My new Cuban Congas - Solid shell, custom made.
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:26 amSo I just spent 6 months in Cuba, only just got back home.
I headed down to Atare district one hot sweaty afternoon, down Calle Monte, passed Cuatro Caminos, into Los Sitios in Havana Vieja and dropped in to see Joaquin who made me a Requinto last year and a Bata set for my bro.
We bounced ideas off each other and he ended up agreeing to make me a set based off my design. Wood of choice was finally decided by Joaquin who explained the best sound would be achieved by using Almendra (Walnut). Couldve been almost any choice of wood, most choices were available, from Cedro, to Caoba, etc
So the specs.. Solid one piece Almendra (walnut) Shells, 11.75" Macho (with Alma fitted), 13" Hembra. Barrigonas (wide belly), Stainless steel crowns with traditional hardware. 7 lugs per drum. Nice thick Cuban cowhide skins.
These babies are a "one off" design with no other like it in the world.
Adel Gonzalez saw the drums once completed and ordered a set of 5 off Joaquin, however they will be with the regular standard 6 lug design and not with the greater sized belly, how Joaquin normally makes them.
Beautiful sound, no overtones, no ringing, very warm tones, great projection, loud, slaps come out crazy, open slaps are out of this world, base tones, baqueteo etc come out loud n clear. Every tone played comes through beautifully.
The drums made their official debut with Adalberto Alvarez y Su Son, the conga player is a very close friend of mine. I played with them regularly during my stay. Adalberto commented how he loved their sound, so much better than the Lp Patatos used normally.
We jammed on after the gig with musicians from Los Van Van, and played rumba til close to 5am at this little sandwich bar, Yoelito (Van Van's new conguero) absolutely loved my drums.
Ive played LP drums for close to 20 yrs and have played almost every mass produced drum out there, and they hold nothing to these drums. I am extremely happy with these drums and when I return to Havana, I will be getting Joaquin to make me another 2. They are not a perfect finish pretty drum like you will find with most mass produced brands, these drums do have their visual aesthetic flaws, but they sound awesome, are handmade custom to my design, and are the real deal in terms of Cuban style drum.
Anyone travelling to Havana and looking to have drums made, Joaquin is the man, he makes bongo, bata and tumbadoras, from rough backstreet style rumbero drums, right through to professional level and finish style drums. His workshop is frequented by the best of the best from Havana and everyone praises Joaquins drums. He even has a photo with Giovanni Hidalgo on one of his many trips to Cuba, Gio loved Joaquins drums.
A friend of mine also travelled to Havana, he spent 3 months there and also had a set similar to mine made, he got them made with a centre band (decorative). I liked the look originally and also had mine made with the centre band. Later on I decided I no longer liked it and had them removed. Due to lack of resources in Havana, finish colour/stain is limited, I plan on refinishing them later on in a clearer stain to more appreciate the solid shell.
Enjoy!
Joaquin jamming rumba with my bro Dominic
I headed down to Atare district one hot sweaty afternoon, down Calle Monte, passed Cuatro Caminos, into Los Sitios in Havana Vieja and dropped in to see Joaquin who made me a Requinto last year and a Bata set for my bro.
We bounced ideas off each other and he ended up agreeing to make me a set based off my design. Wood of choice was finally decided by Joaquin who explained the best sound would be achieved by using Almendra (Walnut). Couldve been almost any choice of wood, most choices were available, from Cedro, to Caoba, etc
So the specs.. Solid one piece Almendra (walnut) Shells, 11.75" Macho (with Alma fitted), 13" Hembra. Barrigonas (wide belly), Stainless steel crowns with traditional hardware. 7 lugs per drum. Nice thick Cuban cowhide skins.
These babies are a "one off" design with no other like it in the world.
Adel Gonzalez saw the drums once completed and ordered a set of 5 off Joaquin, however they will be with the regular standard 6 lug design and not with the greater sized belly, how Joaquin normally makes them.
Beautiful sound, no overtones, no ringing, very warm tones, great projection, loud, slaps come out crazy, open slaps are out of this world, base tones, baqueteo etc come out loud n clear. Every tone played comes through beautifully.
The drums made their official debut with Adalberto Alvarez y Su Son, the conga player is a very close friend of mine. I played with them regularly during my stay. Adalberto commented how he loved their sound, so much better than the Lp Patatos used normally.
We jammed on after the gig with musicians from Los Van Van, and played rumba til close to 5am at this little sandwich bar, Yoelito (Van Van's new conguero) absolutely loved my drums.
Ive played LP drums for close to 20 yrs and have played almost every mass produced drum out there, and they hold nothing to these drums. I am extremely happy with these drums and when I return to Havana, I will be getting Joaquin to make me another 2. They are not a perfect finish pretty drum like you will find with most mass produced brands, these drums do have their visual aesthetic flaws, but they sound awesome, are handmade custom to my design, and are the real deal in terms of Cuban style drum.
Anyone travelling to Havana and looking to have drums made, Joaquin is the man, he makes bongo, bata and tumbadoras, from rough backstreet style rumbero drums, right through to professional level and finish style drums. His workshop is frequented by the best of the best from Havana and everyone praises Joaquins drums. He even has a photo with Giovanni Hidalgo on one of his many trips to Cuba, Gio loved Joaquins drums.
A friend of mine also travelled to Havana, he spent 3 months there and also had a set similar to mine made, he got them made with a centre band (decorative). I liked the look originally and also had mine made with the centre band. Later on I decided I no longer liked it and had them removed. Due to lack of resources in Havana, finish colour/stain is limited, I plan on refinishing them later on in a clearer stain to more appreciate the solid shell.
Enjoy!
Joaquin jamming rumba with my bro Dominic
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