60's TOM FLORES VALJE / VGA LOU VEGA

[Omelenko1]

Was in the Orlando area yesterday and paid a visit to VGA Drums, Mr. Lou Vega. Lou is the best guy in the world. I have never been more impressed with a drum maker. Lou is a perfectionist, he had a VGA mega tumba in his home. I must have spend over 1/2 an hour going over it. I can't believe a one man operation out of his beautiful home in Oviedo, Fl. can make such a masterpiece. Lou has his shop in his garage, he's a very organized person and a true master at his craft. He told me as a youngster he worked under the tutelage of Ismael Ramos( Timbas Ismael) in Bayamon PR. Lou's drums are perfection at its best. He gets his inspiration from Valje by Tom Flores. He has a collection of exquisite Valje vintage congas. He had 2 for sale and I bought them, I couldn't resist (conga 11.5", tumba 12.25"). I would have bought a set of his , but he only had the mega tumba. He is working on a set that someone ordered. His work remains me of Flores Valje and of Rick Busemi's Fat Congas, but he is a step higher in craftsmanship. His hardware is stainlees steel, very streamlined and very sturdy.
See photos of Vega's super mega tumba and of the set of Valje Flores I got from him.

Dario

[Mike]

Awesome Valje set, hard to come by. Congratulations!
I could not have resisted either I suppose.

Above all, it sounds as if Lou Vega fulfils each and every criterion
of a selfmade artisan of top-notch congas with the true spirit!

[tigre77]

Oye Omelenko1 you are a hoarder plain and simple but its all good $h1t as far as I'm concerned. Very good taste based on previous purchase. What I wonder is what you are selling next to make room for those new puppies you picked up.

Tigre77

[Omelenko1]

Thinking of selling either a SONOC caoba 10" quinto made in Cuba in the early 80's or a Skin on Skin 10" quinto flat sawn oak also from the early 80's. Will post photos later.

Here is the Cuban made SONOC, Cuban caoba wood. Best quinto sound. Los Muñequitos, Tata. One of a kind!
Also shown SOS 10" quinto.

SOS1.JPG (53.43 KiB) Viewed 2583 times