Is anyone familiar with the Compact Congas?

[Kennyg]

Has anyone played either the LP Compact Conga or the Pearl Travel Conga? If so what are your thoughts? The look interesting and seem easy to incorporate into my setup.

[Class A Drummer]

They are pretty cool, i played some at the guitar center. Whole lot cheaper than buying the real thing, but the sound is obviously not going to be as good.

[harryconway]

Obvious Pearl is right on the heels of LP. Either are up to the task. Granted, they lack the "je ne sais quoi" of a real set (Quinto, Conga, Tumba, Super Tumba) but then they neither cost as much nor take up as much room as "the real deal". If they work for you, that's all that matters.

[wy yung]

I have owned and returned the LP compact congas. There is obviously no bass tone. The Pearl's are the better of the two IMO. The heads are warmer and achieve a better bass tone than the LP's. Which offer none.

If you are wanting to play compact type congas with one hand and kit with the other, go for the Pearls. Or better yet a 30" tall conga or quinto.

[Garvin]

I owned two of the LP's for a while and played around with the Pearls at a shop. I liked Pearl better. They also offered this funny stand that was essentially a conga body that you could set the travel conga in. It was funny to me that they offered this, but also kind of cool. I would just buy real congas if you are gonna play congas, but I agree with wy yung on the Pearls over LP's...

[MusiQmaN]

I played both the LP and Pearl and like the LP more.

The pearl was to heavy for a compact conga and the tone was not as broad as the LP. I didnd miss a bas sound on the LP.

Also on the LP you can switch the tuning rods into normal drumrods.

And the mounting possibiliys are broader.

[Garvin]

Good points there MusiQmaN. I think for mounting as a part of a drum kit you are right about the tuning and the mounting. The LP's would be easier in those regards.

[Deathmetalconga]

I've had a set of compact congas for two years now and I love them. No, they don't have the sex appeal of a real set, but they do have their own sex appeal because they are so rare. People can't believe they create such a great sound - crisp, clear, very expressive. They sound just like LP congas, except there is no bass note. But the bass note usually isn't a huge part of the conga's signature tone, as much as say the djembe or dundun or ashiko.

Plus, the portability and setup options can't be beat. Like MusiQmaN, you probably won't miss the bass tone too much (until you play a real set and hear what you're missing). The Compacts do seem to wobble more with heavy playing, as you don't have that big heavy shell anchoring them down.

I agree, the concept of being able to mate the compact conga top with a shell is a great idea. Instant portability or instant complete conga sound.

[rendezvous_drummer]

I love them. The LP ones that is. I can't wait to buy a pair and put them on my kit.