Is this an Sonoc or I just wish it to be

[goldy]

Hi everyone,
I'm a new member on this forum but I visited this site many time. My love with bongos is about 5 years old and I found myself enjoying to preserve their history. Regarding playing, well, I'm between beginner and intermediate player.
Last year I bought this vintage Cuban bongos on eBay. Macho 7" and Hembra 7 6/8". The few thinks that made me believe that they could be the Sonoc are: shape of center block, over-sized crown rings, barrels made from Caoba and decorative grooves on barrels.
Following is a work done by me:
Fixing up few cracks,
Stripping old lacquer to timber barrels, applying 4 coats of natural wax to barrels to achieve nice and smooth finish but to retain vintage properties,
Stripping old black paint from metal rings, applying 3 coats of metallic auto lacquer in gray/silver color,
Making and installing natural skin washers for center block screws to prevent any additional cracking, installing thin rubber sound divider between the center block and the barrels,
Refreshing the head skins using 'Ardub Drum Rub' cream obtained from Manito Percussion US,
Extra waxing of bearing ages to achieve smooth tuning,
Lubricating the lugs and nuts and assembling of all parts.
They are now in excellent condition with an old school sound.
Could you please make comments and yes, thank you in advance. Goldy

[RitmoBoricua]

One question please define old school sound?
Meaning what you perceive as old school sound.
I think "old school sound" can be a very subjective
thing. Just curious.

I think I saw your set on eBay late last year.
Welcome and take care.

[goldy]

One question please define old school sound?
Meaning what you perceive as old school sound.
I think "old school sound" can be a very subjective
thing. Just curious.

I think I saw your set on eBay late last year.
Welcome and take care.

Hi 'RitmoBoricua',
Sometime is hard to divide subjective opinion from an objective. Perhaps the statement 'the beauty is in your eyes' apply for 'the sound is in your ears'.
What this bongos possess is: when you tap the Hembra, it will produce dry and loud 'thump' sound which will end up with quite short 'ooomm'. Macho has bright and full tone (not over crisp but rather with touch of mellow). Combine together, they sounds folkloric.
Before I made that statement that they are 'old school' sound, I compared them with my other vintage bongos (Valje 50's-fully restored by Ralf Flores; Valje 60's with brown steer skins from Manito Percussions, Gon Bops 70's with mule and white steer skin; Gon Bops 60's .......)
They are all clssic 'old school' but normaly with different tonal values.
Regarding eBay: Yes, they have been there but without my knowlege or permission. It was a fraud by an eBay member.
Do you have your opinion, are they Sonoc?

[RitmoBoricua]

I am pretty sure if you ask a random number of people what they perceive as
"old school sound" we will get different perceptions, but is all good.

To be quite honest I could not tell you whether your set is Sonoc or not.
I am not very familiar with Sonoc instruments. I would not be surprised
if in fact it is Sonoc, the look of your bongo is consistent with the very
few sets that claimed to be Sonoc I have seen. I like the shells, the hardware
need helps.

[Cochise]

Most definately Sonoc (sonoridad cubana) Hope this helps

[goldy]

Thank you everyone,
I will do my best to preserve this instrument. Perhaps that skins will be changed, but further modifications will not be done. This is how is made and should stay as is.