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Dandy is my personal friend and has been my ispiration on bongo' for over 35 years. When he knew that they were going to do a signature bongo' for him. He called me knowing that I will buy anything he owns and offered me first a concert Valje from the early 60's, which I bought right away. He also told me that he had a 1948 Gonzalo Vergara, which he used in many TP, and Tipica 73 recordings. This Vergara was originally a tacked head (tachuela) bongo' that belonged to "La Coja", Ray Rivera, a bongocero that played with Noro Morales and his brothers. "La Coja" had moved to LA in the late 50's and was playing with the likes of Rene Touzet and Bobby Montes. On an ocassion when Dandy played LA with Puente, in the early 80's, La Coja went to see them and took the Vergara to Dandy as a gift. La Coja had retrofitted it with mechanical hardware made by Tom Flores from Valje. Dandy took it to NYC and had Cali JCR make knew hardware for it. Here are photos of both, the Vergara from La Coja and the concert Valje. Both of these gems belonged to the best bongocero in the world today and for the last 3 decades, John "Dandy" Rodriguez. Enclosed see photos.

Dario

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It is a Vergara. According to Dandy, La Coja (Noro Morales bongocero), gave it to him many years ago in LA, when Dandy was TP's bongocero. Originally was a tack head bongo'. La Coja had Tom Flores from Valje do the hardware. Dandy had JCR do new hardware for it and refinish the shells. The ouside looks new and shinny. Is a solid Caoba bongo' , no staves. What's different about it is that is 7 1/2" tall, most bongos are between 6" and 6 1/2" tall. It's small, macho 6.5", hembra 7.5", but delivers and incredible sound. Dandy used it for many recordings and took it on the road with TP all over the world. After his signature bongo' from LP, he decided to pass it on to me. The Caoba inside is very old, he told Cali to leave it like that, is got the old 50's mariposas (butterfly) nuts in the center piece. Is over 60 years old. Next time you see Dandy; ask him about it.

Dario

Beautiful bongos, Sr. Dario. If possible that when Caly had the bongos and refinished them he went ahead and resurfaced the shells. Is very possible, if the bongo shells are thick enough, you can sand-out all the dents, scratches, gouges, imperfections and you end-up with a very smooth new looking surface. Then you apply some varnish on that beautiful “Cuban Caoba” and you end-up with a beautiful heirloom like your set. Then you have the school of thought that you don’t do anything to the shells to preserve the patina of the wood, that aged and seasoned look. That Valje Concert Bongo “Esta Criminal”!

I've played a set of those concert bongos, really tremendous sound, and an original and unique design, I can see why Dandy liked them. I keep looking for the guy that let me try them out so I can make an offer on them.

For know I'll just have to be happy with my "regular model" Valjes and Ralph's Resolution bongos.

BNB,

Real nice sets!

Dario

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Vaya Faustino,

Estan encojonaos esos Valje.

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The Jack Constanzo model with the wood center piece was mine. You bought it from Alberto Nacif, Armando Peraza's Doctor friend, who lives in Detroit. I sold those to him a few years ago. Those sounded really nice.

Dario

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leedy2 wrote:Dario
I found out why they look so well preserved they were shaved top layer was taken off by Cali to remove scratches and small dents .I knew some thing was done no way a Vergara 60+ year looked that good. Here are some more Valjes 59,60,70'sand Jack constanso models

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Nice Valje sets. On the top picture the one in the bottom (oak one) looks way bigger than the (2) on top. Kind of taller than the other (2). The other (2) Walnut.

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That bottom one jumps at you when you look at it. Nice finish.