congaplace.com

Hi everyone. A friend has asked me if these are real Juniors and I really don't have expertise in this department. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Thanks.
Will.

The bridge looks like Matthew Smith's work. Might be worth shooting him an e-mail with the pix to see if they're his or maybe a set that he's refurbished.

doctor bloor....Thanks for the advice. I sent him the pictures in an email and will wait to see what Mr. Mathew Smith says.

Will.

Yeh, bridge def looks like Matthew's work.

You could also ask Omolenko.

I recieved an email back from Matthew Smith and he said that he remembers a set similar to these, but that these are not the ones he worked on. I saw another set in another post about Junior's bongos and they looked very similar although the wood had a lighter stain on them. I am leaning towards thinking that these are Juniors but I would not be able to bet my life on it.








"Beginning at the wrong end, by making the outward things first, they know nothing of inward joy and peace, and pass their lives in a constant struggle, secretly conscious that there is something wrong, and yet not knowing why."

The thickness of the shells looks like other Juniors.

I don't think they are stained....they are probably mahogany. If they're old it's probably Cahoba from Latin America or the Caribbean. Towards the end Junior was using Khaya ( African mahogany) .That may account for the different colour. Also mahogany gets darker over time.

Coco....everything you said seems to make perfect sense to me. Thanks .

EITHER WAY, I'D LOVE TO OWN THOSE. VERY, VERY NICE BONGOS.

Si señor, those are Junior's. Here is a picture of mine. I cut off 1/4" from the center piece to bring them a bit closer together.

Rompe cuero !

Dario

yes they are juniors bongos junior made bridge at time just like that and that his signiture work

hi i bought the set of junior bongos you had posted on congaplace from a guy in san diego robert feltcher are they realy juniors i hope can you give me acall or e mail me and i can call you cell 406 253 6925 e mail pelican.2@hotmail .com thanks very very much have a great day oh my name paul

Robert Felcher is a very knowledgeable collector and has one of the best percussion collections in the world. If he says they are Junior Tirado's, you can take that to the bank. I know I sold him some Junior bongos some years back. Robert is honest and reliable and knows the product line very well. Enjoy one of the best bongos ever made, Junior Tirado.

Dario

Definitely made by Natalio "Junior" Tirado. R.I.P.
The center post is "Juniors" shape, as are the shell thickness.
(Or should I say thinness?)

These are a pair I bought from him in 1994-'95.
Without an unsightly heavy coat of polyurethane.
They were originally painted red! I removed the paint, and gave them a light sanding, then applied a thin
coat of wood sealer.
I also I applied thin pieces of semi hard rubber to the outsides of the post, where it formally was wood against wood.
It's the same type of rubber that here in N.Y.C. they put down in apartment building lobby's when it rains, so you don't slip.

"Cuero na' ma'

thanks for all the help on juniors thats realy cool that i know were they came from i love playing them and a good story to boot thank everyone for the help lost soul