You get what you pay for

T

Twiggy

Member
So, I decided that bongos would be cool especially since I often find myself "drumming" on my thighs and body when bored.

So I bought this set: https://www.long-mcquade.com/products/22329/

At $89.99 Canadian I thought these would be decent, but it turns out they suck. Yes, they are technically tunable, but they do not use normal lugs/nuts, they use a different system. I was attempting to tune the macho to A6 and the Hembra to D5, but I got both tuned as high and tight as they will go (literally can't turn them any further) and the Macho is stuck at D5, while the Hembra is around C4 to D4.

Obviously I'll be wanting to get my hands on a better pair soon, will be willing to spend up to $150-160 Canadian, and hopefully that should get me a decent proper pair. I may have to wait about a month for that, as I have other more pressing expenses at the moment.

If anyone has any experience with these specific bongos and have any tips (maybe try another tuner than the small one that came with them that has more torque?) I don't know. Any help would be appreciated.

I am looking online myself of course, but does anyone have any specific recommendations for a better pair within my price range?
 
Look at Latin Percussion products. They have a budget line that's very well made. I had the bongos and they served me well for the little I used them. I sold them a while ago, as I had no further need.

The ones you bought look a lot like the cheap, crappy bongos that came out of Japan in the 60's, sorry to say.
 
Last edited:
WuHan Solo said:
What's preventing them from going any further? Are the tension rods bottoming out? If so, just cut them down a tad, or get shorter ones.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure, but I just know that using the wrench that they came with I cannot turn them anymore, no matter how much strength I use.
 
I have a couple Remo djembes; a 14" and a 12". (See my avatar.) Though they're not bongos, they sure can replicate a bongo and then some. I never liked bongos. Djembes are so much more forgiving.
 
How do you all tune drums to specific notes? I'm just a garage band drummer.
 
1 hit wonder said:
How do you all tune drums to specific notes? I'm just a garage band drummer.
Click to expand...
The easy answer is to get a Tunebot or Drumtune Pro and use their settings to get the note and sound you want. The hard answer is to learn the notes, play one a reference on an instrument, then tune to it. But drums behave very wacky at times, and it takes some work at it and experimenting with different things just to see what happens.
 
wildbill said:
The only tip I have if you get another set, is to never get bongos that have tom style tuning rods that you turn from the top.

They should tune from the bottom like this type: https://www.long-mcquade.com/8774/D...ner_Series_Wood_Bongos_-_Vintage_Sunburst.htm

Also, the hoops are different and the type like in the link are much easier on your hands.
Click to expand...

Well I guess it's a good then that I bought the Acrylic version of the headliner series from Meinl! :) should be in tomorrow even.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top