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Just because I posted that reaction to the Volcanoe thread does not mean I don't appreciate the look of the totally beaten up conga.
This thread is for posting photos of those congas with "battle scars". Those ugly drums that have been well used and well played.
Scratches, dents, dirty skins, bent lugs, crooked hoops: it's all good!

I wish I could get my hands on those beat up SONOCS, it would be a very interesting project!

Dario

I do not remember where I got this picture from but this drums have that time tested look on them. The scars let you know they have been through a rumba or two. I do not have a picture but in my mind the perfect beat-up drum is a raggedy wooden Matador. I have seen some of them drums in real bad shape even with splits and cracks and just like a cheap Timex watch “They take the beating and keep on ticking”. In mind Matador congas the layman’s drum.

Well, you asked for it.

Congatick posted this one in the Volcano thread.
A very artistic photo.
It deserves re-posting here.

The photo itself is a beautiful composition...
...its contrasting dimensions: the round drum leaning against the angular stairs.
...The overall moldering pastel hues of the drum and stairs.
...The stool with the piece of concrete holding up one leg

The battle scarred drum appears to be resting after a street session workout.

I've got a beater trio



PC

these were refinished and sold but man did i hate to see them go. 11 inch & 11.75 old school matadors nice... sounded great

OK, nice thread!

Here are my old drums. My new Bauer will arrive any day now.

This beat up pair of Junior Tirados I got in a tiny pawn shop in Da' Bronx, when I saw them they were in horrible condition, many splits but no cracks. After inpecting them I was breathless, I could not believe I had a pair of late 60's Juniors. There was a pair of Matadors in fairly good shape and also 2 Mexicans. The old Jewish looking man at the pawn shop couldn't believe I had chosen the beat up Juniors, he told me "take these, they are much better", pointing to the Matadors. I bought the beat up old Juniors and sent them to Matthew Smith. See before and after photos, they spent many months in Ritmo Hospital, but came out better than new.

Dario

Hi

I would be curious to know how much you paid for these and how much did the repair cost?

B

I paid the pawnshop $360 for them in the terrible condition they were in. Matthew charged me close to $500 for refurbishing them. In additionn the crowns were rechromed at $50 each, of course new skins as well. They look better than the day they came out of Junior's shop in Brooklyn, the Honduran mohagony is really cured after 40 years plus.

Dario

OK, so you get a great vitage set for the cost of new.

Good deal

B

Hey some nice photos there.
Here's some of my old and well worn congas:
A pair of white congas I've had for 15 years that I paid $250 for.
A pair of Gon Bops which I've had since 1998.

Oops... somehow added 2 pics of the GBs, sorry
Here's the LPs with 3 Gon Bops

Omelenko1 wrote:I paid the pawnshop $360 for them in the terrible condition they were in. Matthew charged me close to $500 for refurbishing them. In additionn the crowns were rechromed at $50 each, of course new skins as well. They look better than the day they came out of Junior's shop in Brooklyn, the Honduran mohagony is really cured after 40 years plus.Dario

Estan Camarones Los Jicamos! What are the head size, Dario? Cuero Na'Ma!