want to learn how to build congas

[h444892]

Hello everyone,

i want to build conga drums. I now live in germany berlin.i am willing to work with someone as a trainee just that someone will show me the way!

i can go everywhere in europe for the cause.

does anyone have some usefull info that can help?


"corazon mi clave"

[phil manapany]

Hello,

You can find something at this adress:

http://www.simonsen-holzart.de/workshops_congabau.html

I hope it helps.

Regards

Philippe

[bongosnotbombs]

Congalou is probably you best bet, he's in France. He has been doing incredible work making his own wood and fiberglass drums. I wouldn't really know if he is taking students though, but he always seems willing to share his knowledge.

[burke]

That workshop looks so cool!

Wish we had something like that here.

I have "Europe Envy"!!!!!!

Darrell

[h444892]

thank you all for your replies.

i have contacted simonson holz at germany a couple of times before and he said he does not have time right now.beged him to teach me and that i am willing to work for free but he said teaching is time consuming and that i will take there mind of thier other jobs(his main thing is carpentry and taiko drums).
i will just have to wait for them to open a new schedule, and reading between the lines,it is not going to happen soon.
i live in germany for about a year now(berlin) and from what i understand congas dont sell that good anymore.today cajon is the big thing here.
i have been in the music industry for years now,visited the "musik messe" a couple of times,and unfortunatlly all the industry has moved to thailand.same drum different painting.this makes me very sad.that is why i am looking for new approaches.
will try to contact the french guy.

[congalou]

Hey !!

Here is the French guy !!!

hello H444892 !! I'm sorry, but I don't take trainee... because I still considering myself as a trainee...

You have http://www.reiche-trommelbau.de/ in Germany, maybe you can try.

But really, I think it's very difficult to find (I tried too few years ago...)

To my mind, you can learn how to make congas if you work for a barrel maker who is OK to let you make your drums in his factory after the day of work, and you learn by yourself how to make Hardware and skins. Or you learn everything by yourself.

Personnally, I have learned by myself. I make congas repairs since a long time, it's a good way to see how all the old drums are made (the better way). And I tried to make my first own drums with an old barrel.

My advice : try by yourself, and if you have questions about repairs or making you own drum, post it on the forum, I think you will find some help !

Gaël.

[Dangler]

I hope you have seen this video :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7lF7RQGUpM

I think its Moperc factory.

Does anyone know if SOS,Ritmo and Resolution cut or steambend their staves?

[PRDRconguero]

That would be a dream of mine to do on the side but I simply don't have the room for the equipment. Minimally:

-Band Saw
-Table/Bench Saw
-Lathe
-Assorted other required items

Hardware can alway be outsourced (Matt, Cali, etc) if you want to save room on metalworking equipment.

[congalou]

That would be a dream of mine to do on the side but I simply don't have the room for the equipment. Minimally:

-Band Saw
-Table/Bench Saw
-Lathe
-Assorted other required items

Hardware can alway be outsourced (Matt, Cali, etc) if you want to save room on metalworking equipment.

Hey guys !

I think it depends of the result you want. I make my first drum with a old wine barrel and few carpenter tools. No lathe, no band saw. the result is roots, but cool !! and it works.

Dangler, Cadenza, I have used same kind of concept for gluing the shell (but with clamps) you can see on the photo. That works well !