About This Item
The Latin Percussion LP601NY-AW is the Natural Gloss version of the City Series bongo set, and it represents a meaningful and musically significant step forward from the Discovery Series for players who are ready to invest in the warmth, resonance, and traditional character of a real wood bongo. The LP601NY-AW is built from Siam Oak, a dense, stable, and tonally responsive hardwood that has been used in LP's mid-tier and professional percussion instruments for decades. Siam Oak produces a bongo tone that is distinctly warmer, rounder, and more complex than the bright and dynamic tone of a synthetic or HD Shell bongo set. The wood grain of the shells responds to the energy of each hand strike in a way that creates subtle tonal variations and harmonic overtones that give the LP601NY-AW a depth of character that reveals itself more fully as the player's technique develops over time. The Natural Gloss satin finish allows the grain and natural color variation of the Siam Oak shells to express themselves visually, giving the set the warm and organic appearance of a traditional wood bongo. The Natural Gloss finish is the most straightforward expression of the Siam Oak material's inherent visual character, allowing the wood to speak for itself without being transformed by a colored dye or heavy finish layer. The black powder-coated hardware provides a clean and durable contrast to the warm natural tone of the wood shells, and the 9/32-inch diameter tuning lugs provide smooth and reliable tuning action that allows the player to achieve and maintain optimal head tension for any musical context. The 6-inch macho and 7-inch hembra drums are fitted with natural rawhide heads that deliver the authentic bongo tone that both traditional Latin music and contemporary percussion contexts demand. Rawhide heads have a warm initial attack and a full, resonant sustain that open up further as the heads break in through regular playing, meaning the LP601NY-AW genuinely improves in tone and responsiveness over the first several months of use. Traditional Cuban-style bottoms contribute to the open and projecting resonance that defines a properly constructed bongo set. The LP601NY-AW is part of LP's City Series ecosystem, which includes matching City Series congas available separately, allowing players to build a complete and visually coordinated hand percussion setup as their playing skills and ambitions grow. A tuning wrench is included. At $129.99, the LP601NY-AW offers real wood construction, authentic component specifications, and the tone quality of a genuine Siam Oak instrument at a price that makes it accessible for student and intermediate players. Backed by Latin Percussion, the world's leading manufacturer of Latin percussion instruments for over six decades, the LP601NY-AW is a quality-built and beautifully finished bongo set that will serve a developing player well for years to come.
