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I had Cali (JCR) make new hardware for my vintage Timbas Ismael bongo'. Originally it had 10 lugs, I still have that hardware intact, I had Cali make me new hardware, this time regular 8 lugs. The crowns are not as high as the Ismael, those high Ismael crowns are very hard on you fingertips, Cali's crown are much lower and it makes playing much easier and not painful on the fingertips. So now the Ismael has two sets of hardwarwe 10 & 8 lugs. These Ismael,when it comes to sound projection,crispiness on the macho and heavy bottom on the hembra are second to none. The bongo' among bongoces.

Saludos,

Dario

New Cali hardware.

Ismael, original 10 lug hardware

Beautiful! What wood?

The wood is Puerto Rican Caoba (mahogany). Ismael was the best artisan, conga and bongo' maker in PR. He died close to 20 yrs. ago.

Saludos,

Dario

DARIO,

BEAUTIFUL WORK, AND BEAUTIFUL BONGOS.

DARIO, I KNOW THIS MAY BE A LITTLE INCONVINIENT FOR YOU. BUT CAN YOU SEND ME THE DIMENSIONS OF YOUR ISMAEL BONGOS?

HIEGHT, THICKNESS, SOLID OR STAVE, HEAD SIZES, AND POST SOME DETAILED PHOTOS OF THE SHELLS INSIDE AND OUT. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT BRO. THANKS

CHARLIE

Can I ask why you changed from 10 to 8 lugs? Is it becuase the 8 lug set up is easier on your legs?

In your experience is it true that having 5 lugs on the drum allows you to tune it better ? I know that's the theory but in practice?

Thanks....and another great job by Cali!

Coco,

Your comment has a lot of merit, 8 lugs is easier on the knees. Ismael crowns are 7/8" in height, Cali's are 1/2", much easier on your fingertips. Ismael hardware was much heavier. Is true that with a 10 lug bongo' your tunning is going to be very precise. In this case the Ismael is macho 6 1/2", hembra 8". Is mostly a cylindrical bongo' not conical. I have Mongo's Vergara's, Pan Con Queso, JCR, Vintage Valjes and a 10 lug Gon Bops. The sound of these Ismael's is beyond anything, grant you Ismael was sort of rustic in his designs, but the sound is amazing. The shells are very thick, not too refined but you can't beat the sound projection. The bongocero from Sonora Ponceña has one very much like mine and he claims is his prized possesion.

Saludando a los rumberos !

Dario

Two years ago I went to Timbas Ismael, Bayamon PR and I was shown this pair of Ismael"s that belonged to Monchito Muñoz (T. Puente's bongocero in the early 60's) I offered Junior (Ismael son) $600 dollars for them . Ismael had made them in 1960, Junior smiled but politely declined. He said the only one that could have them is Monchito and for $60 dollars, that's how much Ismael charged him to refurbish them and put new heads on them back them. Monchito never picked them up and died a few years back. The only thing again, the crowns were too high and is hard on the fingertips, but this pair is a dream pair. See enclosed photo.

Dario

Hi Dario

Thanks for your reply. I am getting a 10 lug myself and never having played one I was interested to hear your views regarding the trade off between comfort and more precise tuning. Of course now you can choose either with the same bongo!

What year is your Ismael from? Is it from the same period as the one in the shop in PR?

hola .......bongos del nieto de ismael R y R Timbas
productos hechos con su tecnica , estilo , solidez y durabilidad
Nadie nos iguala ,herrajes en acero inoxidable , maderas primera calidad , terminacion y lo mas importante sonido unico (a lo Ismael).
medidas herrajes :
aro - 1/4 * 3/4 pulgada
oreja - 1/4 diametro
flejes - 3/4 * 1/16
visite - myspace.com/RyRtimbas para mas informacion

Believe me, is not going to be too much difference in sound between the 10 lugs and 8 other than the 10 is more uncomfortable. To me it looks like somebody did 1 with 10 and the other Artisan just follow to be in fashion but this just my opinion.The way you tune counts a lot but also your playing technique has to do much with the sound projection. For example Meiln claim that the free ride center piece provides a better sound than the wooden block, if you are sitting in a band with 11 musicians, trust me you will not hear any difference.

Things are warming up in the music scene down here, I am playing every weekend starting tonight until the end of June.

caballoballo,

I agree with you. Having 10 lugs on your bongos not only would (probably) make them more uncomfortable to play seated but also heavier in weight.

Re: your analogy re: Meinl Free Ride centerpiece, if you're playing in a loud band, even having a slight ringing sound coming from your bongos (or congas or timbales) will hardly be heard by you, but more so by your bandmates and audience. That's why I've come to really like my Remo Fiberskyn synthetic skins, which not only project sound better but also maintain their tune, on my bongos (and congas).

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

Hi leedy2,

No problem. Absolutely, no insult taken.

Thanks for your clarification re: moving the lugs of a pair of 10-lug bongos for more comfort for seated playing. Unfortunately, this tip hardly applies to me 'cause I mostly play my bongos with them mounted on a stand. Kind of bad for me, but my having to play standing is just a band rule. Morever, it's practical 'cause I'm also the male frontman for my cover dance band and move on the stage a lot when I'm not playing percussion.

Both bands play really loud and I'm not a heavy-hitter, particularly, on my bongos. (I hit harder on my congas.) So, unless our playing venue is really small, I always close-mic my percussion instruments.