i think you have got those cheap drums nailed matey. shove a couple of tins of cherry blossom boot polish on the heads and you will have them sounding like rolls royce etc.

[@williamsnuggs8732]

That groove at 6:22 🔥🔥🔥aguaaaaaaa

[@luisrosado6677]

Porqué nunca has presentado un video dando un solo en salsa. Hacer descargas sólo no me demuestra el calibre de un conguero al momento de hacer descargas. Es reto con mucho respeto.

[@APercussionLife]

Minuto 10:50 kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGXFlXx-jb-hbLc

[@dilmarjk]

Aqui no Brasil qq uma destas marcas são muito caras, porque não tem revenda por aqui... as da grife do Hidalgo então tem um preço surreal.

[@roomdog40]

Where does the tiny door go?

[@bcongero]

What rudiment for lack of a better description are you using between these chops?

[@jaamabay3830]

Hey dude, can you do a video on these super expensive congas from independent companies?? and are there some rare mega expensive congas like a stradivari of congas ;))

[@martinlaurin4151]

i have the choice between red meinl woodcraft and lp Richie Gajate Garcia. which one would you go for or something else?

[@willymiranda5537]

Eric , thank u so much for this vid. Retired and on a budget so gotta go with wat is in my price range⁉️ Back in the day put together a 20 piece PEARL KIT when I had more money than brains. It’s beautiful / still got it , in storage as I got no room to set it up / & too sick to play it unfortunately. Gonna start with a mini conga / & maybe a set of bongos/ that should be enough to drive the wife crazy. All ready threatening me & I haven’t even got them yet. Ha ha lol 😂 U are great inspiration for me / thank U WILLY CA 🦅🏍⚒☠️⚡️🌎🇺🇸🥁🔥🥁⚡️👍

[@jcam783]

Gotta say the LP's sound great , Meinl's sound a bit flat , but that's just my own opinion of course , cada qual a su gusto /each person has their own taste ...

[@dpalma86]

Remake this video with your new recording quality!

[@BayouMaccabee]

Nice! Excellent playing, my friend. God bless!

[@cam0865]

Good Job hard work and useful tutelage Hermano

[@cam0865]

I am a Gon Bops man myself with LP as a strong second .....

[@christofferkristensen6419]

sounds amazing

[@thestravaiger8102]

Amazing demo! 👌

[@CarlosGomez-rg8uz]

Hola, tus videos son excelentes,por favor tambien los puedes hacer en español? Muchas gracias!!!

[@CarlosGomez-rg8uz]

!!! Qué bien,muy agradecido!!!

[@luismarquez8065]

Excelente muchas gracias

[@danielmendez3098]

amazing, you're the best

[@cristiansierra3163]

They all sound great👍

[@lardtamps]

Eric una pregunta . Estoy aprendiendo compre unas congas lp patato fiber glass estana bien o las congas finer glass cual es la diferencia.agradeceria tu opinion gracias.las compre a muy buen precio por eso me anime pero no mendi cuenta queberan fiber glass hasta que empeze anhaver busqueda en el internet

[@APercussionLife]

lardtamps realmente depende en su preferencia... Los Patatos son buenas congas! Uno de los mejores! La diferencia entre unos fiberglass comparado a congas de madera es el tono y proyección... los de figerglass suenan más pero a la misma ves dan un tono que chilla un poco... los de madera dan un tono más suave pero no proyectan tanto como las de Fiberglass. Espero que esto le ayudo

[@lardtamps]

Ok gracias lo que trataba de ver si eran un poco mejor calidad .que las lp aspire.de nuevo gracias y agradesco tu opinion.

[@af049486]

Also 2-ply layer less expensive vs. 3 ply layers more expensive

[@starofeden9277]

meinhl sounds best to me

[@isaiahfeliciano7667]

Hey Eric could you make a video where you review your congas and compare and contrast them THAT WOULD BE AWSOME

[@APercussionLife]

MR. PIOPIO #1 great suggestion! Will definitely add that to the list!

[@MrGabino8000]

The best congas in my opinion are the Zenison hand made congas from the guy at the corner of the street.