CONGA ID - anyone know what these are?

[bongosnotbombs]

These congas come with this description only, waiting to hear back from owner, so I thought I would post here.

The picture is kind of small, but maybe one of you guys might be able to pick out some identifying features.

"Set of 4 handmade congas with stands. In perfect condition. Comes with stool."



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1193082008

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 00595e.jpg

[JohnnyConga]

Those are "JAY"S" Skin on Skin congas hand made...Johnny Conga

[ralph]

i'm w/ JC on this one...not only do they look like Jay's drums...but the black hardware is almost a dead give away, he used this on many of his drums..

[bongosnotbombs]

Thanks guys, I thought they might be Skin on Skins but really wanted
a second opinion.

[Whopbamboom]

I know what ad those are from. Are you going to jump on them? If not, let me know!

[bongosnotbombs]

Yeah, I have a couple of emails in, can't believe I missed
them yesterday......

[Whopbamboom]

They're gone? Doesn't surprise me at that price!

[pcastag]

What did they sell for?
PC

[JohnnyConga]

Well just so u know I'm the one that "picked out" those bands that Skin onSkin have been using since 1971, when they had a storefront shop in Brooklyn, NY a few blocks from my grandmothers house....and Jay was the apprentice at the time....."JC" Johnny Conga....

[Whopbamboom]

The ad was for $800 for all four drums.


:O

[pcastag]

DANG!!!
PC

[jorge]

JC, who was Jay the apprentice to?

[ralph]

Jay, was probably influenced by Vergara's drum (what modern day drum maker hasn't been)...for some reason I believe he may have done work on Mongo's vergara's somewhere along the line, and he took it from there...Junior Tirado might have done, the same, although as far as i can tell Junior started before Jay...one important thing to remember is that Junior did sing w/ Arsenio Rodriguez's conjunto, and was probably heavily influence by Arsenio's brother's Quique and Raul...if you look at the drums they played, hey look like either Vergara's or Junior drums...(any insight JC or Dario?) by the way Jay is still making drums at $750 a piece...quarter sawn white oak, or cherry...sorry for getting off track Jorge...

JC that you know of, was Jay an active conguero/percussionist/musician?, or did he come from the woodworking world into conga making?



Edited By ralph on 1193148125

[Omelenko]

Natalio Tirado Ruiz, "Junior", used to sing coro with Arsenio's band in the early 60's. In NYC, he was the pioneer tumbadora maker. He fixed Mongo's Vergaras on a couple of occasions,Junior also restored Mongo's Vergara bongos after I got them from Mongo.
Jay plays a little conga, but is not a conguero by any means. Jay came from working with steel and welding before he got into conga making.
There was a bit of bad blood between Junior and Jay,Junior was the pioneer in NYC, the came Casa Cubana with Frankie Rodriguez from Long Island and then Jay with SOS,all inpired by Gonzalo Vergara in Habana.
The very first conga maker in NYC was Frank Mesa,maker of fiberglass Echo Tones, the first fiberglass conga ever made. Mesa started his one man operation around 1957, superb congas,used by NYC congueros (Patato,Candido,Ray,Malabe,Young Rascals.....). I have a pair conga and tumba made in 1968 and sold at Manny's on 48 St in Manhattan.
Enclosed: My 1968 Echo Tones

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... Congas.jpg

[Omelenko]

Enclosed my 1969 Junior Tirado's
Dario

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... congas.jpg