A gift from a good friend in California.

[salcero1]

This pair I received earlier in 2011 as a gift from a very good friend in California. The shells were handmade in the Bronx by Juan R. Figueroa, the hardware are made by Resolution Drums (Valje) and the skins thin mule Macho from JCR and the Hembra is olive oil treated slightly thicker mule from "El Greco" in Greece. Beautiful sound to this set. One of my favorites. Wishing everyone's Thanksgiving celebration was a safe & well celebrated one. Peace.

Jorge.

[RitmoBoricua]

Nice looking bongo. Are the shells ash, oak?

[salcero1]

Saludos RitmoBoriqua,
They're oak. The macho originally had an olive oil matching skin from "El Greco" but when tuned up tight had no pop to it and was kind of dull. I didn't want to put anymore stress on the shells to achieve the sound I wanted so I swapped the macho with a spare Macho JCR head leftover from a purchase made in 2010. It will be a little while but when broken in will sound super sweet and very old school with lots of projection. As it stands now the Hembra gives a booming bassy tone that would sound fabulous "Mic'd" up. Y sigo Pa'lante hermanito, Peace.

Jorge.

[mydogsowner]

What a generous friend. Those bongos sound like a lot of thought and care went into getting them together for your gift.

They look perfect.

[RitmoBoricua]

I tell you for the macho nothing like "chivo" (goat). The goat heads are very musical and you do not have
to put too much pressure on the hardware and shells because you don't have to crank them up all the way
to get them tuned. A very nice and unique bongo you have there, enjoy.

[salcero1]

I have to agree with you on your view on goat for I have several thin goat hydes from L&H percussion and they don't need a whole lot of tuning for a beautiful pop. The thicker oil treated macho's flesh hoop will be used to mount one of the hydes I currently have in my stock collection for mounting whenever the JCR head fails me. I may ask Michael to send me some more thin goat skins for the macho. Fragile but worth the investment for a dynamic pitch and tone, I like what he has for inventory. Beautiful quality and feel. Much thanks for the compliments on the set. Hablamos.

Jorge.