Not sure if this question belongs here or in the more cultural
“Cafe” forum. I’ll leave that decision to the powers that be.
I am a beginning bongo player and am ready to buy my own set. I would mostly be playing African, Caribbean and S. American music. The prices for these things range absurdly.
can anyone give me an idea of a good brand at a good price? What should I look for?
Thanks.
Jill
LP (Latin Percussion) are quite nice, and very well made. Avoid their lower end brand, CP (Cosmic Percussion) as they tend to have much more variable level of quality and workmanship.
If you want a REALLY nice set that will last forever, get these Matadors. Definitely worth the extra price up from the LPs, if you’re playing seriously.
If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend the LP’s. You might want to also pick up some assorted hand percussion - a cowbell, a couple of eggs, a tambourine, a guiro, etc. You’ll learn a lot more about percussion as a whole by getting familiar with a variety of percussion instruments.
Plus, a good ancillary percussionist is also welcome at most jams, and most of those things are pretty cheap and fun to shop for.