GUANEX congas - made in Cuba Tata Guines model...

[BATZONG]

Hello, forum!

A drummer in Germany is selling a pair of congas that have a "Tata Guines" sticker on them. They look sturdy, well made (at first sight)...

After making a little google search I found that the name of that brand is Guanex, some italian online stores feature these instruments, but aside from that there's not much info on the web. By doing a google "images" search I found a few pics of Tata indeed playing exactly the same drums...

Does anybody have some info on this brand? Any good?... BTW the italian sites state that they are made in Cuba.

Anyway... any info will be greatly apreciated!

Mil gracias in advance! :;):

[ABAKUA]

http://guanex.org/


:;):

[Thomas]

They look good to me!
Do you know why he wants to sell them, any complaints?
Tom

[BATZONG]

No, no complaints as far as I know. Owner is a drumset player that has no time and lost interest in playing hand percussion...

Anyone played them or know more about them???



PS: Thanks for the link, ABAKUA!

[JohnnyConga]

Well from what I know the REAL TATA Guines congas have 8 keys on the tumbadora and they are made by Sonor/Cuba.. They have a set for sale at the airport in Havana, from friends that saw them. I was looking for a photo I thought I had of them..but i can't find it...

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ata_Guines

[ABAKUA]

Originally yes JC, however, the SONOC (not sonor) SONORIDAD CUBANA (SONOC) factory in Cuba closed after going bust. A fellow conga player from here was there when it happened.

He brought back a set of their top of the line SONOC Tata editions, the lugs and plates had to be replaced after one use and the metal came apart and ripped open. Skins also had to be changed as the sound they made was not up to scratch.
In the end, he had custom made hardware made up to keep that 'natural rustic' look, now they are fine.
But apparently this is common as the materials they were using as of late in Cuba simply were not strong enough and they couldnt import due to embargo.. :angry:



Edited By ABAKUA on 1153959653

[JohnnyConga]

U right and all I can say is DAAAAAAAAAAAYUM!....."JC" Johnny Conga.....

[zumbi]

peace!
i own a guanex quinto (my only conga). traditional model with comfort rims.
to my ears it sound sweet.
i strongly feel an handcrafted instrument made by musicians/music lovers to be superior by nature to any mass produced industrial one.
one love

[BATZONG]

Cool!

Where did you get yours, zumbi?

Those are rare...

[zumbi]

got in a music store in rome, italy while i was passing trough there.
peace!

[rebongo]

hello!
Guanex is a brand born from a joint venture between a Cuban factory and a italian distributor, that is a musician; I have seen and played this drum in Rome: good drums, with thick and traditional skins, harware by Dixon factory (the cuban original don't worked good...); traditional sound, without overtones; the finition is not the best and the price a little high in my opinion.
The Tata signature is for business, I don't think he really sound this drums; three years ago Tata was guest in my home and played in my town (Sassari) and told me that he plays the drum that are in the stage without problems...that was a great lesson for me!