Moperc Cubano Tumba

[Tonio]

KK, yeah I always give a good inspection of anything shipped-espcially if its a drum. I also tend to unmount the skin to see what the bearing edge is like and use a bit of candle wax for easier tuning. Oddly years ago on a new Meinl floatune quinto, there was a small piece of rubber band right on the bearing edge!!

Guarachon, true that. I pondered if putting on fragiel stickers would do any good. Sometimes I think couriers handle packages worse if you use fragile lables. Reminds me of "the Cable guy" movie w/ Jim Carey

Thanks G!!


T

[pcastag]

S**t happens during shipping, regardless. it's unfortunate, but I'm sure that the drum will be repaired and returned, hopefully it will sound just as good as it did when it left the shop.
PC

[Tonio]

]She's all fixed and purdy !!

the damage

Don't mind my finger smudges or reflections, can you tell it was fixed? There is no difference in the finish, at least to my naked eye

T

[Tonio]

Some of you may have seen the video to show the real damage. I've yet to pop the skin off and gander at the bearing edge. though my intuition is highly positive !! I'll take a few shots on the weekend if I get some time. I've been playing the Mopercs for 3 days straight !! OK,OK, I do have eating, sleeping , corporate job, and occasional gig, recording sessions time to contend with

T

[KING CONGA]

Tonio that Tambor came out awesome, I can't tell didly squat!! great job, So what's the secret? did you have to re-finish the whole drum? What did you use for a bonding agent?

[vinnieL]

Tonio congratulations man it looks great now your set to go! enjoy

[Tonio]

I had Michel(Moperc) fix it under warranty. He was wanting to fix it as soon as possible, since this is the only the 2nd issue he has ever encountered in 20 years I was concerned of shipping back & forth etc, but it all turned out well. I did have to give him some tips on packaging, which many mfr's tend to disregard the importance.

No way was I gonna attempt fixing this on my own, although I do appreciate some folks giving me some tips the price of shipping was well worth the cost. I couldn't do half as good a job as Michel did. I have had some experience twiddling with fixes, but without good tools and less experience I opted to a master's touch.

Once I check out the bearing edge, then the truth will be known. But as far as the tone of the drum, I can tell that it was done right-the sustain and volume is much better than before the repair.

T

[Tonio]

Tonio congratulations man it looks great now your set to go! enjoy

thanks V-man !! they sound awesome !!

OH, KC, Michel wouldn't tell me what he used for the glue(bonding agent)-but he was impressed himself. I think its some kind of epoxy . He did say , he used a special clamp to close the gap at the bearing edge. secrets, secrets.

T

[caballoballo]

Oye Tonio, que bueno que todo salio bien y estás complacido. Michel is a great artisan and one of the best. You knew his quality art from the Bongos you purchase some time ago. I still have my Salsa Club aging as fine wine, last time I took him out to play at a gig, a fellow bongocero use it and have a very good impression specially the sound projection. He also said, Wow that Macho sings....................... Enjoy your Tumba, you have one of the best hand made Congas in the market.

PS, I have just purchase the Johnny Dandy Rodriguez Signature Bongó, waiting on USPS.

[Tonio]

Caballo, you are right about realizing the craftmanship of Michel when I got the bongos. I then got a conga, and now a tumba . Every little detail is immaculate, and the sound is all one hopes for. They sound like Juniors with some moderness to it. I should have gotten the whole set while he still made maple shells, which now it is too expensive to use.

I am enjoying the Salsa club bongos too, still need to work in the hembra new skin. Please do tell about the "Dandy" bongos. I almost pulled the trigger. but with the Moperc tumba in repair I was holding off.

T

[bongosnotbombs]

That maple has such a nice reddish color.
Very sad he won't be able to use it any longer.

Just proves you cannot wait when it comes to drums,
woods become unavailable, makers go out of business, or change prices.

A very excellent set of drums, glad you got the matching tumba while you could.

[Mike]

PS, I have just purchase the Johnny Dandy Rodriguez Signature Bongó, waiting on USPS.

OT: Please do post pics and your sound review when you get them! Congrats to your buy already now, I guess they are pretty awesome.

[Tonio]

That maple has such a nice reddish color.
Very sad he won't be able to use it any longer.

Just proves you cannot wait when it comes to drums,
woods become unavailable, makers go out of business, or change prices.

A very excellent set of drums, glad you got the matching tumba while you could.

BNB, yes they are reddish when fresh, its hard to tell by pictures, but the conga has gotten browner, close to a mahogany color. But that is a stain, however the wood itself lends to a more red/orange tone compared to a baseball bat maplewood from looking at the raw wood inside the shell.

It is sad Michel will not be able to make them in maple. I'll see if I can get him to offer a picture of a Cubano in ashwood. With the ashwood I've seen-at least "north amerian ash" the grain is huge -like the LP gio's and GB Acuna models. they look cool, but doesn't give that mahogany character.
I gave the tumba skin a EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) treatment, and it sounds, feels, and looks 80% better.
T

[congamyk]

truly spectacular looking drums.
the reddish tint is amazing.

would love to hear them played.

[Tonio]

Mike, I am biased , but I would have to agree !!

I could arrange a little tune in a few days.

OK heres the before and after, its nice and closed up.

T