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My son Trumpet Teacher and band director was given this old Valje. I convinced him to let it go because otherwise was going to be destroy by his students. I am planning to have it restore to a playable mode.The Hembra still has the original Valje sticker. The Macho is out of round for what I think is years of leaving it tunned forever but a good artisan can take care of that as I have already spoke to one.

Great bongo!!! This one is going to become one of your favorites.

Excellent find. I'm really glad you "rescued" them.
I was just practicing on my version of the same bongo about 30 minutes ago.
I love this bongo, it's nice and light, a smaller size, with a great sound. It's a good alternative for my larger Resolution bongo.
I think your going to like it too.
Ralph Flores usually has replacement lugs in stock. I bought some recently for a Valje conga.
If I remember correctly they are about $10 each.

Thanks Psych & BNB, Yes I thought about contacting Ralph for the price of the lugs. Also the crowns & bottom hoops are a little rusted so works need to be done. Let's see how much that chroming cost around here.

That's an authentic Valje, it's worth investing on it. Cali (JCR) can make an "alma" for the macho and that will correct the out-of-round condition, when you put a new skin and tune it. I'm sure in PR there are "artesanos" like Charlie Vega in Isabela that can do the same. I have a similar old Valje that I got from "Dandy" and I love the fact that is very light weight.

Campanero, campana!

Dario

Alright People, Thus far I have been able to remove the rust and polish the crowns and hoops thanks to aluminun foils and a compound by the name of Neverdull. It is looking pretty. Also yesterday I spoke to my friend Papo from Timbas Del Valle and he explained to me the work to be done to make the Macho round again, something he be able to do applying steam or hot water or another technic as Omelenko mentioned using an Alma. He also said that may be during the process some staves or all stave may need to be reglue. So this piece of art would be restore hopefully in a couple weeks. I should post the progress if I got the chance.

BNB I need to get in touch with Ralph to buy 8 lugs. Thus far I have send an e-mail and also left a recorded message with no results. See if you can give me a hand with that.

Hey 'ballo, how is this one coming along? Did you get the lugs yet? and some cueros?

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

Vaya Bongoceros,
The Valje finally has come out of the Artisan shop. I still have to adquire new lugs and found that the ones from the Dandy do fit and also the ones from the LP Valje.

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

That Valje came out great! Those look like some top skins on there. What cueros did you use?
How you like this little bongo?

Hola BNB, yes the Bongó came out great but have not have time to play them yet. Kind of a busy schedule last weekend when the band played Friday night and then I have my regular DJ time at the same club the next night.Those are native cow skins which were cure by Papo the Artisan. By the way I do not intent to keep the Valje so if anybody is interested just make a reasonable offert.

Leedy,thanks for the input.