Handmade Drums

[folkloricoSD]

Greetings everyone!!!

This is my first post on the board, although I have been reading it for several months now. From what I have read, there are some great percussionists who post on this board!!! I look forward to posting here and hopefully I can pass some of my knowledge on to you as well...

Now down to business.... After reading several different posts, and seeing some pictures of some beautifull drums, I have decided to step up and buy a set of "old style" handmade drums.

From what I can see, The main companies who still make the old style hand made drums are:
Skin on Skin
JCR
Matthew Smith's Ritmo
Isla
Fat Congas
This is to say without me searching for a vintage pair of Gon Bops or Juniors.

So my question is....Does anybody have any more information on skin on skin, fat congas, and matthew smith? Isla and JCR have websites and that is great, but i can't find anything for the skin on skin and the Matthew Smith's. Also Fat Congas has a website, but they do not sell their dums on their. I am also open to other companies that make these style of drums if you have any suggestions. I would be playing folkloric, salsa, and latin jazz, but mostly folkloric.
Sorry if this has been posted before, I'm just eager to find out more about these drums.

Thank you in advance....

[Isaac]

The JCR website you may have seen is not
affiliated with JCR. It's an old dormant site
set up without our authorization.

Isaac
JCR Sales

[taikonoatama]

Skin on Skin:
It's pretty much a one-man operation run by Jay Bereck in New York, but last I spoke with him (Oct. 2006) he was semi-retired, back-ordered for over a year, and maybe or maybe not taking new orders. Great drums, of course - I've got a set in oak. No website and he's not online. I can dig up a phone number or address if you'd like, or it might be posted on this site somewhere.

Fat Congas:
Based in Santa Barbara, California. I spoke with them in March 2007 and they're not currently making congas, focusing instead on the cajon. They're playing around with some new conga designs, though, and it's possible they may start production again next year. Next to impossible to find any second hand.

Matthew Smith / Ritmo Drums:
Lives in Pennsylvania. Last spoke with him in January 2007 and he's very, very busy with the business. Back ordered 9 months or more. His drums have been very highly praised. No website or public email address at this point. Contact info elsewhere on this site.

JCR:
Isaac, a regular on this site, is a sales rep for them. There's likely a waiting list, as they don't make their congas year-round.

Others to consider:

Moperc:
http://www.moperc.com/

Timba:
http://www.timbapercussion.com/

[folkloricoSD]

Thanks for the tips guys... I think i will message you Isaac to get more details about the JCR line of drums.

[Derbeno]

You may want to look at Volcano drums from Hawaii.

It's on the high price end but they sound as beautiful as they look. Made to order only with a 6 to 8 week delivery.

http://www.volcanopercussion.com/

[congalero]

akbar still has some of his old shells down ad DW in oxnard. you can try to reach him through the old sol website, which gives you a choice between viewing his site or the joint venture site.

www.soldrums.com