Bongo Drum

There are a wide range of bongo drum sets on the market right now. A drum can cost anywhere from as little as fifty dollars for a mini set up to the hundreds for a standard set.

I purchased the Pearl Primero bongos for myself and couldn’t be happier with my purchase. The shells are beautiful and the drums have stood up to the torture that my children have inflicted upon it. Better that they hit the bongos than each other I guess.

What I’d like to do is cover a few of the drum options available to you and then let you shop for your own set.



Each Schalloch bongo drum is produced with an amazing level of care and craftsmanship. Both the 6-1/2″ and 7-1/2″ bongos use hand-selected buffalo skin drum heads, 8mm tuning lugs, Siam oak shells, black hardware, and rounded rims for playing comfort. They also include backing plates on the drum interior for strength.



Finishes include:

Blue Fade
Tequila Sunrise
Vintage Sunburst
Wine Red
Natural



CP makes a reasonably priced entry level bongo set. What you’ll find with many beginner bongo sets, is that they are much lighter and usually smaller than higher end drum sets. They are often more susceptible to damage such as knicks or broken drum shells.

The bongo heads are also much thinner than more expensive drums, but if you are looking for a higher pitch, then you will want the thinner heads anyway. Also, you’ll sometimes find that the lugs will get stripped, but for an intro level bongo player, these drums are a great buy.



LP is one of the better known names in the realm of World Drums. The model shown above is a higher end signature series set of bongos.

Higher end models will usually have some sort of reinforcement inside the drum shells and much thicker bongo heads. While these things are easily replaced on entry level models, they can become a huge investment over time, whereas a Professional bongo set should last you a lifetime with head changes once in a great while.



You’ll also find that the higher end models tend to have more eye catching graphics and designs than lower end bongo sets. Above is another one of LP’s designs that captures Puerto Rican flag. On the right you’ll see a design from the Meinl Headliner series. They have some pretty unique patterns in the Headliner series, including one that looks like a Scottish Kilt.



Remo is another huge name in the world of hand drums. It’s no wonder really since they are the ones that make ninety percent of the drum heads that fit these instruments. You can learn more about these bongos and other Remo Drums.

Shop Bongo Drum Sets

Now that you’ve learned a little about the difference between beginner and professional bongos, you’re ready to shop for your own bongos in the online store. Don’t forget to scan the Drum Reviews for info on bongo sets.





Related Drum Lessons:

Bongo Tones
Bongo Techniques
How To Read Bongo Music

Return To Bongo Drum Main Page.