Page 1 of 2

ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:29 pm
by Espresso
Hi conguero
If someone own Echo Tone drums , I would ask to post a picture of them.
I would like to understand how are common these drums.
Thank You

Paolo

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 11:07 pm
by Omelenko1
Frank Mesa started making Eco Tone congas/bongos around 1957 till around 1971, when he couldn't compete with mass produced LPs. It took Frank one month to make a drum. They were sold at Manny's on 48th St in Manhattan. Back in the day, the big names played Eco Tone: Candido, Patato, Ray Barretto, Willie Bobo, Frankie Malabe....... Photo of my Ecos. Truly collectible congas.

Dario
ECHO TONES 2.jpg
Bobo's Beat. Echo Tone.jpg
Candido With Echo Tones.jpg
Candito Echo Tone bongo' & conga.jpg

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 1:28 am
by JohnnyConga
Here is a photo of me and my 1960's Eco Tones 1967 NYC...with "no neck"..made by Frank Mesa...and given to me by my first teacher Hank Fields...and a set owned and played by fellow conga drummer in the midwest...
23445_1419328724619_1274692270_1177878_2772747_n.jpg

Black and White Eco Tones from Manny's.jpg

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 10:21 pm
by Espresso
No more Echo Tones?
One more pic I have found in the web.
Bye Bye

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:26 am
by JohnnyConga
THE PHOTO ABOVE WITH Juan playing an Eco-tone fiberglass I bought at a pawn shop for 5 bucks from the X timbale player Manny Ramos of that band-who sold me the pawn shop ticket ..back around 1971 I have one photo of me with it gotta find it...and then the "no neck' Eco-tones Im playing were given to me by my first teacher Hank Fields...and they were GREAT!...
23445_1419328724619_1274692270_1177878_2772747_n.jpg

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:22 pm
by Espresso
Thank Jhonny to Your help , enclosed a picture of LP Dancin & Prancin of Candido.

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:14 am
by bongosnotbombs
Tito Echo

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:21 am
by Omelenko1
Eco Tones Joey Pastrana
Echo Tones, Pastrana.jpg

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 3:29 pm
by KING CONGA
Here are some, in fact, some that look like yours.

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:37 pm
by Espresso
Hi King Conga , nice room!!
Now I understand I am not the only congaholic
The Yellow congas are 99% mine , probably a picture of the previous owner.
Bye

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 5:51 pm
by KING CONGA
Espresso wrote:Hi King Conga , nice room!!
Now I understand I am not the only congaholic
The Yellow congas are 99% mine , probably a picture of the previous owner.
Bye

One thing can be said with all certainty in regards to these wonderful drums, that they are all, each one of them, unique. Each one was individually hand painted.
There is an old 70"s movie called "Super fly" in which it shows a guy at a bar grooving with a nice pair of blue echo tones. You can watch this for a good while so you can have a good look at them.


"congaholics" :mrgreen: , are you kidding, that's an understatement for all of us here in the forum, we are all sick with that disease :mrgreen: . I tend to call us "Conga junkies" :mrgreen:
Cheers.
K.C.

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 6:24 pm
by JohnnyConga
The guy playing with Curtis Mayfield is the late great Master Henry Gibson...he passed away in Sweden in 2002...

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:44 pm
by rhythmrhyme
Hey Echo tone enthuziasts!

Was there any sound quality advantage or disatvantage to having a neck on the old echo tone drums?

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:04 pm
by KING CONGA
JohnnyConga wrote:Here is a photo of me and my 1960's Eco Tones 1967 NYC...with "no neck"..made by Frank Mesa...and given to me by my first teacher Hank Fields...and a set owned and played by fellow conga drummer in the midwest...
23445_1419328724619_1274692270_1177878_2772747_n.jpg

Black and White Eco Tones from Manny's.jpg


Man Johnny those echos are awesome. Do you still own them? better yet, do you want to sell them :mrgreen:

Re: ECHO TONE CONGA LIST

PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:49 am
by Jackson_B
KING CONGA wrote:One thing can be said with all certainty in regards to these wonderful drums, that they are all, each one of them, unique. Each one was individually hand painted.
There is an old 70"s movie called "Super fly" in which it shows a guy at a bar grooving with a nice pair of blue echo tones. You can watch this for a good while so you can have a good look at them.

"congaholics" :mrgreen: , are you kidding, that's an understatement for all of us here in the forum, we are all sick with that disease :mrgreen: . I tend to call us "Conga junkies" :mrgreen:
Cheers.
K.C.


Here's a clip from 'Superfly' where a guy is playing maybe a pair of light blue Echo Tones and a third red one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYNhhq22_Ak