Best Bongo Drums in the UK

The Meinl Percussion HB50BK is a great choice for people that aren't just looking to entertain themselves and pick up a new musical instrument but for those that actually play in a band and would like to add a new sound to their band's repertoire. Sure, this isn't the most compact and mobile product out there as the drums weigh over 3 kilograms. But that is the price you ought to be willing to pay for a pair of drums that don't just sound great but actually look like a professional musical instrument.

Aside from the hand-selected buffalo heads that will be able to produce a clear and rich sound, the whole thing is comprised of ABS plastic featuring a black powder-coated hardware. Unlike the majority of these types of drums that are usually designed to resemble an African native instrument, the model in question looks more like a set of regular drums that you would usually find in your typical rock band. Though we did mention earlier that these Meinl bongos are a bit on the heavier side, the ABS plastic construction makes them more suitable for transportation purposes than any other model out there. Other than that, we would also like to point out the rounded rims that will provide the bongoseros with the opportunity to play with a bit more comfort, which is always a welcome feature as far as musical instruments go.

In conclusion, we would recommend the Meinl Percussion HB50BK drums to those people that play in a band and tend to travel a lot as well as to those individuals that prefer a contemporary rock band design to a more traditional one.

The people behind the Stagg BW-200-N clearly decided to go with the philosophy of not reinventing a wheel and instead focusing on honing the classic model and the original idea behind this percussive musical instrument.

The shells of the drums are made of a beautiful latin wood that makes them look sophisticated and traditional at the same time. Of course, none of it would be worth much without the natural finish that further defines the traditional look of this instrument.

Aside from relying on traditional materials, the manufacturers also made sure to follow the standards when it comes to the size of the bongos, with the smaller male one (Macho) featuring 6 and a half inches in diameter and the larger female drum (Hembra) being exactly an inch bigger. The rims and the bottoms of drums are made with the use of robust steel, making them far more durable compared to your typical pair of drums. The rabbit skin heads are soft to the touch and capable of generating a sound that is just as soft and beautiful. Finally, the drums have tunable membranes, so the tuning wrench that comes with the package will definitely come in handy.

All in all, these Stagg bongos are designed for easy storage and using them won't prove to be difficult whatsoever. The natural finish makes the model look like the percussive instrument's predecessor - aged and venerable.

As it usually is with RockJam, the company offers their customers not just a musical instrument on its own but a complete package that includes every accessory necessary to get started with your new instrument. Aside from a set of drums that we will get to in a moment, you will also receive a great bag that comes with internal padding in order to protect the drums during transportation as well as a carry handle and a shoulder strap that will make the aforementioned process of transportation that much more comfortable. You'll also get a tuning key since the bongos are fully tunable.

With that out of the way, its time to talk about the bongo drums themselves, the body of which was crafted with the help of high-quality selected woods. This is exactly the sort of meticulous approach that allows the sound to resonate with vigour around that body. In addition to the body, the manufacturers also used authentic cow skin to make the heads. It might not sound like much on paper, but the player will be able to deliver both subtle and obvious changes to the sounds just by striking different parts of the heads with different parts of the hands. Finally, the chrome frames will provide a solid foundation and the rubber feet will make sure that the musical instrument doesn't slip and slide around the surface.

To rephrase our earlier point, the bongo drums from RockJam is exactly the sort of model that will be able to pique the interest of those customers that aren't just looking for a drum set but would like to acquire a complete package that includes every necessary accessory.

The Stagg BW-70-N is one of the best options for beginners that are looking to pick up a new instrument that is a lot of fun to play and does not require years of rigorous practice. The shells are made of wood, sporting a light finish that looks attractive and natural. The latter with the help of heads made of skin is what allows the model to produce a rich sound that is as diverse as it is beautiful. Just make sure to occasionally apply drum oils to the skin heads to prevent them from drying out and cracking.

Aside from the shell and the heads, an important part of the bongo drums is top and bottom metal hoops. Each of the hoops comes with four tuning lugs, meaning that you can use the tuning key that comes with the package in order to make the instrument produce exactly the sort of sound you want. Other than providing a foundation for the tuning lugs, the metal hoops are also there to make the process of transportation as convenient as possible and to protect the musical instrument from the usual rough and tumble that it is always going to face, be it in a classroom or at the future concerts.

Having said all of that, the Stagg BW-70-N bongo drums will prove to be a great choice for beginners. The instrument is easy to play and it doesn't require a whole lot of attention in terms of maintenance.

Now, what we have here is a bit of a different offer compared to other models in this review. In case the picture doesn't make it clear, these drums won't necessarily prove to be a great fit for adults. With the smaller drum featuring 4 inches in diameter and the larger, female one adding up to 5 inches in that department, this mini bongo drum set will be a great choice only for the youngest aspiring musicians that would like to grow up to be bongoseros, playing son cubano, salsa, or Afro-Cuban jazz.

Again, this isn't just some toy that you acquire to fool your children. This is a completely playable musical instrument with a very high-quality build, especially if you take the price and the application into account. The model features heads made of real skin and a natural gloss finish, which is quite impressive given that we're talking about an instrument for children. The heads are completely tunable as well, though you will have to purchase a tuning key separately as this set of mini bongo drums comes alone without any sort of package. The small rubber feet will allow your kid to comfortably position the instrument between his legs. And the weight of about 1 kilogram will prove to be perfect for children that do not yet have the muscles to carry around a heavy instrument.

To sum it up, if you have a kid that shows an interest in music, you might want to consider purchasing the Bryce LZHB-1110 bongo drums for him. And even if he doesn't particularly care for music, this is still a fun little instrument that any kid might fall in love with.