ISLA PERCUSSION - Discussion, Quality, Experience, etc

[Mike]

Thanks for answering, Jose,
Now that is what I have already thought, it is always difficult to judge
conga skins just from a photo.
I have had many conga skins that had a rustic look (to say the least)
and sounded great.
Enjoy your Islas!

So you got your answer and in reality you were Nitpicking 5 times 3 times twice

@ cybermaster: emoticon inflation alert

Leedy, it´s all good, I am silenced now.

[Anonimo]

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

[Lonz]

I mounted new heads on my Islas with some excellent bleached cow from Michael at L&H. This man knows his skins.

The Old

The New

[blosh]

I have waited, just to be sure, before I made this post, pretty certain of how I feel now, so here goes.
First, I do not know Mario, I believe he is a dark, young, Latino from the west coast of the USA, I am a white, old, redneck, Gringo from the southeast, the only thing we have in common is a love for latin music. My point is, I am not his friend (although I did friend Isla on Facebook).
I play LP classics as a rule, I have owned Mienel and Toca sets, I have put many hours on a friends old 4-piece Gon Bops. I have studied with Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban congeros.
A few years back I saw a picture of an Isla conga on the internet (possibly on this sight) feel in love with the look, like my friends old Gon Bops, saw the price and thought maybe if I can find used ones (used LPs are common and cheap in Fl). No Luck. Years passed, one day while on e-bay I saw a listing for a new Isla, I bid, others bid but we didn't reach the reserve so no one won. I wrote him just to say I lked his drums and if he was going to put it back up I would like to bid again. He said my highest bid was very close to the reserve and if I wanted it and would pay shipping he would send it to me, it was an extra and had a few blemishes, as I recall. HELL YES!! I sent him the money!! Said I should have it in about two weeks since I lived in Fl.
The next week I went on Congaplace for the first time in over a year and thought I would check out what people had to say about Islas. WHAT IN GODS NAME? Nothing but negative, had I made a terrible mistake? Sloppy this, bad that, No communication, etc., and at the end of two weeks, no drum. My anxiety went to the moon. Called Mario, got a voice message, Oh No! just like they said on Congaplace, he will never call me back!!!, but he did, with in the hour, with a postal tracking #. And then he continued to call every other day until I recieved it, even after we knew it was stuck in Miami customs for a week.
Finally got it, so lets look at the drum and those horrible blemishes everyone talked about, (although I knew this one was going to have some, the price was right!) Yes, there were some glue lines,but not so bad, the two lower metal rings didn't fit perfectly, but they are just for show, the tuning ring had a saw cut in it, but it had been polished smooth, the head was covered in some oil that I had never seen didn't know what to do with that, so I called Mario, "who answeared his phone" told me it was shea butter for shipping, wipe it off and play. So I did, that tuneing ring sure seems high, but with in a couple of weeks it settled to the perfect height. It also settled to the most beautiful tone I have ever heard from a conga. I got a little extra work and money, so I took a chance and orderd a Quinto, got it in two weeks just like he said, very slight glue lines, if these lines bother you, in my opinion you got a problem. Everything else, Perfect!! The best Quinto I have ever played.

[blosh]

So would I buy another drum from Mario??? Absolutely!!!!! I intend to buy a Requinto from him as soon as I can justify spending the money, although he thinks I should get a conga to fill out my set (my first drum from him was actually a Tumba). I have never owned a Requinto and just thought I might like to try one, (opinions on this are welcome).
One more thing just for clarity on the subject, any of you that know me or may see pictures of me playing in the local rock band I play with, I will continue to play miked LP classics with synthetic heads. It's Rock folks, you are damn lucky to hear the congas much less the quality

[blosh]

One more thing, it says I joined congaplace in 2010, I think the first time I joined was 1998-99 and it has made me rejoin a couple of more times for whatever reason. Point being I'm not new to congaplace.

[Jose Marquez]

Yes, so don't be afraid to purchase an Isla! Mario was just here in LA for a couple weeks purchasing metal and is back in Belize. He is currently finishing up a Quinto for me....and yeah a requinto would be sweet too!!

[pcastag]

Pics please.

[blosh]

Here are the pics.

[SpEd]

sweet drums... Enjoy them blosh!

Isla drums are built like tanks, but sing like divas.

Just about a year on mine now. They sounded great out of the box, but even better as things have settled in.
I need to get me a quinto on order!!!

[KING CONGA]

Blosh, that is a very nice set of drums. Congratulations.

[bengon]

Anybody hear from Mario recently or know how to get in touch with him? I'm not having any luck.

[pcastag]

Wow, same old same old! Why are great conga makers such flakes? The only one I've dealt with that really is consitently on the up and up, no delays no surprises, no "issues" is Jay. Good old SOS.
PC

[BMac]

My new Moperc has left the shop. It's right on time with no issues. ETA to my house is in the next few days. All seems well ... so ... no flakes but snow in Canada as far as I know. The maker, Michel, has kept me informed since I paid. We're under two months ... but I delayed shipping for a few weeks because I went on vacation.

Cheers!
BMac

[pcastag]

You're right, forgot about Michel, he's definitely on the up and up, no problems with his business sense.