Mule Skins

[blas]

I read somewhere on the forum that Isaac has a good resource for skins. Isaac if you read this please contact me, I sent you a pm, thanks amigo

[BMac]

This matter is under private consideration.

[No.2-1820]

As we are talking of sharing our experiences I'd like to add that I have several drums, congas and bongos that are topped with mule skins from Isaac, they are amazing sounding instruments now that function just how Isaac told me they would if I applied his product, mule skins don't tend to be as pretty or perfect to look at as most cattle, some would say the same about mules ! Perhaps there's a connection ? Mule skins also take a while to come into their own, both in terms of the skin settling on the instrument and the player getting used to using them, I almost changed out a dark mule that I topped a quinto with from Isaac a couple of years back when I didn't know of such things, luckily I didn't and now the drums sings in a manner that always draws remarks and questions. I'm relaying this just as you have, as a customer of Isaacs and not to contradict you.

Barrie.

[BMac]

Removed for brevity. See my first posting in this message thread.



Edited By BMac on 1204122080

[yambu321]

BMAC,
WOW, SORRY TO HEAR THAT. I MYSELF, HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE, IN MY BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS WITH ISAAC. HE TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF ME! HE SHIPPED QUICKLY, AND SENT ME SOME OF HIS FINEST EXAMPLES. HE HAS ALSO COMMUNICATED WELL WITH ME.


PLEASE GO TO THE "MYCONGAPLACE" ROSTER, AND CLICK ON "ELCOQUI".

SCROLL DOWN AND CLICK ON THE PHOTO'S
MY GON BOPS MULE SKINS, ARE GORGEOUS! I HAVE MADE VARIOUS MULE SKIN PURCHASES, FROM ISSAC, FOR VARIOUS BONGO'S, AND A QUINTO. SO FAR, I AM VERY HAPPY WITH OUR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.

I WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK.
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN WORK THIS OUT, WITH ISSAC SOME HOW.

TAKE CARE,

CHARLIE 'EL COQUI" VERDEJO



Edited By yambu321 on 1202506632

[onile]

Alafia Abures!
I hope that you are all well and abundantly blessed!

Abure BMac!
That's a real shame that you had such an experience with what I've come to know as a real nice person, Isaac. Obviously we can't all have the same experiences, however I have ordered drums (3, one of which is reaching it's completion stage), as well as "Mule Skins". I mounted 3 mule skins on my "Islas" and Wow! Suenan brutales! They sound fantastic!

I know that sometimes Isaac is difficult to make contact with, however I just maintain my objective and continue to leave voice mail and e-mail, sooner or later he contacts me and we get the business at hand taken care of! I have a set of two JCR congas and they sound wicked Papa! (BTW! they have mule skins on 'em too).

As Abure Yambu321 stated in his post, hopefully you can come to some amicable agreement regarding your purchase with Isaac!

Many blessings!

Onile!

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[CongaTick]

3 mules from Isaac on my drums took them to a different level of sound. He's always been a pro in my book. Hope you get things straightened out.

[Mike]

BMac,
I got a mule skin from Isaac last year with a minor scratch - but this did not matter to me. It´s just a superficial scratch.
(What mattered was that I nicked the skin while mounting it - tough luck)
The quinto mule skin is perfectly playable and sounds great!
BTW as you can see the picture was taken while mounting.
The skin looks a bit different now.

Best regards
Mike



Edited By Mike on 1202639334

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[Diceman]

I bought eight mule skins from Issac and even though a little slow in arriving (London) they where of the agreed for thickness and played beautifully after about three months of use, in spite of gouges uneven thicknesses etc, they do take a while to play in, but worth waiting for.
The only problem was with a macho skin which although still playable developed a split half way through the skin. I now carry that as a spare in my bongo case.

I would certainly endorse Isaac as a supplier of mules, remembering he is a 'one man band', and think BMac has had a one off, unfortunate experience which I am sure can be remedied.

Suave

[caballoballo]

Although mule skins are great I find the price ($35 ) for a Bongó macho head too expensive. I could get a good skin imported fom Venezuela or Colombia for $15 at Don Checo Store (you get a 2 weeks warranty from Don Checo ) or for $18 at Pure Sound. At those places you have the oportunity to inspect the skin for flaws,cuts ect. Believe me, the last skin from Don checo sound as good or better than the mules I have mounted on the other 2 Bongos. 1 question I have is, How can you tell is mule, cow, steer or whatever ? How do you know they are not selling you a Cat instead of a Rabbit ?

[buckoh]

Caballo, can you tell us where to get those skins? I just got a 1/2 steer hide from Stern Tanning for 135.00 + shipping(25.00?) and I estimate I'll get 6 heads and maybe one macho from it. That's about 25.00 per head. There are some defects so, I may not get 6 GOOD heads. There is also the expected variations of thickness. Thanks, Buck

[blango]

I have to chime in on this, even though i sell skins...

I have to agree, cuts and all, as long as they are not too deep, are not a big deal with Mule. Mule is very strong and almost never breaks. The hardware and shell are the weak links (save a JCR tub), the skin will last if its thick enough.

I think some cuts may actually kill a ring... which is a good thing...

I haven't had the pleasure of doing buisiness with Isaac, I hear good things about him. If i needed a Mule skin, he is who i would call.

I love the sound of Mule, in the right setting.. for me, medium thick on a folkloric quino, and thin mule on a macho of a bongo. Thats what i play... that and horse for the macho... I use Cow on almost all else.

I mounted a recycled mule skin on a gon bops oak quinto last month. This skin had a really bad gash in it.. too deep for my taste. But i wanted to see if it, or how it effected the sound.

So i mounted it up. and the drum sounds SWEET! Ill post pictures of it.. you can see the cut easily. who knows how long it will last... my guess is it will get old before it breaks.

If you are looking for Cow hide, i can get you the best skins around, virtually flawless. even thickness. clean and great sounding. $45-$65 plus shipping.

If you are looking for an absolutely flawless and perfect skin in every way.. I can get that too, but cows have flaws, just like the rest of us.. ???

Ive played professionally for 15 years now, i know how to pick the right skin for the drum, the style of music played, and the players level of technique etc. Bleached or a dark tan translucent.

I only say this after reading what stern is doing!! man... Ill hook you up, no worries.

Tony

[bongosnotbombs]

That is what is great about congaboard!

I have one of blango's skins mounted on one of Isaac's old drums.

..and that vintage Gon Bops requinto, I got through blango?

...well I guess I better put one of Isaac's skins on it to balance things out!

I wouldn't hesitate to do business with either of these fine gentlemen again.

[buckoh]

I only say this after reading what stern is doing!! man

Blango, can you explain what you meant? This is my first large hide and I didn't know what to expect. I haven't mounted one yet, but I did cut an 18 inch circle to mount soon. I tried to get it from the area closest to the belly and noticed some variation in the thickness. I went and looked at a mule that was on my DelCielo 11 5/8 and noticed that is is thinner that the steer I'm about to mount. It was on the DelCielo for a year and I couldn't get used to it so I went back to the LP hand Picked that I had mounted a few years ago that sounded much better than the original DelCielo. The mule was hard to keep in tune and just didn't sound good to me. Same for the mules on my bongos. I might remount the mule on the DelCielo and put some shea butter on it and see what happens. Problem is, I have 2 Ritmos, why should I play the DelCielo? Actually, its a nice drum. Shaped like a Valje and sounds nice. Isaac sent me what I asked for, not too thick, not too thin. I've always liked the bleached ones, they had nice crackin' slaps. But, the DelCielo had a bleached one and it sucked! The biggest problem is that once you mount the skin, its yours! I'll have to make the best out of the Sterns hide. Buck

[umannyt]

I'd like to concur with all those who've put in positive words for Isaac Gutwilik.

So far, I've bought several JCR products--mambo bell, cha-cha bell, phenolic beater and replacement macho mule skin for my Gon Bops CA bongos--from Isaac. I've had nothing but positive experience with him. I received all these products as advertised and within a reasonable time frame.

I've also had the chance to chat with Isaac live on the phone once. Overall, my impression of him is someone who's reasonable. Therefore, I'd have no 2nd thoughts or hesitation about dealing with Isaac again in the future.

I'm humbly speculating that BMac's negative experience with Isaac may be due to miscommunication and/or misunderstanding.

I sincerely hope that this issue can still be resolved in a mutually favorable manner.



Edited By umannyt on 1202724527