First of all, do you want one, two or three conga drums. If it is your first time to buy a drum or you can only buy one drum, I recommend a segundo (second) aka conga drum. The three sizes are quinto the smallest [...]]]> Here are some tips on and about buying a used conga drum.

First of all, do you want one, two or three conga drums. If it is your first time to buy a drum or you can only buy one drum, I recommend a segundo (second) aka conga drum. The three sizes are quinto the smallest in diameter and highest pitched (for soloing), conga (or second ) and tumba or tumbao the largest in diameter and lowest pitched. There is also sometimes a “super” tumba, even larger then a tumba.

4 Used Oak LP conga drums

What is your budget? If your budget is slim, you may want to try Craigslist or even a pawn shop if you live near a big city. Know the drum you want to buy first, however. You can look on line at the models. I am posting photos of my favorite drums here as well.

I do not recommend the lower line models such as the LP Aspire congas (see photo).
What you get in a higher end conga drum is better hardware and rim, usually a better and heavier shell and possibly a nicer skin. Hardware is the metal clamps and bracket that pull or hold won the skin and or attached to the sides of the conga. Generaly the cheaper “budget” models are smaller and lighter. However, I have never heard a cheaper drum sound as good as the proven larger models.

Aspire conga drum (low end budget model) by LP

Skins are always a personal preference. I enjoy medium thickness on my conga and tuba and medium thin on my quint. If a skin is too thin the sound is ringy and not full. It does help the slap project more however if the skin is thin. If you find a used conga and the skin looks like the photo here it may be time for a new skin.

You can get used congas at or around the same price as the bottom of the line new drums. There are also great deals on ebay but you can not see the drum first unfortunately unless it is in your area of course. So buyer beware.

Since drums are made of wood or fiberglass, there is not much that can be hidden in terms of damage if you are buying a used drum. If it is wood, check for cracks. Turn the drum upside down and put it on top of a towel or soft object to protect the skin.
Look inside and feel around with your hand. Use a flashlight. It is pretty easy to see if there is damage or not.

LP Galaxy® Giovanni Series™ 11\

Many used drums can use a new skin which is easy to put on if you are a little bit handy. If you are looking at fiberglass drums make sure there is no indentation in the fiberglass or sagging anywhere especially by the hardware. This happens on older fiberglass drums tht have been left in a heated situation such as a trunk of a car.

Speaking of hardware check for rust, and bring a wrench with you and test each bolt by turning as you would normally do tune a drum. Many used drums have not been tuned in ages.There are many different oils that can be used, and you may be able to bring old nuts and bolts back to life, but don’t count on it and new hardware replacement parts can be expensive.

What brand to buy? Again personal preference. I come from the era of LP’s, Val Jay, Gon Bops and Skin on Skin. I have owned Toca drums in Thailand and I think they are also a fine choice in the higher end line. You generally can not go wrong with any of these brands in there upscale models. Some people like the Meinel. I am not a big fan, however. I live in Thailand part of the year and interestingly enough, most of the new drums are made in Thailand. Some of them at the same factory!

Raymond Rausch plays 2 Toca fiberglass congas at Khao San Road drum jam

I currently own and play LP Galaxy Giovanni Series Congas as well as LP original short fiberglass drums . I also have a set of 4 Skin on Skin congas as well. I do find myself playing the LP Giovanni the most, though. The Skin on Skin were hand made in New York by a man named Jay for many years but now I hear they are not individual made by him anymore. There was also another hand made company in New York called “Jr.’s congas” but they are almost impossible to find. If you do find them, grab them! The prettiest congas for many years were the Fat Congas. They stopped making them a while back, though. Jesse Seymour, the conga player in Barabajaba plays Kona brand cogas, bongo and bata. They are beautiful, light and made from exotic hardwoods butch fetch a pretty penny!