Thunder and Lightning - My latest toy's

[Tonio]

Beautiful Drums Tom!!! Good to see you visit here too.
I gandered your site. Interesting way to dowel(biscuit) the staves together. SS/ oversized hardware is a great plus!!

Could you tell us more about the koa and mango woods that you use? As in the character of it?Such as density etc?
We congeros are accostumed to oak, mohagany, and ash, but the wood you use in new at least to me. Could you go into how you form the staves?

T

[Supa Coopa]

For that price..(though hand made and very beautiful), they should be in the "Smithsonian" and at the Guggenheim Museum, in NYCity...hahhaha WOW!....... they are really "one of a kind drums"....."JC" Johnny Conga.....

Johnny, if there's a misunderstanding, allow me to clear it up. The attached picture of 6 Mango Congas doesn't reflect the prices of our Koa line. Those drums start at $917.99 for the Requinto in U.S.D. The Koa's could truthfully be excepted to a Smithsonian exibition in the future. The unique thing is, they aren't relices, their contemorary great sounding drums and with Stainless hardware and polymer finishes. That drum was sold to a conguero in Tacoma Wa, who will receive it after the NAMM show.

Aloha, "Where Every Drum Is An Original"

[Supa Coopa]

Beautiful Drums Tom!!! Good to see you visit here too.
I gandered your site. Interesting way to dowel(biscuit) the staves together. SS/ oversized hardware is a great plus!!

Could you tell us more about the koa and mango woods that you use? As in the character of it?Such as density etc?
We congeros are accostumed to oak, mohagany, and ash, but the wood you use in new at least to me. Could you go into how you form the staves?

T

Aloha Tonio, Thank you for your interest. Do to everyones interest, Massivdrums has ask me to come out of the woods and answer questions. We are in the business of producing the finest drums in the world, (quoting V.P. owners). The tone woods we explore and chose to use, create superior drums. Our Mango and Ohai drums are the most popular for their beauty, cost and of course sound. The White Oak commonly used by competitors was chosen because, that's what rum and molasses arrive in, in the beginning and it's cost and availability in the 70's. Fortunetely for the poor slaves, it sounded good as a drum. Copperage started with oak because of it's strength and elasticity when being steamed. Now that we're depleting large White Oak resources in America, we've move to Thailand and use Saim Oak. Honduras Mahogany was chosen at a time, due to a demand for darker wood drums and it's cheap cost from Central America plus it had no figure in the wood for ease of assembly. The newest kid on the block, Ash, was chosen due as a replace for white oak, because of it's cost and Ashes fame for steaming qualities and simular grain pattern to oak. Remember, we too are congueros, and just wanted to produce a better tub. There are thousands of equal and better woods to use throughout the world to construct a drum, then the priviously mentioned. In Volcano Percussion's eyes, it's beauty and the sound of natural wood finished "natual" plus lifetime guarantees that turn us and our percussionists on. Remember the hardware makes or brakes the drum too. Sound bites are available on each drum page of our site and a complete cd with booklet is available through our site e-mail for $10.00 + S&H. As explained on our site, we prebend by steaming before assembly. If drum making is your interest, I'll be publishing a book after retirement about 2021. Make arrangements to join all the congueros at the Worlds Largest Music Industry Show at Winter NAMM 2006 on Jan. 19th thru the 22nd. 100,000 crazy's and 1,500 booths. Please stop by and see us at Booth #2659 H "E". Contact NAMM for instructions.

"Where Every Drum Is An Original"

:;):

[Tonio]

Thank you for the information Tom. I will stick playing the drums, however Though I did a few resurfacing and refinish. plus many reskins working with wood is not my forte. I'll keep that to masters such as yourself!!
Now if I could get ssome NAMM tickets!! I would love to check em out!!

T

[JohnnyConga]

A $1,000 dollars a drum??....Oooooooooooooooooooooweeeeeeeeeeee....who can afford them?...though beautiful and one of a kind...."JC" Johnny Conga.... ???

[onile]

Nsala Malecum y Alafia Abures!
Yeah JC, you're right, it's a hefty price for a drum, but like some of us who play, and have a tendency to collect drums, we find a way to scrounge up the $. I'm selling one of my kidney's next month, and have several trips planned out to sell plasma! :p :laugh:

Naw! Just kiddin' of course! I am retiring next year in Jan. 07, y con el favor de Dios, I'm gonna give myself a retirement gift of three of them! They are absoultely beautiful drums abure Supa Coopa! You are indeed an excellent craftsman, and hopefully after you retire you will continue to stay in the business in one form or another!

Malecum Nsala!

Onile!

[maSSivdrums]

Aloha Onile,

Yes, once you commit to these Drums you will be blessed.
I agree with you (except for the kindney part), too bad I could'nt sell my body fat, then I could own every sought after Conga Drum in the world :laugh: And YES, treat yourself first! You deserve it.
If you are a collector, or enthusiast or just want to own a drum that will increase in value in the future, this would be it. Tom, has put a lot of thought into creating these Drums, from the structure, to the finest hardware that will last the test of time.
Unfortunately, not all of us are privlaged to receive endorsements from the Biggie's in the Biz, and for those that do, I look up to you and commend you on your accomplishments. As for me, a lot of blood, sweat and loss of sleep goes into getting quality Drums. In the end, when you get them (Drums) all the pain goes away, and its time to enjoy...
Aloha, maSSivdrums

[Facundo]

Hey Tom,
Thanks very much for posting the pics and info. I appreciate you taking the time to share those extra details. Every since I found your website I've have been floored by the beauty of your work. I am located on the east coast in Philly and remember the days as a kid when the drummers here used to go to New York and get Cuban drums at a place called the Baker Shop. We had a music store here called Music City that also sold Cuban drums. Back then it was 65 bucks for a tack head and 90 for a tunable! The one thing I remember the most was the tone of the drums that were made with mahogany. Few realize that the reason that the old Gonbops sounded so good was because they used mahogany and not the oak they now use. Being a lover of exoitc woods myself, it makes me very happy to see someone that makes drums with your level of craftmenship and pay attention to the difference that rare woods can make in the sound of the drum. There are a lot of good drums available these days. However, there is another level that very few drum makers try to reach. From the sound samples on your website, the woods that you use produces a warm sweet resonance as well as giving excellent projection. Thanks for making the Stradavarius of "Congas". At some point, I look forward to placing my order.

Best regards,
Facundo