King Conga - once in a while you find 'that' drum;

[congalero]

I have had my eye out for while looking for a couple of these drums. A few months ago there was a 'buy it now' in San Francisco for three at $800. on ebay; pick up only. Another of our board members beat me to the punch, and i am happy for him; another long story. All of a sudden a week or so ago there was a post on craigs list in Portland, Oregon; a city i frequent often. i sent the seller a note and told him i wished to buy the drums as they are a part of the local history of the Bay Area. He had 5 inquiries in the first hour along with mine. He called me because I am the only one who had but a small history on the drums. $200. and a favor from a friend in the area and the drums were mine. They have a great sound and are as original as can be; aside from a few scrapes and bruises. I guess if you really want something and you have a bit of patience, it will come along.
Anyone out there have a little history to share on these, other than they were made in Hayward by a boat maker - so the story goes. I have seen them played on old Stone and Santana takes. I do not know many people that own any of these, but the few I do know tend to live here in the San Francisco area.



Edited By congalero on 1187848759

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... pic_23.jpg

[congalero]

original skins



Edited By congalero on 1187847398

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... pic_24.jpg

[congalero]

heavy duty innovative hardware with a swivel in the connection from the tear drop on the crown and the tuning rod.



Edited By congalero on 1187847621

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... pic_20.jpg

[bongosnotbombs]

Oh yeah I love King Congas, my friend taikonoatama has a set....ah but you knew that already!

$200 is a super score! I can't think of a better collection for them to belong to than yours!

Are'nt those tuning lugs cool? And original stamped heads! Awesome!

I wish they were still in business, SF needs a drum maker again!

A set recently went at an auction in Sonoma county (Sebastopol) a few months ago, I was a day late in hearing about it. Set of two went for like $80! :O

I have the images at home, they were beige with a kind of heiroglyph decoration on them



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1187889103

[congalero]

Oh yeah I love King Congas, my friend taikonoatama has a set....ah but you knew that already!

$200 is a super score! I can't think of a better collection for them to belong to than yours!

Are'nt those tuning lugs cool? And original stamped heads! Awesome!

I wish they were still in business, SF needs a drum maker again!

A set recently went at an auction in Sonoma county (Sebastopol) a few months ago, I was a day late in hearing about it. Set of two went for like $80! :O

I have the images at home, they were beige with a kind of heiroglyph decoration on them

i heard about that set that went to auction; what a deal. they may still be out there bouncing around at garage sales in the north bay - pending who purchased them - i hope not.

post the pics if you get a chance.

[bongosnotbombs]

congalero,
This pic is for you. This is the set that went for auction, they look pretty good. I sure wish I had seen the auction a day earlier.
I really like the original appearnce of the King Congas hardware.

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

[congalero]

bongosnotbombs,

thanks for the pics. i can only hope that a few other members add to the collection of these as time goes on. whoever got their hands on these really found a sweet set indeed. it looks as if the owner took pride in owning them over the years.

Chapito with what looks to be a King Conga - early Santana



Edited By congalero on 1189405218

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... img_1_.jpg

[bongosnotbombs]

I was glad you could show the logo on the drum heads, it kind of sheds some light on this very very nysterious website

http://www.kingconga.com/

what do you think it is?

[Omelenko]

I also have King Kongas. Aramando Peraza,the original endorser, still has a few in his house. Nice drums, however, I prefer Echo Tones.

Saludos, Dario

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... Congas.JPG

[Omelenko]

Echo Tones vs. King Congas. My preference, Echo Tones.
Enclosed 1968 set from Manny's on 48th St. NYC

Saludos, Dario

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ONES_2.jpg

[Omelenko]

Enclosed : Candido with his Echo Tones, circa 1960.

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

[congalero]

i thought you had a few of these kicking around dario. great pics. the eco tones are also great drums. my two were stolen here in san francisco around 1975 or so. i am sure two more will show at some point. ???

[congalero]

I was glad you could show the logo on the drum heads, it kind of sheds some light on this very very nysterious website

http://www.kingconga.com/

what do you think it is?

bongosnotbombs,

the only story i have on the website you found is that a person purchased the domain name a while back. he also purchased a rehabbed set of Kings from an older gentleman in florida named hector. rumor has it that he is considering bringing back the line in some form or another. he is looking into production in mexico last i heard. i think it is a very tough 'go' to reproduce these drums, but ya never know. ??? i wish him the best.

[bongosnotbombs]

I was glad you could show the logo on the drum heads, it kind of sheds some light on this very very nysterious website

http://www.kingconga.com/

what do you think it is?

bongosnotbombs,

the only story i have on the website you found is that a person purchased the domain name a while back. he also purchased a rehabbed set of Kings from an older gentleman in florida named hector. rumor has it that he is considering bringing back the line in some form or another. he is looking into production in mexico last i heard. i think it is a very tough 'go' to reproduce these drums, but ya never know. ??? i wish him the best.

Congalero,
thanks so much for shedding light on that mystery, I've been wondering what that was all about.

[buckoh]

I would have to agree that the Kings (and possibly the EcoTones) were built by a boatbuilder because; boatbuilders work with fiberglass all of the time, and the fittings are wire rigging swages and turnbuckles used on sailboats. I would love to have a pair or 3 of either drums! Buck