Meinl HC555 Conga Set 10"+11" - MA

The Product -
This Conga model from Meinl is a gold standard, is not a beginners conga neither an expensive profesional conga. Something in a golden middle which is good enough to play for yourself, to perform in a stage, to teach conga lessons, and still at an affordable price.

I'm in love with the colour, it looks really elegant, a couple of months passed by and I'm still feeling super happy every time I wake up and I see my congas standing there inviting me to play, the colour is mirror glossy and very elegant, still keeping elements or nature colours.

Sound -
People discusses which wood is better for low tones or for higher tones, in my own opinion what matters in a bigger percent is the conga heads! Especially synthetic or natural.
These congas come with natural buffalo skin heads, the tone is warm, nice bass, but like any natural skin heads it can be problematic if you live in a place where weather and temperature changes often, you will need to tune it pretty often.
I got the 10" and 11" set size, which it is (the quinto and the conga) This set is preferred to play funk, jazz, ballads, rock and again funk. Now, that does NOT mean that you can not play latin music with this set, BUT if you want congas especially for latin music such as salsa, merengue and so on, better go for the 11" & 12" size set (conga and tumba)
Quinto - best for high tones, slap, and soloing.
Conga - the middle tone, the rhythm.
Tumba - the bass tones.
(Anyway, Im planning to order a separate Tumba in a near future)

Manufacturing - Flawless craftsmanship as you would expect from Meinl. It is easy to love these congas, from first sight and first touch.

Shipping - The order was dispatched next day, it transited Germany and customs 2 days, and it took 3 more days to arrive to my closest post office.
Yes, they arrived to me inside the same week! that's a wow!
I live in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Customs - My order exceeded the taxes free allowance fare, yet still at the post office no one asked me to pay anything.
The shipping is conducted by German Post (DHL) while on German territory and once entering Russia then Russian Post handles it.

Packing - Many of us might worry about packing for big instruments, but the congas arrived intact in a very safe packing. I believe it is the factory packing. Each conga arrived in a separate cartoon box which it is especially design for congas, there was an inside box at the bottom of the box with the conga stands, everything safe, nothing to worry.
I ordered the two congas set + Millenium conga bag set 1011 + Edition Dux Congabuch (book). I got it all in 3 separate parcels, one parcel with the conga bags and the book, the other two parcels with a conga each one. I guess they divide it for weight and safety purposes.

Customer Service - Previous to my order I called Thomann customer service to ask a few questions regarding customs and shipping orders during Covid quarantine times, and as usual Thomann team speaks your language (I ended up speaking English, Russian and Spanish) they are always very professional answering questions, friendly and glad to help.

Thank you Thomann for helping materialising our musical dreams!