Finally got a Valje!

[bongosnotbombs]

I've been after a Valje or a set of Valjes for a long time. Actually, it was because I liked Valjes so much
that I decided to get my Resolution congas. One of the best decisions I've ever made. I'm still in love with
those drums.

Anyways here we have what looks like to be a very old Valje, at least 30 years, if not 40. Sadly it has LP lugs.
I have the original lugs that are totally bent to hell due to abuse from some past owner somewhere. I hope this
puts to rest the argument on whether a skin can bend lugs. Skins can bend lugs. Of course these are strong lugs, I
can only guess how badly the skin was stretched. The rim and crown is 100%.

The drum is made from incredible wood. It has a couple of cracks that have been repaired. Sounds incredible.
I've been looking for a Valje like this for a long long time. It is easily my biggest drum as you can see from the pictures.

Here it is with the other drums that round out this set, I'm calling it my park set. These are the drums for playing rumba
outside, tough, rugged drums. A vintage Valje, a vintage Oak Gon Bops and my Isla requinto in cherry.

Now for the pictures.

[bongosnotbombs]

A few more pics. Those lugs are bent so bad they look like noodles.
Valje lugs are supposed to hook over, like the Resolution's lugs. These got bent so
much the hook flattened out and pushed in a part of the lug below.

I'm already tracking Ralph Flores of Resolution Drums down to see about
getting some more suitable replacements, or maybe repairing these ones.

[bongosnotbombs]

My biggest and smallest drums. Amazing the difference.
What is interesting is they have similar basic shapes.

Between all the 4 makes of drums in this post, it's like a mini-history of California conga makers.

Valje and Isla.

Valje tumba, Isla requinto.

[Mike]

Those tubs look great, Geordie,
congratulations.
The bent hooks are an eyecatcher - if you are into horror
My Palisades Park quinto I refurbished a while ago had those traumatic twists too,
but not as bad as those. Must have been a tough skin and a lot of abuse indeed..

These are the drums for playing rumba
outside, tough, rugged drums

Personally I would think those congas do not look too rugged
They seem to perfect for rumba indeed, but, given the present climate here, I would not take
them out to parks that much...

Anyway, thanks for posting those incredible pictures! It is awesome to take a look at those beauties.

What skin have you got on the tumba - a new one already?

[bongosnotbombs]

The skin on the tumba was put on by the previous owner, a friend of mine.
He also had replaced the lugs and fixed the cracks.

It's a nice skin I'll probably keep it for a while, but I'm considering getting matching skins for the
conga and tumba later down the road. The Isla skin is too perfect to replace.

I'm just so glad to actually get one of these Valjes. Very difficult to get a hold of.

[Mike]

I'm just so glad to actually get one of these Valjes. Very difficult to get a hold of.

I hear you, a real vintage rarity for sure!

[deadhead]

Nice score BnB! What is the size of the tumba? I've been trying to track down a valje for a while myself. Seems like when they do come around I don't have the cash to spend on them. A guy I bought a gon bops super tumba off of recently had a really nice set of 3 valjes also for sale at the time. I probably could have gotten them for $700 if I had the cash at the time . Congrats on your new tub! +1 for Califonia Congas!

[bongosnotbombs]

Nice score BnB! What is the size of the tumba?

12" head and 30 1/2" tall.

set of 3 valjes also for sale at the time. I probably could have gotten them for $700 if I had the cash at the time

An incredible price, too bad man! At least you got the GB.

[Congadelica]

Im loving the park set Geordie ,

An incredible line up , Ill bet they sound good toghether . too much eye candy for one thread thats for sure .

That tumba look like it can tell many stories . great buy

Marco

[Tonio]

Nice catch G!! Many old Valje's have lugs are like that, ready to pop off.
If Ralph cannot make you a set you could get the LP Valje ones.

I wonder if upgrading to 3/8" lugs would be worth it?

T

[bongosnotbombs]

Yeah Marco, just call me the Candy Man!

I just got off the phone with Ralph, he told me he has some lugs in stock, and that he makes
new ones a little thicker gauge than the originals. However, I won't be abusing this drum like the previous owner.

Interestingly Ralph said the hook shape of the Valje lugs give way and that avoids stress on the shell
and plates.

Ralph was also able to date this drum for me. On the inside of the drum there are rectangle shaped plates for
the bolts holding the sideplates, not washers. Ralph said that feature, along with some other details dates this drum to the 60's.
So this drum is 40+ years old.

[Tonio]

Good to hear you can get some lugs from Ralph, and oversized at that !!

Goes to show you to keep up with the lug maintenance occasionally

T

[bongosnotbombs]

I was able to spend some time recently fixing up these two drums.
I didn't want to do a full make over. I just sanded them lightly. The Valje
got a new coat of Watco oil. The GB was going to get oil too, but the wax coat
the previous owner put on was taking more work than I wanted to remove, so the GB
got another wax job.

Some brasso to clean the metal and these drums are ready to go again for another 30-40 years.

[Mike]

Very nice again, BnB!
The color and wood grain of the two drums matches perfectly and looks great.
Aesthetically a real pleasure. I can almost hear them

[KING CONGA]

Beautiful Tubs BNB, they look excellent, let me know if you ever want to sell any of them