Fat Congas

[Whopbamboom]

Looks like Fat might be redesigning their congas? I didn't see this the last time I was on their site...

http://www.fatcongas.com/CongaProduct.html


Did their older ones have such a fat belly?

[bongosnotbombs]

I called Fat Congas a few weeks back, yes they are redesigning thier congas, indefinately, that is they don't know when they will ever be ready.



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1188881505

[Whopbamboom]

That sounds like very bad news... I WANT a set of those cherry-wood fat bellies...

Maybe with enough phone calls and some deposit money they'll make another short run?

[bongosnotbombs]

Good luck chief,
Onile has a set of the old design, says they are his best sounding congas!
Give them a call, see what they have to say, I remember not being especially encouraged.
Oh and for sure they arent going to be cheap, but probably worth it.

[Whopbamboom]

Think they might just be content to produce the cajon stuff now?

[bongosnotbombs]

When I talked to the Fat Conga guys wife, it seemed like they were really doing a lot of research on the congas, I guess to make them the best, you know "Sell no wine before it's time"

It also seemed like the guy is more of an artist/artisan, who has a lot of projects and ideas going which are distracting him from the congas...which it seems the goal is to make the absolute perfect conga....a worthy endeavor, but time consuming...

I was looking into getting a set as well, but the wait time before they are even available is indefinate.

[ozrivera]

Saludos Hermanos

that ad and conga pic have been on the site for over a year maybe longer.
i stumbled upon it when i was pricing congas to purchase about a year ago.
i can understand them conducting research, but after all
its already a proven technology. not many things to research. wood tonal elements are already down to a science the same goes for skins. that leaves barrel shape and hardware. i think if they were going to sell congas on serious level they wouldve already been doing it. i think they will congas sell in the future but at a limited capacity with outrageoous wait time.
but who knows they may just be planning how to mass
produce them.
hmmm, maybe the cajon industry is doing well enough for them.

Oz

[Whopbamboom]

I'm really going to hate it if they try to start going mass-produced in Asia or something. That's not the kind of drum I want to buy... I already have LP's for that...
Fat Conga's, if you're reading this... DON'T DO IT!

By the way, is that photo then of their older design? The kind Onile has?

[bongosnotbombs]

WBB,
No way they are going to do that. Everything about the new design is going to be better, thats what i was told, new hardware design, construction etc...

I think you better just give them a call yourself, they are real nice on the phone...

[onile]

Alafia Abures!
I hope that you are all well!

As for the congas pictured on their website, those are of the previous version (the ones that I have). In fact, I believe that they are pictures of my set. I remember that when I received my set (3yrs. after ordering them), Rick Buschemi (sp?) told me that he had photographed them to use them in advertising.

Regarding any "conga drum orders" from Fats, I happen to be the "thorn" in their side

I have contacted Rick each year to inquire about another 13" drum, but each time I try, I get his wife to talk with me. She tells me the same thing each time:

"Hope springs eternal, you can continue to ask, and maybe someday he'll get around to it, but for now he's totally caught up with manufacturing the cajons." She did explain to me (BTW! his wife is extremely courteous and kind), that he and a couple of other guys are the only ones that are doing the manufacturing, so there isn't much help for him.

In either case, to quote his wife "hope springs eternal", keep contacting him and hopefully he'll make a drum.

Many blessings my brothers!

Onile!

[Whopbamboom]

Three years after you ordered them? Not 4-6 months??? Three years????

Ouch.

Doesn't sound like they even want to build congas. Maybe they ought to change their name to "fat cajons" or something.

Hopefully they will gear back up to produce nice congas again. In the meantime, if anyone sees some Fat's for sale out there anywhere, please PM me with the lead-- thanks!!

[kongo]

I can vouch for their Cajones. I own two and they are the cajones with cojones!
If their congas are half as good they should be killers.

Suerte.

Kongo