For the fourth year in a row, LP (Latin Percussion) picked up a prestigious 'best in show' award at the 2011 Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California. This time for the innovative Qube Shaker, developed by Jeff Sallee.LP Qube shaker: musical geometry at its finest
The Qube, invented by Jeff Sallee, may be small in size and price but there’s nothing small about its sound, its value, or the innovation that went into its design. The box-shaped shaker features a unique internal-baffle design that produces a multitude of shaker effects with four attack surfaces depending on what direction the “box” is moved in. Forward-and-back creates one sound; side-to-side creates another. Spin your wrist to shake it in a circular pattern and you get a double-timed version of both.
The Qube is available in two sizes and sounds. The small studio version (LP460-S, 2-3/8" square) has a delicate sound. The larger live model (LP460-L, 2-3/4" square) produces a sharper attack with more penetration. US list price is $29.00 (approximately €21 or £18) for the studio Qube and $33.00 (about €24 or £20) for the live Qube.
LP Bongo Cajon
LP has applied the concepts of cajon design to the higher-pitched acoustic range of bongo drums. The result is the new LP Bongo Cajon. Along with its compact size (15-¾" long by 7" wide) and lightweight plywood construction, the Bongo Cajon is contoured to fit comfortably on a player’s lap, or to be held between the knees in the traditional bongo playing position. Its open-bottomed, twin-chambered shell results in two complementary high and low pitches that convincingly produces a bongo-esque sound. The US list price is $75.00 (around €55 or £45).
LP LapTop Conga
The new LapTop Conga is essentially a shallow box measuring 11-½" wide, 19-½" long, and 3" deep. The box sits comfortably across a player’s lap, while an attached strap goes under the legs or around the waist to secure it. The waist strap also allows the LapTop Conga to be played in a standing position.
The acoustic feature of the LapTop Conga is that it produces two distinctly different pitches, just as a pair of conga drums can do. Portable and easy to play, the LP LapTop Conga may become a popular choice among percussionists. The US list price is $169.00 (approximately €123 or £105).
Hi-Hat Shekere lets you put another foot to work
Acclaimed artist and educator Michael Spiro has collaborated with LP on the Hi-Hat Shekere (LP485), a device that allows percussionists to bring their hi-hat foot into the mix. The Hi-Hat Shekere mounts to any standard hi-hat pull rod. Its durable fiberglass shell has a flattened-sphere shape without the traditional "throat" of a gourd-style shekere. This shape provides increased contact area for the beads in order to accommodate the exclusively up-and-down motion that a hi-hat generates.
Shake things up with LP's Fusheki
The new LP Fusheki lets drummers and percussionists play the soft shaker sound of a maraca with their feet. When attached to a foot pedal bracket or multi stem bracket the cleverly designed Fusheki allows the mountable maraca to be played using a standard bass drum pedal. You can change the fill material within the maraca in order to produce different sounds.
The assembly in which the maraca moves features specially engineered bumpers to eliminate audible shell impact—thus producing only the maraca sound. It’s also adjustable in length to establish an even distance between front and rear strikes. US list price is $80.00 (around €58 or £50).
LP's designers experimented extensively to determine just the right bead size and hardness to achieve a natural sound. Then they mounted the beads on the shell using special extra-light netting that provides easy movement for a lively response. Each Hi-Hat Shekere is supplied with three extra hi-hat seat washers so that only the crisp, bright sound of the Shekere will be heard when the instrument is played. US list price: $175.00 (approximately €130 or £110).
LP’s Slide Mount Double Conga Stand
The new LP Slide Mount Double Conga Stand (LP290S) feature a patented design that eliminates the need for bolts, wing nuts, and washers. This means no more lost parts plus setting up is now quick and easy. The mounts on the congas just slide into the stand’s unique V-shaped receivers. These receivers securely grip the conga mounts, allowing no slipping or bouncing even under hard playing. Yet the congas easily lift up and out of the receivers.
Another new feature of this stand is a support bracket that adjusts to individual conga diameters. The entire stand-and-conga assembly can be easily moved thanks to locking casters on each leg. US list price for the stand is $319.00 (around €232 or £198).
LP's Rio Stanton Moore Pandeiro
Stanton Moore's playing style is an eclectic gumbo of New Orleans funk, Afro-Brazilian rhythms and some down-home American rock 'n' roll. For a long time Stanton has used a Brazilian-style pandeiro in his grooves. This NAMM show Stanton presented his signature LP Rio Stanton Moore Pandeiro, a drum as distinctive and original as its namesake.
The Stanton Moore Pandeiro is 12" in diameter so you can conveniently place it around a drumkit. It fits comfortably into a snare stand. It can also be "flown" off of any cymbal or drum stand using the included shell mount that will fit onto a standard 3/8" rod. The high-density hardwood shell is strong enough to withstand the impact torque created when the drum is played this way.
The pandeiro is fitted with seven sets of jingles and eight tuning rods to help it create a characteristic Brazilian sound. The drum features a Remo Emperor head and comes supplied with a convenient carry bag. The US list price is $149.00 (approximately €110 or £90).
Latin Percussion presented even more percussion items such as the Giovanni Series Prestige Timbales, the Finger Shot Shakers and the Futurelite II Conga Stand, not to mention add-ons for existing ranges such as new finishes for the Classic Top-Tuning Congas series.
LP Giovanni Series Prestige Timbales
The new Giovanni Series Prestige Timbales are carefully crafted to master percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo’s personal specs in order to faithfully recreate the ultra-articulate sound of timbales from the “Palladium days” of the 1950s — the heyday of Latin big bands. The timbales are traditional sized: 6-½”x13" and 6-½”x14" rather than 14 and 15". The phosphor bronze shells feature a wide space between the top and bottom ribs to create an expanded cascara playing area.
The LP Giovanni Series Prestige Timbales also feature a recessed “top key tuning” system that utilizes oversize bolts to ensure even and secure tuning. A special key is secured in a holder as part of the heavy-duty stand that comes with the timbales. Also included are a cowbell bracket and a pair of timbale sticks. US list price is $965.00 (around €700 or £596).
LP Finger Shot: a mini revolution
In essence, the new Finger Shot is a mini version of LP’s original One Shot Shaker. Both enable the percussionist to lay forward/down strokes only. No shadow or ghost strikes follow. This allows for complex patterns to become simplified. You can easily attach the Finger Shot to one of your fingers by means of elastic ribbons and add a subtle nuance while you play congas, bongos or a cajon. The miniature size of the Finger Shot lets it make its musical contribution without interfering with your drumming technique. US list price: $8.00 (around €6 or £5).
LP's lightweight Futurelite II Conga Stand
As a conguero you probably love to play with a heavy groove but like it a lot less to carry around with heavy stands. That's why LP has come up with the Futurelite II Conga Stand (LP638). At only 5 1/2 pounds, the new stand is almost half the weight of standard steel stands. Yet its sturdy design and wide tripod stance prevents congas from 'walking away' while you play them.
The finish of the Futurelite II Conga Stand combines chrome tubing with black components that feature EPD black plating, which is more durable than powder coating. Plus LP has fitted the stand with steel nuts, bolts, and other hardware fittings in order to ensure long-term functionality. The US list price for the Futurelite II Conga Stand is $279.00 (around €200 or £140).
New finishes for the Classic Top-Tuning Congas series
Last year LP introduced the Classic Top-Tuning Congas that percussionists could tune "on the fly", without having to turn the drum, lift it or remove it from its stand. This time LP adss two fresh finishes to the Classic Top-Tuning range.
The new Dark Wood finish features a deep reddish-brown stain over the congas' Siam Oak shells. The new Vintage Sunburst finish starts with the light natural Siam Oak at the centre of each shell, and moving through yellow, gold, orange, red and reddish-brown toward the top and bottom. The wood grain shows through the transparent stains, and the chrome hardware complements the colours.
The US list price for the Top-Tuning Conga ranges from $649.00 (approximately €470 or £400) for the 11" Quinto to $699.00 (€500 or £430) for the 12-1/2" Tumba.
