ENSURE VALUE FOR YOUR DOLLARS!

[yambu321]

MY ADVICE TO ANYONE,
THAT IS THINKING ABOUT BUYING A FINE DRUM, OR SET OF DRUMS, IS TO TRULY LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING TO BUY. IF YOU ARE GOING TO PAY MATTHEW SMITH, SKIN ON SKIN, VALJE,
GON BOPS CAL SERIES, VOLCANO, OR EVEN TOP OF THE LINE LP BONGO PRICES (275.00 TO 500.00) FOR A SET YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, MAKE SURE IT'S WORTH WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR IT. ASK VARIOUS KNOWLEDGABLE PLAYERS FOR INPUTS.

EVEN IF A SET IS MADE BY ZUES HIMESELF, IF IT'S BEAT UP, NEEDS MAJOR WORK, OR IS LESS THAN PRESTINE YOU SHOULD NOT BUY IT AT SUCH PRICES, BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT, EVEN IF NOT ALL DRUMS ARE CREATED EQUAL, I'M POSITIVE THAT AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE YOU WOULD REGRET THAT PURCHASE. IF SOMEONE SELLS A DRUM FOR BIG MONEY, THAT VERY DRUM SHOULD LOOK, AND SOUND, LIKE BIG MONEY!

ALSO WATCH OUT FOR NEW, HIGH PRICED, PLYWOOD BONGOS. BUY WHATS KNOWN TO BE GOOD. DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST, AND THEN SPEND YOUR MONEY WISELY.


CHARLIE.

[vinnieL]

Hum Bro i can almost read your brain i know where this is coming from thanks for the advice brother.

[caballoballo]

That is what is call word to the wise. I have been lucky to been able to purchase all my Bongos at a fair price, sometimes as a bargain. My are working Bongos, every time I play or rehearse one of them will be choose. Here in the forum there is fuzz about some brands,ones are promote by some but without been road tested, thus far all the ones I have are proven to withstand the abuse of a working Bongocero. Other have big brand names but I do not see any of those around here except for a Gon Bops California series that Maelo from this forum and band member has. Some Like to own some brands to brag about or have them on display, many times I have said that too fancy and expensive maybe to fragile. May be when I become too old to play I may collect and brag about. Another refrain is, is not the arrow but the indian. A very expensive instrument not necessarily make you play better,it may sound better if you have the skills if not it may be a waste of money.

[yambu321]

I TOO, OWN A SET OF GON BOPS CALIFORNIA SERIES BONGOS, WHICH I HAVE REFINISHED WITH DANISH OIL, AND NO CLEAR COATING. I HAVE ALSO REFITTED THEM WITH MULE ON THE MACHO, AND CALF ON THE HEMBRA.

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A BONGO!

WORTH EVERY $$$$$

CHARLIE.

[caballoballo]

Este Yambu pa' aqui baile Yambu pa' allá. Asi decia un coro de un tema de Larry Harlow. Hey I like that color on your California and many times I have been tempted on buying a set .I am also a maniac about skins and especially the sound of the Hembra. It has to be a certain tone. Tomorrow I 'll be going to Bayamon to buy some Cueros at Pure Sound store, I always like to have one spare. Talking about Bongos on e-bay, there is Robert Fletcher asking about $500 for a Jay Berreck Bongó, no way I am going to pay that much, those people think they are selling gold extracted from the mines of Jupiter.

They may fool somebody else but not me. Another example is one called crazyeddie, he was selling an El Piernas which has 2 cracks & still he wanted $200. That one was bought by Omelenko and fix, it is the one on his last post on this particular forum.

It has been a busy Month, this Comming Sunday would be my fourth gig,then I have to perform on The Puerto Rico Salsa Congress as a DJ. I am getting to old , thinking seriously about retiring. May be in a couple years I would be selling some Bongos on E-bay.

[yambu321]

CABALLOBALLO, COOL BRO,
WHAT DRUMS DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE?

NOW AS FOR ROBERT FLETCHERS SKIN ON SKINS, I MUST SAY, THEY ARE A WONDERFUL SET AND WORTH BUYING. THEY LOOK TO BE IN WONDERFUL CONDITION, THERE IS NO WAIT TIME FOR THEM TO BE MADE, AND WITHOUT QUESTION, THEY ARE ONE OF THE TOP BONGO'S ON THE PLANET.

I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM PAYING A REASONABLE AMOUNT FOR WHAT IS TRULY WORTH THE CASH.

I ONLY HAVE A PROBLEM PAYING BIG BUCKS FOR THINGS THAT ARE NOT WORTH THE PRICE.
BECAUSE, OF A LACK OF QUALITY, OVERALL CONDTION, DAMAGE THAT MATTERS, OR IF A DRUM IS WORTH NO MORE THAN $150.OO-$200.00 AT BEST, IS BEING SOLD FOR $500.00.

WE ALL WORK MUCH TOO HARD TO EARN OUR CASH TO JUST THROW IT AWAY ON SOMETHING INFERIOR.

OK BRO,
SUAVE,

CHARLIE.

[vinnieL]

completely agree Charlie thanks for your advice.

[Omelenko1]

At a time when money and savings aren't worth much, like the present, is wise to invest in quality items. "Is not the arrow but the Indian", try playing martillo in an LP Ardiente or in a Toca Players and listen to the sound you get. The "El Piernas" I recently got, I got dirt cheap, much less than what it listed on Ebay, it had 2 small bottom splits that were caused by New York winters, it took 5 minutes and quality glue to fix. This Indian has played with Mongo, Cachao, Rolando Laserie, Larry and Andy Harlow just to metion some names, but this Indian also makes over a 6 figure yearly salary as a CPA. VinnieL, mi socito, congraulations on buying you Matthew Smith bongo', it will bring a lifetime of pleasure. Caballo, if you examie your stable, you will see that your 2 top broncos came from this Indian (at a bargain price). The Robert Felcher SOS on Ebay belonged to my boy Mario, an Indian that was Willie Colon's first conga player and who played bongo' with Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz, so top Indians do buy quality instruments. Sonerito, suena tu bongo'.
Dario

[RitmoBoricua]

Sr. Dario, As always beautiful bongos. How that R/R bongo sounds to you?
What are the head sizes? It has that concert bongo set look.

[caballoballo]

Omelenko, que volá, te picó la mosca ? It is not a matter of money, it is a matter of been practical. I also make over 6 figures working for the DOD and as a U.S Airforce Guard E-7. So I could buy if I want a $600 Bongó but , for what ? Yes my stable has some bad Broncos that will kick the Ass of any of those and you know. Also I am good playing, my martillo is hyper clean,slaps are sharp,ect,campaneo is on clave and on tempo. Bongos has been my instrument since around 1973.

Your boy Mario, Lo conozco y se del palo que se rasca, no quiero sacar trapos al Sol. Si han tocado con otra gente, pudiese ser pero ya es pasado, en su momento la montaron chevere. El papel aguanta todo lo que se escriba. Dario, no le pegues a la negra, ?????????? .

Yo aún sigo tocando con dos bandas . Hace un Par de Sábados toqué con La Mulenze un par de numeros,tambien me he trepado con otros buenos grupos del patio . Como dije el papel aguanta todo lo que se escriba asi que no abundaré. Aqui en la Isla se cocina la buena salsa. Van cuatro guisos éste mes.

Yo sabia que El Piernas que comprastes se podia arreglar con 10 centavos, el vendedor estuvo en contacto conmigo, simplemente no tenia necesidad de adquirir otra Pierna mas.

Yambú, tengo un Moperc Salsa Club como el de Tonio exepto que es del 2000, Un Piernas 1980s, Un Colombia Percussion ( Ambos se los compré a Omelenko, El cual está arrepentido de venderme el viejo El Piernas ) y otro El Piernas del 2007 hand carry from Colombia by a friend. All with top skins,( bien encueraos ). Next I will adquire "The Lp Dandy "which is mass produce but a special one. Hay fotos aqui en el foro.

The point about this topic is to invest wise, knows which artisans are manufacturing top quality, which woods reproduce the best tonalities,how much to pay ect, ect. And the most important is to know that what you may buy in e-bay could bring surprises , for example I know the practice of some individuals that bid on your item top money & them they call you to negociate for others instruments instead of paying the winning amount that they bid . It is better to buy it brand new from the artisan of your choice so you have your warranty and not the ordeal of having to contact the seller to claim up hill like it have happens in the past
and on this forum.
Dice El Coro, Por eso yo necesito un buen Rumbero.

[caballoballo]

My toys

[caballoballo]

Other toys

[Omelenko1]

Those first two toys of yours spent time sunbathing by my pool and you got them dirt cheap from me (see photo). A mi lo unico que me pica es el tolete de vez en cuando. Una cocsa que yo practico es no hacer alarde y respetar al ser humano. Los que tocaron hace años todavia comen con cualquiera.

[ABAKUA]

Hows this...

I have never ever seen a Matthew Smith RITMO drum in person. The only person I have met in person who owns a set is Pablo Batista (percussionist for Alicia Keys). As well as the opinion of some people I hold in high regard on this forum who own or have owned a set, yet Ive never met them, only spoken on here.

I have never so much as even laid a finger on one of his drums nor seen one in person.

Yet I am going to be re-establishing my order with him very shortly. 4 if not 5 of his top of the line African Mahogany tumbadoras.

I had an order on a set of 4, however early this year in February I was let go from my job due to economic crisis and Ive only started full time work again about 3 weeks ago. Earning some great money again, so once I am back in the game and all balanced out financially in a few weeks, I will be reactivating my order with him.
Depending solely on gigs was not enough to keep the order open.

[Tonio]

Do it Marcelo !!
If you ever need any help to complete that order and suddenly come to a financial hardship I can support you-though I would have to hold that portion drum ransom until you get back up.
Serioso !! I've got money stashed away.

T