JCR Percussion Congas - Give us your feedback

[afrocubarico]

Que pasa mi congueros,
I wanted to know if there are any JCR Percussion Congas owners out there? Could you tell us your experience with these congas? Could you give us your personal review and tell us how they compare to other drums?

Big NYC Thanks!
afrocubarico

[Firebrand]

I've NEVER heard anything bad from JCR...in fact...JCR seems to be the maker of the "Excalibur swords" of the conga world....

Everyone who is REALLY touring with some big names that I know has some sort of JCR products, whether it be the cowbells etc.

If I werent' such a poor, working musician, I'd replace my LP cowbells just for the #### of it, with JCRs.

But, in all honesty, outside of 1% of people out there (maybe less) who are percussion enthuiasts....nobody will really tell the difference, so I think I'll be sticking with my LP products that I bought 5 years ago for the next 2 decades, barring any accidents.

But, you really can't go wrong with JCR. They're the Rolls Royce of congas, if I may be so bold...

[Sakuntu]

I'm with you. I've never seen or played them but I've only heard good things about JCR congas. Most retailers who carry their bells don't even know that they make congas or bongos. They are more expensive, but then again you're paying for high quality work by folks right here in the US. I'm torn right now between sticking with what I know (LP) or saving up and buying some JCRs....Maybe some time next year when i got enough in my "conga account" I'll take the 7 hour trip the the City and try 'em out.

[Isaac]

Hello my fellow congueros!

Heres some pics of some just finished, custom order JCR Congas.
They are about to get shipped out to two different players.
I took a few days to take photos & make sure their heads were
seated properly before I send them out to their
new homes. It's hard to say goodbye.
Each set has something unique about it.


~ Isaac
Sales & Product Development, JCR Percussion

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... sept06.jpg

[Isaac]

Another new JCR set...
going to Cleveland.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... l_2006.jpg

[ABAKUA]

Hey brother,

Isaac on here is a JCR rep and owns a set of custom JCR congas.

I hear many good things of JCR all the way here in Australia. Though Im yet to see a set of JCR congas here, I have seen 1 timbal, a few cowbells and thats it. Very rare for that stuff to arrive here, ussually brought over by someone whos been in New York.

You may contact Issac here:
For real info about our products you can call (732) 432-0609 or email to :
funkytradition@yahoo.com

ps. I will soon post some photos of the new JCR congas
currently in production.


Isaac Gutwilik
Percussionist / Auth. Rep. JCR Percussion Co.
funkytradition@yahoo.com

Please do not publish these JCR photos on other websites
without prior written consent.

Photography © 2005, Isaac Gutwilik, JCR Percussion Co.

[onile]

Oh Yeah! Abure Isaac!
now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Those top tree are absolutely beautiful! Love the color mix, great!

Definitely drums on my list!

Thanks Isaac!

Respectfully!

Onile!

[KING CONGA]

Hi Isaac. Could you tell me if there is a specific web site from JCR Percussion, one where I can view the different JCR congas and options, also, can you tell me the cost and waiting period of a set of congas.
Thanks.
Would you know how the JCR Percussion congas compare to "Skin on Skin" and the "Mathew Smith" Congas? ???



Edited By KING CONGA on 1165257817

[ralph]

KING KONGA, I have not tried a JCR drum yet...some say the drums don't sound too good maybe it was just a particular drum...

I have a Junior drum, and Matthew Smith Drum, and I have played a Jay drum

The Junior drum without question is the best but, no longer available, unless OMELENKO wants to do us the favor!!!!!!!!

Matthew Smith drums are very well built, good sounding, loud drums, and worth the price, although he has raised his prices considerably from around 500 dollars to 700 dollars, yikes!!!!!

The Jay drum was nice, and reminds me of the Matthew drum, although the hardware on the Matthew drum is no joke...

really unfortunately, artisans are having, and have been having a really tough time making a living, its a dying art, and as prices rise and people just plain get tired of building drums (its hard work)...good drums will be more harder to come by...get yours while you can...

[ralph]

those JCR pics got my mouth watering...!!!! they look beautiful...while we are on the subject of traditional drums Pearl is putting out a folkloric line, anyone have any insight on the folkloric drums?



Edited By ralph on 1165272683

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... kloric.jpg

[ABAKUA]

I tried out their (pearl) folkloric range congas.... I was expecting big things from them, finally wood congas, traditional hardware etc etc... major dissapointment. They sounded terrible. No projection, no crisp, in short, a big let down

Love the chekere's though, I was given the Chango one as part of a recent deal with the LP/Pearl distributor here.
As seen here: http://www.congaplace.com/cgi-bin....;t=2599

[ralph]

Abakua,

I figured.... I didn't want to get too excited about the Pearl Folkloric Range, thanks for providing some insight on the subject, yes the chekere looks very nice indeed...

[ABAKUA]

no worries hermano, it all comes down to personal taste and diversity. Try them out, if you dig them, then go for it!
Ive read some great reviews on them, but I simply did not like them when I road tested them...

[Isaac]

This is a little video clip about JCR Percussion.
It appeared on NY news last april. You can see & hear Caly Rivera tell the story of how
he switched the timbale bell of Tito Puente with his own handmade bell.
Click to the right of the video where it says dial up.


http://www.ny1.com/ny1....stid=20

~ ISAAC