Latin Percussion Performer Series Quinto and Conga with FREE Tumba


Man ... you can hardly beat that!

The Matador congas are nice too ... but three new drums for that price? Hmmm

I personally haven't played on the Performed congas that much, although what little I have ... I was impressed with them.

L.P just keeps coming out with more and more lines to dominate more of the market, the competiton is fierce right now with so many companies making similar congas(rubberwood or Thai "oak") in Thailand. This competition has brought prices down and quality up (sometimes). The performer series is a good deal. Matador is a 'full size' drum pretty much the same as L.P. classics with cosmetic difference.

Does anyone know what the significant differences are between the LP Matador and LP Classic congas?  For such a major difference in price, I've got to think there's more than just cosmetic differences.

I mean, both are made with the Siam Oak and both have the same heads.  They also both sound pretty much the same (they both sound great)--I actually own a Classic Conga and a Matador Tumba.  But, I'm pretty sure they've always used the same type of wood on both because I have owned both of mine for nearly 10 years and they feel, sound and look similar.  My purchase, at the time, was based strictly on sound, not on price, but I was fully aware then, and of course now, that the Matador was much cheaper.

Anyway, I'm in the market for a quinto and again, I've tried both a Classic and a Matador quinto.  I don't hear any major sound differences even though cosmetically, the heads appear to be a little different.  Both drums are also the same 11" diameter.  

Does anyone have any other info/experience with the differences between these two LP lines?  Is it strictly the hardware/heads?

The staves of the shell seem to be a lot thicker in the LP. I don't remember the Matadors being that heavy.

I don't know what sizes the Matadors come in these days, but they used to not come in the "standard" sizes.

Basically, the workmanship is not found in the Matador drums as you see in the LP drums. It's not that the Matador drums are bad, because they are good ... but that LP Classics (and brands/models like them) tend to work with the bearing edge more and spend a lot more time with the drum.