Another Conga Makeover Project

[ozrivera]

This is a set of Caribbean rhythm artisan congas I purchased about a year ago. They had scenery painted on them which had many chips and was also peeling. I striped and sanded these babies in what seemed like forever. I applied a stain and polyurethane from an air gun. Sanded again and polished by hand. I also striped, sanded and repainted the rims and side plates, and polished all the lugs. I also added the bottom and middle band which are polished aluminum. All in all I put about 200 hours worth of work to these drums. The inside of the barrels are charred since they are made of reclaimed wood from old rum barrels that are about 20-30 years old. That char would leave black dust on the floor whenever the drum was played. So I also put several layer of polyurethane on the inside of the barrels. I also added a homemade conga protector system that resembles the one's on the moperc congas and added the extended lug nut and replaced all nuts and bolts. I added a clear rubber hose cushion system on the bottom of the drum that works like a charm. The sizes are 11 ¾ and 12 ¼ conga and tumba. The head on the conga I bought at a music store in Puerto Rico and is of puertorican cow, made by a company named NS.
Hope you enjoy. They are also for sale, anyone interested please PM me. Lots of love and sweat went into this project. They look beautiful.

[ozrivera]

some more pics

[ozrivera]

even more

[KING CONGA]

Congratulations on what looks to be a great job, by the way, what did you use for the conga guards?

[ozrivera]

King Konga

thanks, i used a grommet with small washers to fill in the center whole of the grommet and then i used a washer the was bigger than the washers on the middle of the grommet but smaller than the grommet for the top and bottom of the grommet.

suave

oz

[Sakuntu]

Dude, those are the best looking carribbean congas I've ever seen!!!!!!!! You have every right to be proud...Why on earth are you selling them????

[Thebreeze]

Excellent job. I like your vision. I have to tailgate on Sakuntu's comments, those are also the best Caribbean rhythm congas I have ever seen as well, although I remember a set that taikonoatama had refinished and they were beautiful too, but just done differently than yours.

Will.

[ozrivera]

Saludos Hermanos

thanks for the compliments. The reason im selling is because i have another set just like this one, although is not completed yet it will look similar to this one. also have the entire set of the moperc cubano series, a set of meinl marathon from the early 90s, and a gon bops classic. im really looking a some gon bops classics that need some restoration to add to my collection. this set right here was my trial and error project. it was a lot of work just because their quality was so shabby to begin with that it just made it that much harder. everything from the bearing edges to inside had to be almost redone. the pic do them no justice they actually look a lot better in person. ill try to take some more pics outside during the day for you guys. im also willing to do a trade for some gon bops classics. anyone interested please pm me or post.

suave
oz

[seisporocho1]

Hi,

I would like to add pics of an LP Matador makeover I did but I don't know how to attach pictures on here. Can someone let me know?!
Thanks

[seisporocho1]

ok. I think I know how to attach a pic.

Below is a makeover I did to my LP Matador that I've had for over 8 years.
I sanded it down just enough to NOT take away ALL of the scratches this warrior has received thru the years. I wanted to keep the scars to preserve its character.
I then stained mahogany stripes to go for that classic alternate stave look. Also, I couldn't just leave it there. I stained a swirly line throughout the circumference of the drum just to make it a bit different.
Hope you guys like it. It is my first makeover on a drum.

I am now working on another drum where I will try to re-produce a bomba drum out of an old LP drum.

peace

[msb501clave]

thats a nice looking Matador. Whats the skin? Steer? and from who did you get it. its very nice.

[OLSONGO]

Oz .....Very nice job on the Afrocaribbean drums, I just never cared for that type of handle, or handles on a conga for that matter. I have them on my Lps 'cause in case i sell them ... they will be intact. I just think if you are going to carry the conga, first put in a bag to protect the drum, then carry it from the handles on the bag.

6 x8 On the Matador, I always liked the alternate stave look, as a matter of fact I am working on a Mexican drum with that look, as far as the other lines...personally I think its graphic overkill.

Paz
Olsongo

[seisporocho1]

olsongo, thanks. When I did the lines I thought the same thing but I am slowly getting used to it now. Peace

[OLSONGO]

6x8 if you look closely at the pic. you really don't see them, the thicker lines overpower them, so it s suttle.

Paz
Olsongo

[ozrivera]

Seis
thats one matador with character. one the reasons many of us do these makeover is to express our artistic talents on the drums. you know, its a reflection of you. it does look different but it looks good.

olsongo
i was going for an old school look. thats where the handles come in. there more of a cosmetic option as oppose to a neccesity.

thanks

Oz