The Toys

[caballoballo]

Bongoceros Finally some Pictures. 1986 Valje By LP. Sorry Guys I could not get it to work, Any Advice,Thanks



Edited By caballoballo on 1190497633

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 15__2_.jpg

[caballoballo]

Working on the image so I can post 3 other pictures. How can I get the picture smaller in size ?

[caballoballo]

Another Picture,2007 El Piernas



Edited By caballoballo on 1190497128

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 16__2_.jpg

[caballoballo]

Moperc Salsa Club 2002



Edited By caballoballo on 1190497253

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 17__2_.jpg

[caballoballo]

Early 80s Vintage El Piernas



Edited By caballoballo on 1190497435

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 18__2_.jpg

[RitmoBoricua]

Very Nice Bongos, Boricua! Is that LP Valje Cherrywood? What band do you play with "en Puertorro" ?
Saludos!

[caballoballo]

Hola Ritmoboricua, I have been playing the last 2 years With Tropical Jamn,we have play in most of the clubs around the Metropolitan area. Working in another project with a friend Conguero,is going to be smaller 8 players only. The economic situation around is harder for a big band. We going to make it small but with power,2 Trompets,1 Trombone,upright bass,Piano,Conga & Bongo,1 singer and the most important,we are going to play the classic Salsa that the others are not playing. I got a friend in N.J who has a computerize equipment to copy arragements.

I bought that Valje a long time ago, can't tell which wood is made from.



Edited By caballoballo on 1190556716

[RitmoBoricua]

I think the original LP Valje bongos were cherry wood years later they switched to beech. I think is hard to keep a big band afloat anywhere. Nothing wrong with going to a smaller ensemble you can still swing with "Mucho Sabor Boricua". Just keep on doing what you doing..

Pa'lante como el elefante, que de los buenos quedamos pocos"

Saludos Boricua!

[Mike]

And wonderful instruments indeed, caballoballo!
You are a lucky man...
Cheers
Mike

[Tonio]

Nice photos caballo!
The LP Valje looks different from mine. On yours the wood appears to have a clear finish, and shinier. Mine are satin finish. Did you rework them? I think these are the Cherry wood, later on they changed to Armando Peraza model.
Also on your Salsa Club the crown brackets are rounded, mine are angular cuts. Hey good idea on using LP's contoured washers on the bottom loops.
Boy those Piernas bottom hoop look sjust liek LP's.

T



Edited By Tonio on 1190579511

[caballoballo]

Bongoceros ,thanks for your comments. Tonio,no they are in the same condition as I bought them I just have taken good care of him. Yes I got those contours watchers I think from Ismael Timbas or Ivan Caceres place,they are hard to come by I was lucky. About the El Piernas desing bottom hoops,once I spoke to him about making them Cuban style but he told me that would make them too heavy.They are heavy(13 pounds) as they are. The Moperc is an old version.

Ritmo Boricua,yes it is hard for a big band,the salsa scene is always a rollercoaster around here,sometimes you don't play in a month & then suddenly you play 5 times in 2 weeks. That is the way is been for us this year but the hollyday season is around the corner,last year we started playing at the end of october & kept playing every weekend until the end of December. So we will be cooking in a while.

Mike vas is los. How is the vintage Lp doing ? There are some rumors around base that we may go to Germany sometimes next summer,if we do we may be able to jamn together. I keep you update in the case we go.

I have just finsh practicing some Son Montunos for over an hour. I believe if you can dominate that slow tempo then you can do anything you want on the fasters ones like salsa. Did you guys notice the deal Omelenko & Twinsbongo did.

[Mike]

How is the vintage Lp doing ?

It´s doing pretty fine, my LP. It´s my little beloved bongo, like a sweet daughter with a strong will to be loud :; BTW I have a beautiful, two lovely sons - and 4 tumbadoras to handle

There are some rumors around base that we may go to Germany sometimes next summer,if we do we may be able to jamn together. I keep you update in the case we go.

Wow, it would be incredible, fantastic if we could meet some day, caballero You are welcome anytime, my friend!

I believe if you can dominate that slow tempo then you can do anything you want on the fasters ones like salsa.

Sure thing! And practicing martillo is always fun, be it slow or fast. WIth the right "popping" on a decent, cranked up mule macho or so at least - and I´m sure your extraordinary bongos produce the right sound...



Edited By Mike on 1190619369

[buckoh]

The Valjes on the previous page are made of rubberwood, aka parawood, Hueva Brasilica. My 22 yr. old bongos are made of it. I don't know if that's good or bad. Buck

[caballoballo]

Buck,do not know what they are made of,I bought them during the 20th century in 1986.

That Valje was in a corner of my room, only use for rehearsal once in a while. Then about 3 weeks ago I decided to take off the Fyberskin heads to install a thick deer skin on the hembra & a cow skin on tha macho, what a good intermediate mellow sound from the hembra and what a good slap from the macho plus an exellent martillo sound. That is 1 thing I have notice from those 4 Bongos specially their Hembras,each one has his own charasterictic sound although their skins are about the same thickness .

Hey good news,my Lady has started learning the martillo using the Valje which is not too big as the others and neither too heavy. So now I won't be able to do a trade with twinsbongo.



Edited By caballoballo on 1190806445