My Isla Set

[yambu321]

TONIO,

YOU ARE 100% CORRECT. I DO EVENLY COAT THE INSIDE OF MY DRUMS WITH OLIVE OIL. I DO THIS ATLEAST 3 TIMES A YEAR, FOR PROTECTION AGAINST MOISTURE INTRUSION, AND TO HELP PRESERVE THE WOOD. ONCE I'M DONE PRESERVING MY DRUMS, AND THE LIGHT COAT OF OIL ON THE SKINS, HAVE BEEN ON THERE FOR A FEW HOURS. I WOULD WIPE THE SKINS OFF WITH A CLEAN AND DRY CLOTH. I WOULD THEN FLIP THEM UPSIDE DOWN IN ORDER TO LET THE INSIDE OF THE SHELLS TO BREATH AND VENT OVERNIGHT, OR LEAVE THEM THAT WAY FOR A FEW DAYS IF I'M NOT GOING TO PLAY THEM. I KNOW TO SOME OF YOU THIS MAY SOUND A LITTLE WIERD, BUT I AM A TRUE BELIEVER THAT ALL, WHICH IS USALLY TRAPPED ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRUM SHOULD BE VENTED OUT EVERY NOW AND THEN. IT'S A GOOD THING. DRUM PRES/DETOX. $$$

CHARLIE.

[bongosnotbombs]

You're crazy Charlie! Hahaha

[SpEd]

Yep... pretty interesting perspective Charlie. I guess if you think about it, dry IS much worse that wet.

Anyway, couple more pix from Mario...

[yambu321]

DON'T MIND ME GUY'S, IT'S JUST A THING, THAT I DO WITH MY DRUMS.


LOL,
CHARLIE.

[Mike]

Mario does/did use clear rubber on the bottom

That sounds interesting, could you provide a picture please?

I have always been wondering about my 1970s Gon Bops bottoms,
the drum stands directly on the wood, you have to be pretty careful to put
it down not too swiftly.
As a DIY man, I would use old bike tyre, but I would like to get some inspiration first

[konkoba98]

has anyone played the isla mahogonies vs the canoe wood? how do they compare?

[Tonio]

Mario does/did use clear rubber on the bottom

That sounds interesting, could you provide a picture please?

I have always been wondering about my 1970s Gon Bops bottoms,
the drum stands directly on the wood, you have to be pretty careful to put
it down not too swiftly.
As a DIY man, I would use old bike tyre, but I would like to get some inspiration first

Sure, I can post one later after a close up. Mario uses clear tubing thats been cut on conga/tumba, and not on re/quinto.

Most artisans do that -SOS, MS, Isla, Moperc.

T

[Tonio]

The stave joints look cleaner on those drums than what I've seen to date.

Perhaps Isla is working out some manufacturing kinks.

C

Agreed, I've complained about that before.

T

[SpEd]

Mario does/did use clear rubber on the bottom

That sounds interesting, could you provide a picture please?

I have always been wondering about my 1970s Gon Bops bottoms,
the drum stands directly on the wood, you have to be pretty careful to put
it down not too swiftly.
As a DIY man, I would use old bike tyre, but I would like to get some inspiration first

Hey Mike,

I was recently watching an older cherry Isla set for sale on the Bay... this was one of the pix posted for that set.
Looks like maybe a clear vinyl hose split lengthwise and fastened.
Not sure if this is what was/is coming installed from Isla, or if Mario is still doin it, but gives you an idea anyway....


As Tonio pointed out... this is from the same set, and must be the quinto then...

[bongosnotbombs]

I have an Isla quinto. It was explained to me that the Isla quinto does not have a rubber hose because Mario feels the quinto sounds better in direct contact with a surface. The metaphor used was a tuning fork that doesn't make any sound until it touches a surface and resonates. That was the idea anyways.
The bottom of my quinto is a little scuffed up, but holding strong. It's been played for hours and hours on all kinds of surfaces, asphalt, wood, concrete, rubber. A really special drum.

[pcastag]

How thick are the staves on those babies? Must be some heavy drums!

[bongosnotbombs]

I should say that my "quinto" is actually a requinto, it is the 9" size. I don't find it heavy at all. It is also cherry. It's my main battle ax for outdoor and open rumbas.

[bongosnotbombs]

Well in the interest of empirical knowledge, I just tuned up the Isla. When I held it off the ground with my legs the pitch was lower, and the sustain longer, when I played it normally the sustain was shorter and the drum sounded a little brighter, when I had some rubber between the floor and drum, the tone was about the same, but the sustain was a little longer than direct contact with the floor.

So, yeah, Cadenza's description is more accurate, the shorter sustain is what you want in a rumba quinto. Talk vs. sing is a good metaphor.

[Congadelica]

I have an Isla quinto. It was explained to me that the Isla quinto does not have a rubber hose because Mario feels the quinto sounds better in direct contact with a surface. The metaphor used was a tuning fork that doesn't make any sound until it touches a surface and resonates. That was the idea anyways.
The bottom of my quinto is a little scuffed up, but holding strong. It's been played for hours and hours on all kinds of surfaces, asphalt, wood, concrete, rubber. A really special drum.

I have quinto conga and tumba set , the quinto is the only one without the rubber hose , It has the studs and the sound is perfect . talks not sings is about best way to describe it . one of our group members recently revived a requinto in Honduran Mahogany and it sounded great , looking forward to its voice when the cuero has settled .

M

Those Bata look beautiful on my wall G

[bongosnotbombs]

Those Bata look beautiful on my wall G

I bet they do my man, I have word their replacements will be here soon....