LP Valjes value

[Tonio]

Let me think about it and get back to you. I've got to run through the budget with the wife and see what kind of cash can be parted with for new drums right now.

So you're sure those are cherry wood?

WBB,
Cherry? As far as I know they are according to the MFG date, which was mentioned previously. Someone please let us know if you have any information superceding what has been mentoned.

No problem WBB, take your time. Not in a hurry, I need to keep in check too If you have more questions let me know, more pics etc. Where are you located? Best it to play em!!
Even though they are LP's, they have a different sustain than the classics.


T

[Thebreeze]

Tonio....Hope I didn't come out too strong with my remarks. About 3 weeks ago I was invited to a BBQ with several conga players. When I got there it looked like a Valje Player's Convention. There were about 12 Vintage Valjes there and I played them all. What can I say but that it was like being in a pleasant place for those few hours and sad that it had to end. I myself have two of them and I am in the process of a trade for a quinto with a friend that is not a forum member. But as far as LP Valjes go, yours are definitely one of the nicest sets I have seen. They appear to be in mint condition. You should fetch a nice price for them now that I think about it.

[congamyk]

Those are great looking drums. You shouldn't have any problem selling those for $600.

[Tonio]

The breeze, I didn't take your comments to be harsh at all ! No problems bro!
Yeah you bay folks have all the Valjes


Must have been Valje haven.

T

Tonio....Hope I didn't come out too strong with my remarks. About 3 weeks ago I was invited to a BBQ with several conga players. When I got there it looked like a Valje Player's Convention. There were about 12 Vintage Valjes there and I played them all. What can I say but that it was like being in a pleasant place for those few hours and sad that it had to end. I myself have two of them and I am in the process of a trade for a quinto with a friend that is not a forum member. But as far as LP Valjes go, yours are definitely one of the nicest sets I have seen. They appear to be in mint condition. You should fetch a nice price for them now that I think about it.

[Tonio]

Thanks Mike,
I take care of this set, though I did take em out to about a few dozen gigs since '96(not alot) they are not my main gig set. I use them more for recording, its got a nice "wet" and warm sustaining tone. They are nice and light compared to the LP classics too. That is a character of cherrywood.

T

Those are great looking drums. You shouldn't have any problem selling those for $600.

[Gallichio]

Hello All.
Did LP stop making the Valjes? I don't see them in the LP online catalog.

[congaDR]

The drums in question look like Beech to me.

I posted a pic of all the Valje's together, so you can see the difference side by side (last two are Beech and Cherry LP's).

The pic is by congaboard member Brian M.

http://congadr.blogspot.com/2008/05/val ... ution.html

Tony

[Tonio]

Gallichio, yes LP has them on the obsolete list. I think they do have the Armando LP Valjes bongos available, at least many shops have them for sale.

Tony, thats what I thought at first too. According to descarga's clip posted earlier, the later model is beech? But I am open to any hard facts.

The pictures you posted must have been stained after the fact. I have never seen one so dark. NIce lineup though

T

[Tonio]

These look like cherries
http://www.congahead.com/Musicians/Meet ... alias.html

[congaDR]

The cherry one on the right in the photo i posted is cherry for sure, and is not stained.

http://congadr.blogspot.com/2008/05/val ... ution.html

It was my drum, at one point, with a natural clear coat mat finish...

It is very much darker than the ones being discussed in this post. The ones Alias is playing are lighter in color than the cherry i had, but they are cherry, no doubt.

The pair that started this post are beech. - the logo sticker changed on some of the last valje congas made by LP - see your lable. Note - the second to last is a 'tweener' made of beech, without the rubber bottom, but made by LP (note the Valje sticker without LP).

The ones you have is one of the later models, a bit less well made, not as nice sounding and less expensive wood. They are still very nice drums, of course. They changed the sticker to omit Armando's name, just valje by LP.

Tony

[Tonio]

Tony,
I thought when LP 1st bought the Valje name, they made a LP Valje w/ beech, then "tweener" then the Armando.? But you say otherwise, since you have them posted and have seen them personally -I'll take your word.

In any case, what I have appear to be beech wood. They do sound good at any rate.

Thanks for the information bro!!

T

[congaDR]

Sorry for the confusion,

yea, the 'tweener' seems to indicate they started with beech, but,

Im only going by the drums ive seen in person. I know they had cherry first, as as soon as they came out, i started to save for them (spent the money on a trip to the Amazon!)

They went to beech, as it was much less expensive, and noone would pay enough for the cherry LP's - thus they discontinued.

Im not sure what the deal is with the tweener... Im not even sure it was beech... it might actually have been Oak, im not sure as i only saw pictures of it from a distance.

It may have been detailed here on this board... Ill check...

I can ask Brian, a conga board member who owns the drum.

by the way, posted more pics on the blog of cherry lp valjes.

Tony

[congaDR]

aaa... yea....

found it... in my email box.

I posted a pic of the inside of the exact 'tweener' we are discussing (at this point).

It looks very clearly to be siam Oak. It was listed as 'vintage oak conga'' on CL.

Tony

[Tonio]

Is there a date on the inside? , the one spot is not in the picture. It looks totally different than the Don A piccy? It doesn't have that pores thourghout the grain. Weird, or is it a picture resolution thing?
Another thing is there 2 bolts or 3 on the side plates?

Thats it, we need to ask Martin

[congaDR]

I think we are getting mixed up here...

If you are talking about the pic of the inside of the 'tweener', yes, its two bolt side plates, and no, its not the drums alias is playing, they are the cherry models.

The 'tweener' is a Siam oak drum, the first of the LP Valje's, to be followed by Cherry Armando's, and then the beech drums responsible for this post.

hope that helps,

T