Resolution Congas

[RompeTambo]

I have never seen what it looks like 4 wood posts at the top of the drum inside...(what is the purpose for this and is the a "ring/alma" on the top inside as well ??...Johnny Conga...

That's RompeTambo's pic, not mine.....but what are those wood posts things? Rompe?

Hi, sorry for the delay, I´ve been busy working...the wood posts are exactly for hanging the alma, this is a tambor de candombe (repique) and it seems like a tradition here (in Argentina & Uruguay) to put the alma in that way.
You really don´t leave too much without notice,here...I never tought you´ll see that...
BnB, your latest pics have me wondering what could be the shipping cost to my country...hehehe

Aché

[KING CONGA]

Wow, what a set of congas. Congratulations! I have been considering a set myself to add to my collection but I continue to debate between some Islas, Gong bop California series or or the resolution. Can you tell me what your experience was in doing buissness with Mr. Flores, did he keep you up to date in the progress, were there any issues, did you receive your drumms in the time anticipated, and are they what you expected? I work in the Quality Assurance field and so Im wondering what the quality and workmanship of these drumms are. thanks.

[bongosnotbombs]

King Conga,

Ralph was the best person to work with. The drums were right on time.
and shipped very well. Ralph told me he reskinned them because he did not
like the sound of the first skins he placed on them. There was no deposit
required for my order.

I have seen and played both the other makes of drums you mentioned,
they are all fine drums, and I like them, but I chose the Resolutions. I considered buying both
the Gon Bops and Isla's for a time, but again chose Ralph's drums.

Part of my decision was based on Valje's. Resolutions are more or less the same.
I see Valje's all the time that are 30-40 years old and still sound and look great.
Resolutions are made exactly the same way, as Valje's, just a slightly different shape and name.

A bonus with Resolutions are they come with a top quality bag and stands.

I couldn't be happier with these drums. The chrome is first class, the quarter sawn oak is very
beautiful and the skins are excellent. As I mentioned before I have an option of trading these drums
in for a set of new Valjes when Ralph begins making them. I think that offer describes Ralph's character very well.

[KING CONGA]

Thanks for the feed back bongosnotboms. Wow I did not know all of that, that defenetly motivavets me to lean more twoards the resolutions. One other question for you, I am 6'1" tall and like to play sitting down, being that the resolutions are 28" tall do you think that that height will work for me? also, do you have any more images of your beauties? maybe the inside and the rim area? ok, once again thank you for your helpfull feed back.
Blessings.

[bongosnotbombs]

That is not correct, the Resolutions are 30" tall, Valje's were 31".
Also the stand the Resolutions come with can raise the drum even
higher if you use them.

In this thread is an image of the group I play with. Two of the guys are your height
or taller, they love playing my drums. All of us play sitting.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3320&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=105

I think I posted all the images I have, I might post some more for you later.

[KING CONGA]

Thank you for clearing that up for me bongosnotbombs, the reason I said that was because I had read that information some where else but who better to inform us than the peson who actualy owns a set.

[KING CONGA]

Wow, I just spoke to Ralph Flores and he told me that he has now officially acquired the Valje name . This is exciting. He said that in the near future he is going to start making the drum’s pretty much the same way his father made them, with the exception of how the wood is formed, same 31" in height and a just a little wider. Man I cant wait to see one of these new drums with the original Vaje logo, a legend once again resurrected.

[bongosnotbombs]

You can't go wrong with any of Ralph's drums, whether they are Resolutions or
Valjes, congas or bongos.

[bongosnotbombs]

Just an update on these.

Anyways, I was the first one to get bottom bands on the Resolutions. Valje's had bands
but if you've ever seen them they are just for show, you can see a 1/16 gap between the Valje
body and it's band lots of times.

Resolution bands are different, they are super tight and actually do perform work on the drum.
I know because one of my bands broke!

It broke right where the rivets attach it to the drum, and right below one of the rivet holes Ralph also
put one of the small finishing nails below it. I think the two holes in line with each other weakened the metal
and when the wood expanded the metal broke. Then again it only happened on this one drum so it could be just a fluke.

The drum has no cracks at all in it and I'm not worried about that. I'm more impressed than anything else that Ralph was able
to make the bands so tight! That some serious work. Anyways like any good manufacturer he is fixing it for free and paying
for shipping both ways.

Like I said these were the first Resolutions to have bottom bands, maybe the only ones. Probably future bottom bands on these drums
will not have this problem. The rest of the drum is solid as a rock. The Resolution drums like Valje's probably don't even need the band
but Ralph and I figured that we wanted to give them a try.

Of course the incredible sound of these is totally unaffected.

[Jaisen Torres]

those valjes look mean , very nice , enjoy ...

[Jaisen Torres]

if you dont mind me asking , how much did the set come out to & how do they sound ? ~ thanks.

[bongosnotbombs]

Hey Jaisen,
Ralph gave me a special price on these, all his drums come with top quality bags and
metal stands that Ralph makes, the stands are good for playing while seated. I got the 3 congas and a bongo.

The sound of these drums is really incredible, so much bass and the slaps just so crisp.
I just had a 3 hour session at my place, Arara, Iyesa, Guaguanco, Columbia....everyone
loves the sound of these drums.

I've heard a lot of the big names, SOS, Isla, Moperc, these drums can stand up to any of them.

Can you tell I like them? ...and no one else has a set, maybe one other guy here. Best kept secret
in the conga world.

[umannyt]

Hey Jaisen,
Ralph gave me a special price on these, all his drums come with top quality bags

From what I've read, the bags are/were made for Ralph by JP Cases. Yup, JP Cases make/made top-quality bags.

But, I've long noticed that their old website's been down. So, I'm not sure if they're still in business. I almost ordered 3 bags from them last year for my set of 3 Islas. I decided to buy the new Humes & Berg Stealth hardcases instead. The price difference wasn't that much 'cause I got the hardcases for quite a good deal. Plus, I find the standard wheels of the Humes & Berg very convenient, not to mention the added protection of hardcases.

One of the owners (I've forgotten his name) of JP Cases told me on the phone that they are/were having a very difficult time competing with OEM bags that are made in China--for obvious reasons.

Perhaps, they no longer take orders from or sell to the public but rather have downsized to become just OEM suppliers to a few percussion makers. I know for a fact that the OEM bag for my Fat Congas String Cajon were made by JP Cases. So, it's quite probable that they continue to make bags for Fat Congas. Anyway, I can personally vouch for the excellent quality and durability of my cajon bag.

[bongosnotbombs]

Well Ralph fixed this up very quickly for me.
The new band is a bit thicker and doesn't have a nail in line with a rivet.
Ralph said he hasn't been able to duplicate exactly the same metal as on the old Valje's,
he's even had the metal analyzed.

Anyways, kind of cool when your floors and your drums are mad of the same wood!

[bongosnotbombs]

Well I guess I've had this set for a little over 2 years. I'm still incredibly pleased with them. And I am surprised at how rare they are. Am I the only one with a set on the Congaplace?

I've played a lot of custom drums, pretty much everything that is common knowledge here. Ritmos, SOS, Isla, Mopercs, top of the line LP's, vintage. I have to say, the Resolutions compare to all of them. One feature of the Resolutions is how sensitive they are, the manoteo is clearer and bass tones are easier to get out of these drums as compared to my SOS. I think it may have to do with the thinness of the shells. The Resolutions have the thinnest shells of all my drums. So responsive with great resonance. Also Ralph provided them with skins that are just a touch thinner than most of my other drums, and I'm really starting to appreciate that too. Not thin skins, just thinner. These drums also have the best open slap of all my drums, it becomes really apparent during solos.

Anyways, I try to rotate through all my sets and have been using these for a little longer than usual. It's always great to get back on them. I'm puzzled why they aren't more popular, but Ralph is a pretty low key guy. I'm certainly glad I have a set.