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Posted:
Tue Jul 25, 2006 3:24 amby BATZONG
Hello, forum!
A drummer in Germany is selling a pair of congas that have a "Tata Guines" sticker on them. They look sturdy, well made (at first sight)...
After making a little google search I found that the name of that brand is Guanex, some italian online stores feature these instruments, but aside from that there's not much info on the web. By doing a google "images" search I found a few pics of Tata indeed playing exactly the same drums...
Does anybody have some info on this brand? Any good?... BTW the italian sites state that they are made in Cuba.
Anyway... any info will be greatly apreciated!
Mil gracias in advance! :;):
Posted:
Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:52 amby ABAKUA
Posted:
Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:25 amby Thomas
They look good to me!
Do you know why he wants to sell them, any complaints?
Tom
Posted:
Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:41 amby BATZONG
No, no complaints as far as I know. Owner is a drumset player that has no time and lost interest in playing hand percussion...
Anyone played them or know more about them??? 
PS: Thanks for the link, ABAKUA!
Posted:
Wed Jul 26, 2006 3:16 pmby JohnnyConga
Well from what I know the REAL TATA Guines congas have 8 keys on the tumbadora and they are made by Sonor/Cuba.. They have a set for sale at the airport in Havana, from friends that saw them. I was looking for a photo I thought I had of them..but i can't find it...
Attachment:
http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ata_Guines
Posted:
Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:18 amby ABAKUA
Originally yes JC, however, the SONOC (not sonor) SONORIDAD CUBANA (SONOC) factory in Cuba closed after going bust. 
A fellow conga player from here was there when it happened.
He brought back a set of their top of the line SONOC Tata editions, the lugs and plates had to be replaced after one use and the metal came apart and ripped open. Skins also had to be changed as the sound they made was not up to scratch.
In the end, he had custom made hardware made up to keep that 'natural rustic' look, now they are fine.
But apparently this is common as the materials they were using as of late in Cuba simply were not strong enough and they couldnt import due to embargo.. :angry:
Edited By ABAKUA on 1153959653
Posted:
Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:48 amby JohnnyConga
U right and all I can say is DAAAAAAAAAAAYUM!....."JC" Johnny Conga.....
Posted:
Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:59 pmby zumbi
peace!
i own a guanex quinto (my only conga). traditional model with comfort rims.
to my ears it sound sweet.
i strongly feel an handcrafted instrument made by musicians/music lovers to be superior by nature to any mass produced industrial one.
one love
Posted:
Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:37 amby BATZONG
Cool! 
Where did you get yours, zumbi?
Those are rare...
Posted:
Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:41 pmby zumbi
got in a music store in rome, italy while i was passing trough there.
peace!
Posted:
Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:25 amby rebongo
hello!
Guanex is a brand born from a joint venture between a Cuban factory and a italian distributor, that is a musician; I have seen and played this drum in Rome: good drums, with thick and traditional skins, harware by Dixon factory (the cuban original don't worked good...); traditional sound, without overtones; the finition is not the best and the price a little high in my opinion.
The Tata signature is for business, I don't think he really sound this drums; three years ago Tata was guest in my home and played in my town (Sassari) and told me that he plays the drum that are in the stage without problems...that was a great lesson for me!