Which Conga Sounds The Best? (LP Classic Wood Conga VS LP Matador Fiberglass)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- In this video, I compare 2 different congas. The standard classic, LP Classic Wood Conga and the LP Matador Fiberglass Conga! I'll do a playing demonstration with both congas, with some Tumbao patterns and some riffs here and there. The sound you hear is not EQ'd, it is the natural sound of both congas.
You'll also notice I have a Remo Skyndeep head on the Matador while the LP Classic has a Natural Rawhide skin. You'll get to hear the difference with a Natural Conga setup (Rawhide and Wood) and a Synthetic setup (Synthetic head on a Fiberglass shell).
Which conga sounds the best to you? Leave a comment below! I want to see what you think!
If you enjoy these videos, support the channel by hitting that SUBSCRIBE button and LIKE the video! Let's get to 5000 Subscribers!
Follow me:
Instagram: @romanpercussion
Facebook: Will Roman
Thanks for watching!!!
#whichcongaisbetter #latinpercussioncongas #romanpercussion
Which conga sounded better to you? Let me know! COMMENT👇🏼 I’ll be reading 👀
Both sound good, fiber sounds higher, wood a deepest sound. Can’t go wrong with any of them. Thanks
It all depends what each percussionist is looking for. I agree you can’t go wrong. Thanks for your support!
Thanks for this great comparison. Both sound great.
If you want to compare the drums you should use the same type of head on both congas
I tuned the drums to practically the same pitch, head selection was intentional. Natural skin on a wood conga, more of an authentic old school sound. Fiberglass with synthetic has become more of the norm over the years due to easier maintenance and better projection so that’s why the comparison. Same tuning for different setups.
@@RomanPercussion I agree with your point about maintenance and staying in tune in moist circumstances, but I don’t agree with you that synthetic heads project better.
No problem Gert!
Why? He is comparing the sound of a fiberglass synthetic head to a wood body and natural head.
I agree there.... In your video you compare the 2 extremes by changing 2 components (shell and skin). If it is to show the maximum difference you can have between some congas, that is perfect. But if you wanted to actually show the difference between fibreglass and wood, which is probably the very thing that congeros are interested in when they investigate the matter, cause everybody loves the sound of wood, but everybody likes the weight of FiberGlass... So the question is : if you put a good rawhide skin (not a factory one) on fiberglass, and then the same skin on the wooden one, same pitch, can we hear the difference in a recording?... I would be interested to hear that actually. Just my opinion though!
Dang, nice playing! I like em both!
I do too haha, but I’m personally more of a Fiberglass fan.
Wood for recordings and fiberglass for live shows!
I like fiberglass for recordings as well but either way, you can’t go wrong!
Hi Roman, although they sound somewhat similar at first, when I listened to the video a few times, I noticed that the conga with LP head sounded better.
I’ve been looking for those Raul Rekow Congas ,
you make them both sound good bro.
Saludos!
Thanks Mario! Appreciate it bro!
nice job I like both 🔥🔥🔥🔥 depending on the gig !
Yup, definitely could depend on the gig or the player. Thanks 🙏🏼
Thank you for this, very cool!!!
You’re welcome Kaban! 🙏🏼
Fiberglass; a great sound with a matching look. As for Classic Woods, I actually play them when rehearsing in a music center; they have a richer sound than other accessible models.
I think the fibreglass with natural skins would work well too
Yes, I agree.
I prefer the fiberglass. It has more definition and projection in my ears, and just the right overtones.
Vaya tumbao!
I prefer the fiber. It's a more clean and crispy sound, Thanks for the video, Roman, really good
Great sound in both of them .But the LP is superior !!! Great video !!!! Many blessings !!!
Both are LP but I assume you’re talking about the Wood Conga, natural skin on wood is hard to beat! Bendiciones 🙏🏼
@@RomanPercussion Exactly !!! The sound of wood is unique !!!! Thanks !!!
The room volume of the band you play with,and whether or not you play with rock style guitar players has everything to do with how wood vs fiberglass/skin vs synthetic drumheads sound,my opinion.
Fiber for outdoor
Wood for indoor
Roman, I have to agree with the others...the LP Classic with natural head sounds better
One of a kind!
Both sounded just about the same. Nice Rifs off the Tumbao!
both very good, if you like highs go for fiberglass.
Wood...fuller and warmer. Although I think the fiberglass may project more sound depending on gig!
Good observation, fiberglass does project more as well!
I believe you should've used same type of heads for the comparison, since that affects the sound as well
Comparing the wood and natural vs rawhide and synthetic
great beats...
Thanks Douglas!
They both sound good I have wood
I enjoy both as well, I play mainly on wood now but before I was strictly fiberglass.
the Matador has a synthetic skin? That would be another big story.
Fibreglass and keep up the good work
Thanks for the feedback! Definitely I'm more of a fan personally of the fiberglass but either way they are great!
What would be better for arid desert climates?
I would go Fiberglass with a synthetic head in that situation.
I like Fiberglass in your demo. I usually prefer wood with steer skin
Wow! Now I’m actually shocked to see this! Usually those who like “natural” prefer that over fiberglass with synthetic. Just curious, was there anything specific that you liked better or is it just overall sound? Thanks for your comment Ruto! Much appreciated!
@@RomanPercussion The fiberglass Matador didn’t sound so ringy, (if thats a word) as they usually do. i recently sold a set of 5 Lp darkwoods like in your video and threw in 3 remo skyndeeps as part of the deal. I prefer wood with Manito steer heads. Im a wood drum fan big time.
Interesting! The sound you hear is the sound that was recorded, no EQ involved. I’ve also heard there is less ring with synthetic on wood vs synthetic on fiberglass. Manito Percussion heads are great, Ryan and Swen do an awesome job! Thanks for your insight!
I guess the different skins affect the sound more than the shell material. Fiberglass model in this example sounds a little more like basket ball with it's overtones, but as i wrote before, that could well be due to the skin.
Skin definitely impacts the sound. Fiberglass has more overtone qualities based on the shell but with synthetic head, even more so. Just depends on what each person wants in their sound.
The wood is better, more authentic!
Not sure if you’re playing on carpet. If you play on bare floor you will definitely get some nice tones out of either. Add that tucked skin on the wood conga and sound is a bit richer too. I have the classics and my brother has the Galaxy 👍🏼
Playing on a platform not on carpet, definitely either or is a solid choice. Galaxy fiberglass is one of my favorite drums of all times.
I prefer fiberglass+synthetic head. More sustained sound
The fiber sounds a little more distinct but has over tone rings. I would use the natural skins for recording.
The wood one has a higher pitch :) and its a little tighter and quick on the sound.
Tried to get them to match but…. 🤷🏻♂️ 😂 , thanks for the comment! 🙏🏼
through my experience, I prefer wooden Congas with natural skin heads, they have more of a solid sound. to me fiberglass congas and/or synthetic heads have overtones, canny/echoey if you really listen close. by the way, can you try the test with the natural hide. I guess to each his/her own...great video...thanks for sharing
I used to sell these. There are enough problems with taming overtones on the wood drums; the fiberglass overtones are even more extreme. Optimum: get the wood, and when it comes time for new heads get them from Manito
LP wood 👍👍👍
WOOD BY ALL MEANS....!!! YES...
Saludos. I just stumbled on your channel. I’m practicing the WILITO pattern. I wanted to mention that first of all the skin on the wood conga look too thick and you’re playing on a rug 😂 The fiberglass drum I see you have that black synthetic I too use those on my Tycoon Heritage series conga and they project really well. May I suggest changing the skin on the wood conga and play on a hard surface. Anyway keep up the good work.
Noel, Saludos! That head is an LP Conga head from the 80s that came already bleached. Also, the congas aren’t played on a rug, there is a hard platform under the congas, the rug that you see is just for sound dampening for that part of the room.
Those Skyndeep heads are great! I like them on the congas. Appreciate the comment, un abrazo!
@@RomanPercussion thank you for the clarification.
LP Classic Wood Conga
Wood with natural skins,i practice with synthetic head easier on hands.
Me gusta a fiber glass mejor sonido
Are you left handed bro?
Yes I am
Not crazy about the overtones and lack of grace note texture options of plastic heads on synthetic drums, but I mostly play in a jazz band featuring tunes between 40’s and 70’s.
I get it, sometimes natural skin is better! All depends on the musical situation and what each percussionist is looking for.
Being a Panamanian, I love natural wood. Don't get me wrong, a fiber glass conga sounds great too, buy I really love the sound of the wood. As you changed to the fiberglass, I can distinguish as to why I prefer one sound over the other. If i were in a studio, i think fiber glass wouldn't e all that great. If i was at a show with a lot of space, Fiberglass definitely would be the go to. Nonetheless less, wonderful contrast shown.
Yea it all depends on the player or the musical situation. I’m personally a fiberglass fan BUT I love wood as well, just is too heavy is my only personal drawback about it.
But both are awesome regardless!
Can’t tell the difference. They both sound good
Some people can tell, some can't. I love how both of them sound. I was using my fiberglass congas on gigs in the past and I enjoyed them very much! However, synthetic heads on a wood conga, is an incredible match. Best of both worlds, warm and projects very well on stage.
Yo! did you bleach your LP rawhide head? never seen in that color
No, it’s an old LP head from the 80s. They came like that back then. I just changed the other rawhide I had on there.
I really don't like fake skins on congas so for me the choice is obvious, but I would be interested to hear the fiberglass conga with a real skin....
at my parents house I just found my dad's super old fiberglass LP Patato conga with the original LP rawhide head...I was really surprised how sweet it sounded as soon as I tuned it up a bit....I mean this skin has to be damn near older than me, but still seems perfectly good to go. I own a full set of wood LP classic II's...but I'm in a totally different room and a continent away so I can't do a direct comparison....
Nice! A old Patato conga, I’m sure that skin is great. I’ll definitely do a comparison with skins on both shells too.
Wood 🤙
IGUAL
Warm tone from the skin and wood shell, unbeatable!
Madera tiene tremendo sonido!
wood sounded better to me
The LP wood classic sounds better.
Moperc
Love those too!
Wood
Natural is great for sure! Beautiful tone!
Esta mal la comparación tienes q usar el mimo parche en las 2 si no no vale
Este vídeo es una comparación de dos diferentes configuraciones. Hay percusionistas que usan cuero con madera y otros que usan congas de fibra con cuero sintético. Este vídeo es para comparar el sonido de los dos opciones. Gracias por el comentario
It's nice that you play left handed - like at right handed drum-kit drummer (like me) would do :-)
Yes I’m a lefty but it’s good as a “mirror” effect for right handed players.
Sweet! I am left handed but play mostly right, and golf right handed.
Fiberglass won this round to me, maybe cause the overtones on the wood one.
La conga de madera siempre tendrá más resonancia suena distinto ambas muy bien es cuestión de gustos y peso jajajaja
Jajaja asi es!
My Friend you Do not have Logic,One Conga Have Natural Skinhead the Other One have Sinthetic Skinhead you need to Learn how to Do your Comparisions,Of Course Fiberglass Sounds Better Cuz of the Sinthetic Skinhead.
Jaime, as you see in the comments, some people prefer one or the other. The purpose of this video is to compare the sound of both setups. Thanks for your comment!
To Do that,you need to have the Same Skinhead in Each Conga,The Video have No Logic.
I’m comparing a traditional set up (wood shell, rawhide skin) with a modernize setup which has become very popular over the years (fiberglass shell, synthetic head). Hope that clarifies for you but I respect your opinion ✌🏼
@@jaimeferrercruz4496 what r u talkin about lol