congaplace.com

Has anyone played or seen or know about single shell congas. I've always thought they were inferior because I'd never seen any great players using them. Then I saw these drums on this clip that I'm sure a lot of us have enjoyed.
http://www.youtube.com/user/atticchris# ... qkg7FasvQg

El Duo Peligroso de La Habana de Hoy - Part I (in case the link does not work).

These all look solid to me and I'm sure they are Cuban made and unavailable to most of us. But I recently have seen that the Drumskulldrum guys down in Santa Cruz have a new line of single shell congas carved in Africa and the hardware and skins are set at their shop. I have several of their insturments and they are of the highest quality. I believe they have the best reputation among African drum builders here in the states (and probably elsewhere.) Has anyone seen these, or any other quality single shell congas? Thoughts?

http://www.drumskulldrums.com/en2/22/Sh ... ainID=2941

drumskulldrums.com - other insturments (if the link doesn't work)

Look at those Del Cielo congas which are made out of one single piece:

I saw some Cuban congas for sale a while ago that were claimed to be
made of some kind of almond wood, also single shell.

Rabensang congas are also made of one piece, but more African style.
http://www.rabensang.de/

konkoba98 wrote:http://www.youtube.com/user/atticchris# ... qkg7FasvQg

http://www.drumskulldrums.com/en2/22/Sh ... ainID=2941

Great post! I've also wondered this same thing... Wouldn't the fact that they're from one piece of wood give them an advantage?
I love those Cuban guys how they are so synchronized and play really sophisticated breaks within clave.. I had to subscribe to that channel.
Did you notice the shells tied around the upper hardware, and how on the lowest drum they added a slight vibration to the tone.. A little like bells on the Iya. Also, how low the heads are tuned? This stuff is just priceless..

The drumskull drums look like they just might be the best drums EVER!! Whoof!
That'd be my next set,, if there were ever a need..

A friend of mine has was selling a great set of solid shell congas. They are made or imported by a company called Mambiza run by a great guy here in SF. Simon Reinhardt. A really nice well made set of drums owned by taikonoatama here on the congaplace board, they might still be available. You should PM him.

Conrad does great work and is terrific to work with. I haven't played his one piece congas but he made a terrific bongo for me. Check him out.

http://www.spiritinthewood.com/

I thought the solid wood congas were prone to cracks. At least that's what I read when looking for congas a couple of years back. I know one youtube video that I like of changuito's band rehearsing in which one drum has a crack right down the middle and it always reminds me of that statement I read somewhere.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RCI_R16K9U

Del Cielo's are some of the best sounding and nicest drums I have ever played. They were well built and have a nice round tone. I wish Sky was still making them.
Peace---KK

I've got 2 DelCielos. They're available! Buck

By the look of it, DelCielo drums have much better approach to hardware - though heavier, these floatune style bands create top-bottom tension to which wood resists much better. If there are no holes drilled in the shell, the wood won't crack from tension (though the humidity changes still are a risk factor).
It was painful to look at that cracked-to-the-middle cuban conga!