Solid wood v.s staves

[bongosnotbombs]

I know a percussion importer here in S.F. that gets
congas and bongos carved from a solid piece of wood, instead of assembled from staves...

he only had one conga at hand, and I didnt know much about playing congas at the time, I could always go back and try it, but was wondering if anyone here had any experience with this kind of drum?..............G!



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1176874825

[Isaac]

I was skeptical of most solid wood congas I've gotten to try.
They look nice but usually tend to be too thick to allow for proper
sound resonance.
The strait hollow log concept goes back to
ancient times, and the Congolese drums were tall hollowed trees,
but that is not true for the curved
shapes of congas. Congas as we know them came out the
tradition of staves & recycled oak barrels in the Caribbean,
mostly Cuba. Same with Bomba and Gwoka drums
in PR and Martinique. ( See great thread here on making a GWOKA barrel drum)
So to follow that tradition and that sound, at least for congas, staves are the way to go.

That being said, I had a chance to play a beautiful solid wood
Quinto made by Konrad Kubiak. Percussionist, Alberto Nacif from the Detroit area,
bought a set of three and had me deliver some mule skins for them.
The quinto was exceptional in sound, volume, ease of play.
Konrad does the hollowing properly, so they are solid but not too heavy.
The hardware was no frills black but heavy duty. I was very impressed.
I've put his website below.

~ ISAAC

http://www.spiritinthewood.com/conrad.html

[Bacalao]

Isaac,

I sent you a PM requesting some info. Check your inbox.

[Isaac]

Hi Bacalao,

please use my email:
funkytradition@yahoo.com

[taikonoatama]

http://www.spiritinthewood.com/conrad.html

Actually, that link goes to Conrad's old c. 1999 era site. Try this one:

http://www.spiritinthewood.com/

[congalero]

i have two of the mambiza congas from simon reinhardt here in san francisco. he has the shells made in south america and then adds his own hardware and refinishes the drums. he puts a very thick cow hide skin on; rhino quality - he just likes the idea of a thick skin. his drums sound great; at least the two i have and the three a friend of mine has do. mine are 11.5 and 13 with fat bellys. i was concerned with ringing but it is not an issue. my drums are about 10 years old and have no signs of cracks or other problems - skins are fine - the diamond shape side plates are similar to fat congas, but the tuning rods go over the rim like an old mexican conga - no problems and very heavy with good chrome - 9/16 nuts - bottom band - 6 tuning rods on the 11.5 and 7 on the 13 - shells are about 1/2 inch thick.



Edited By congalero on 1176871344

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 0_2_1_.jpg

[bongosnotbombs]

Ha! Those are the EXACT drums I was talking about!
I saw one of Simon's congas while I was there picking up
some Cuban claves!
Good to know they are getting good reviews as I
am considering them for the time when I spend a bunch on
a new drum!



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1176874775

[congalero]

mambiza bongos



Edited By congalero on 1178165902

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 100611.jpg

[bongosnotbombs]

mambiza bongos

So what do you think of those mambiza bongos,
Reinhardt did'nt have any put together when i was
at his place getting claves........?

[Derbeno]

Motherland Music in the Culver City area of Los Angeles imports solid wood Conga's from West Africa and then hand finishes them off with hardware and skin in the shop.

I was in LA on business and went to check them out for curiosity, I ended up joining their very lively Djembe class rather than hang about and wait.

Afterwards I checked the drums out. They were quite heavy but sounded good albeit that I did not get to do a really good sound and feel check because every time I played some members of the Djembe class that were still hanging about joined in. ???

I ended up playing a basic bomba rhythm on the Tumba and had a great jam with the Djembe players.

Next time I am in LA I will try to go there during the day.

http://www.motherlandmusic.com/drums.htm







Edited By Derbeno on 1178181918

[Mike]

Just an addition:

Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v....search=

and you not only find a great conga solo by Mongo Sanatamaria (R.I.P.), but a short subsequent documentary about drum-making in African - from whole logs..

My two €-cents :;):

[congalero]

bongosnotbombs

i know! simon was waiting on shells for his bongo when i saw him last; but he also said he would be in san francisco for two months before traveling again. it was only two weeks later he was in san diego at a friends home drinking cuban rum and heading to mexico, cuba and sa for a few months; he was pretty chatty after a few 16 year old rums - usually he is not - very european ya know - friendly but not too open - like my mother - hahaha ??? ah yes, the elusive mr. reinhardt. i guess it will be catch-as catch-can re. the bongo. patience will win the day - he is really a great guy.
all those that i know that have a set of his bongo swear by them; but as we know it is a matter of preference. i guess i will have to wait longer for mine as no one wants to sell.



Edited By congalero on 1178254445

[bongosnotbombs]

Hey Congalero,
Yeah Simon was cool, and I got some great claves from him, wish I had more money at the time, could have gotten a ton of stuff.
I guess he is out of town now, he had the bongo shells but no hardware.
Any clues when he will be back?..............G!