Does this drum sound like a real set of bongo drums? Apart from having higher and lower tones.. no.
Does it sound as good as some of the demos of this product you'll find on youtube? No. In some of those demonstrations, there is at least one really good microphone placed nearby, and the drum sounds better mic'd.
Does this product sound at least as good as the Latin Percussion equivalent of this drum? Yes, although the LP version does not have snares if I remember correctly. Does this drum sound as good as the Gon Bops bongo cajon? That one does not have snares either, and costs twice as much. However, judging by the sound samples I've heard online, the Gon Bops bongo cajon sounds better. I didn't buy that one because I didn't want to pay so much for something like this. Also, the Gon Bops bongo cajon is larger, and can't be played on one's lap without muffling the sound.
Other things you might be wondering about..
Does this drum sound like a regular cajon? Not really. It sounds like itself.
Does it sound bad? No.. it sounds pretty good.
Is it worth getting? That's up to you. If you have realistic expectations, you might like it. I play this drum almost as often as the others I own. It's certainly LOTS easier to hold between one's knees than regular bongos, and unlike a real set of bongos, this can be held on one's lap and played without discomfort. This drum is light.
I won't buy a set of regular bongos until I have enough money to also get a good stand. I think regular bongos are too heavy and uncomfortable to hold between my knees, and even more uncomfortable to play with them sitting on my lap.
There is another option though.. Moroccan ceramic bongos. Those are small, and sound better than this wooden bongo cajon.. or at least as good.. definitely different. They are usually the same price as this, or cheaper, but can be hard to find. I bought mine in a little hippie shop years ago. You might be able to find Moroccan bongos online.
If you are holding the ceramic bongos between your knees and drop them, they will break. I don't expect this one will. Something to keep in mind. Also, if you are a vegan, you won't like the ceramic bongos, because the drum heads are made of animal skin.
The sound of the ceramic bongos really carries far. I played in a drum circle in a large park, and noticed that the sound really traveled, and echoed off a building way across the park. Wooden bongos like this one will not be the same. But, this snare bongo cajon will probably do you fine in drum circles, I'm guessing.
The snare version of this drum is superior to the non-snare version, in my opinion, because if you want the snare sound, you got it. If you don't, it is possible to remove the snare wires. Also, I like the feel of the playing surface of the snare bongo cajon better than the non-snare version I tried.
Removing those snare wires can be a bit tricky. After turning the drum upside down, I used a screwdriver, but noticed the nut on the other side of the wood was also turning. I had to use a pair of wire cutters as a clamp to hold the nut in place while I turned the screw. Putting the snares back in wasn't too tough.
If you want to adjust your snare sound, remove one of the screws, and let the snare wires hang down.. this adds sustain.. you can hear the snare wires ringing longer. Beating this thing on its sides is good too.. more tones available that way.
The particular bongo snare cajon I ordered I've had for less than a month. The playing surface is a tiny bit warped just past the middle. Right along where the wood below it separates the high section from the low. This is something I had not noticed when I first got it. The warping is very slight, thus far, and doesn't affect playing.. just something I noticed tonight. I seriously doubt I warped the playing surface when I removed the snares.. I was quite careful.. but, I suppose it is possible.
A couple weeks ago, I removed the snare wires from the lower-sounding part of the drum, but left the snares in the higher part, like another reviewer did. I liked the difference in sounds. Tonight though, I was not feeling especially pleased with the snare sound on the higher part, so I took those snare wires out too. I generally like the sound of the drum better without the snares, especially when I am using an LP Finger Shot or a Rhythm Ring.. these are miniature shakers that can be worn on one's fingers. Check these out.
Other drums to consider.. Meinl makes a non-snare version of this drum, there's the other drums I mentioned earlier, and a "professional" bongo cajon made by Meinl that is larger and more expensive than this one. I listened to a couple demos of the pro model, and was not impressed. I think this drum sounds better than that one.
If you want a VERY cool and enjoyable drum made by Meinl, I strongly suggest checking out and purchasing the Slap Top Cajon.
Meinl Slap-Top Cajon - Makah-Burl
It is more costly.. $109. And if you buy it from Amazon, as of 1/19/13, you will have to pay shipping. Look for it from another site that has free shipping. Or, maybe Amazon, in the future, will sell it themselves, instead of through an affiliate, as is done right now.. and at that time.. if you have Amazon Prime, you won't have to pay for shipping.
The slap top cajon doesn't sound exactly like a regular cajon, but, like this bongo cajon, the slap top model has a horizontal playing surface. It has more tones available than this drum, and is, overall, great. I sometimes prefer learning bongo grooves on that one, not on this bongo snare cajon. Also, the slap top model is a LOT more versatile than this one. Certainly worth the difference in price.
Check out some demonstrations of the various drums I've mentioned. You'll find some demos on youtube. Remember that what you are hearing on some of those videos is processed through a professional-quality microphone and computer, in a music studio. The sound you get without your drum being amplified will be a little different. Also remember that in some of the demos, the drums are being played by professionals, who can make a mediocre drum sound awesome. Still, the demonstrations help.
In summation.. hmm.. if I'd bought the slap top cajon first, I might not have bought this one. Or maybe I still would have. Hard to say. This one is cheap, light, has a pleasant feel to it, and also has its own sound. Yes, I think this drum is worth buying and playing.
| 商品尺寸 | 19.56 x 40.39 x 19.56 cm; 1.36 公斤 |
|---|---|
| 产品颜色 | 超级自然 |
| 制造商 | Meinl USA L.C. |
| 型号 | BCA1SNT-M |
| 商品重量 | 1.36 kilograms |
