LP Aspire Accents Series Congas and Bongos

GEARREVIEWS
MAY 2007 RHYTHM 105
Why hasn’t LP included its pro-care shell protectors
when the finish has been improved to such an extent?
★★★★★
RATING
Impressive build and finish quality, decent sound and
playability all with a reasonable price tag.
Congueros are not usually known to be shy and retiring, and LP’s
new Accents fi nishes refl ect a hot Latin temperament. Superb value
for money and looking much more like one of LP’s professional
ranges, the Aspire Accents series provides you with a well made,
superior looking starter set that includes many impressive design
features and that rich, lustrous fi nish. Add to the obvious aesthetic
value a high level of playability and a warm, articulate and cutting
sound and you get a great value starter set that wouldn’t look out of
place on any stage.
so I’d suggest playing them
on the fl oor. If you did want to play them
seated, but need more volume then
employ some of LP’s natty rubber conga
feet, which simply slip over the bottom
edge of the drums, raising them only
slightly and letting the sound escape
nicely. These clever little fellas would also
be great if you were worried about
moisture on an outside gig and, if you did
want to play them standing up, then LP
kindly include a pair of lightweight black
basket stands as part of the package.
The Aspire Accents bongo set consists
of a 6¾" macho and 8" hembra. They
possess a surprisingly full range of tones
and were one of the more sonically
cutting sets that I’ve played in this price
Scaled-down
heart-shaped side
plates protect the
fi nish from being
scratched while tuning.
range. Their reduced dimensions do
produce a nicely matched sound and the
macho has a pleasant and articulate cut,
though both drums retain an authentic
sound and feel.
The bongos are also of stave
construction and feature solid Cuban
style steel bottoms and EZ-Curve rims
with quite high-bearing edges. They are
light enough to be played comfortably
between your knees. Their sound
contrasts well with the tumbadoras but
this is always a personal thing so you
should check them out and see how you
get on with them before buying. That
said, you would be hard pressed to fi nd a
better starter set that looks and sounds
as good as these at this price.
The new Lava
fi nish is as hot
as the Latin
temperament.
The new fi nish
designs are in stark
contrast to the rather
conservative options of
LP’s standard Aspire series.
RHY137.gear_lp 105 22/3/07 10:13:42