Help to ID a conga

[jjotero]

I need help figuring out what brand this conga is. Thanks.

[bongosnotbombs]

Your gonna have to give us a bit more info and better pictures..
Wood or fiberglass, How tall is it, size of head, that kind of thing.

My first guess going from the hardware is it's a Mexican drum,
but it kind of looks like fiberglass. I don't know if there are Mexican fiberglass
drums.

[traumtyp]

My first guess going from the hardware is it's a Mexican drum,
but it kind of looks like fiberglass. I don't know if there are Mexican fiberglass
drums.

Looks like a Mexican Fiber conga for type of hardware.

[jjotero]

the conga is 30 inches tall and 13 inches wide and all wood.

[OLSONGO]

Most likely a Mexican drum, look at the in cut leg hardware.

Paz
Olsongo

[bongosnotbombs]

Most likely a Mexican drum, look at the in cut leg hardware.

Paz
Olsongo

..and if that metal band is set in a groove that is cut into the wood, then it's almost
positive to be a mexican drum, maybe a Zim Gar, maybe not.

[Mr. Conga]

YES, Sirrr, most likely Mexicanas, las congas.
The hardware, and shape. Back in the day a lot of congas came were being made in México, i am talking about the 40's to 60's.
Also before they were producing SONOC congas in Cuba, a lot of congas from the South border of Mexico, ended up in Cuba. There has always been some kind of good relationship, between Cuba and Mexico.
One of the major goods coming from Cuba to Mexico, were the sugar cains. A lot of Cuban talented artist, would go play in tours in Mexico, and than they would make their success trip to the U.S
Back in those days they had better relations, Fidel Castro meet Che Guevara in México, were Castro plotted his movement. Than headed back to Cuba on "lanchas", with his guerilla.

"Lp Matadors and Classics the same thing, built in the same company in thai land , changed the hardware on the plates buy putting horns on , ( Le pusieron cachos y nosotros sabemos que significa eso en la cultura latina,) : so I stayed away from that look , you know the boys in the rumba messed with you".
-OLSOLONGO

One day that i visited Mario the maker of Isla , shared some knowledge about congas, and he told me that a great amount of congas, in the old days were coming out of Mexico.
There was a company named "Veracruz", the design in their hardware was a sharp " V " symbol, as sideplas, the " V " for Veracruz. Than a company named " La Playa" came out.
Both companies stoped production.

Lp, started using the " V " symbol on their sideplates, there wasn't Veracruz Congas, any longer, so it was fine, since that company closed down. Than Lp, might have gotten a little conscious for theur plagerism on the sideplates, and added the Cachos to the sideplates-(added the horns to the " V " shaped sideplates.

"La Playa" and " Veracruz Congas", were good for its day, they used mahogany, and oak.
But their harware, would not meet our expectations in todays time. Great companies rose in the U.S, with great craftmen's skills, such as Valje, and than Gon Bop that made it inecessary to import the drums from Mexico.

I have seen people refurbish those old drums, sanding them down, putting new bands, even J.C.R hardware, and good skins, and were able to save the good wood. Good option for going GREEN, for the environment sake. People have told me that upgraded, and with a good skin those things sound good, does anyone play one here. In Santiago de Cuba, and Matanzas, they play some in the barrio, they don't care about esthetic's, or hardware durability, they make those things sound great in the Rumbas.
They work with what thy have.

---------------------------------------------------
Note: if anyone has more information about drums from Mexico, or corrections please fill free to help.

[burke]

I have one which I got cheap on ebay as a temporary drum and was really suprised - now that time has passed its no longer temporary and I'd never part with my ugly duckling see:

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3286&p=37238&hilit=mexican#p37238

[Mr. Conga]

Yes, I have heard many great surprising things about those OG's , even people that have had the best congas on their hands, and they tell me, surprisingly those tubs, have great tones specially with good skins. One with a solid shell, and a good skin, i am shure will sound good.
If J.C.R has worked on the hardware on some of those, than the wood is worth saving, if he was willing to put he work in, it was because the outcome was gonna be great. I am shure those went up a notch, with J.C.R hardware on.

Yet ,is not for everyone to spend, upgrading a drum.

[jjotero]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I didn't get the drum but will continue to look for a tumbaa to add to my CP's