Help to ID a set of handmade congas

[jochumsen]

Hi Everybody,

I know the amount of wisdom in here is enormous, so I thought you could help me out on this one. It's a set of 3 drums I'm thinking of buying. The only thing seller knows is that they are handmade and have cowskin on them... Any additional information would be highly appreciated (wood, maker, year, etc.). Below are the pictures I have:






Thank you

Magnus

[Mike]

I cannot tell right now, but the conga looks well built.

Could you take a picture so that the conga´s full shell contour is visible?

[bongosnotbombs]

Yeah it's really hard to tell with those photos.
Need to see the whole thing. Try not using the flash too.

[jochumsen]

I know it's hard - I just got this link though which could help:

http://www.dba.dk/asp/vispopup/billedBrowser.asp?BilledType=1&BilledNr=1&Annonceid=57596573&AnnonceTmpid=-1&Rubrikid=23800

Magnus

[bongosnotbombs]

Your in Europe? Isn't there a maker there whose drums look like Gon Bops a little?
Thats what these remind me of.

[jochumsen]

Hey bongosnotbombs,

I'm in Denmark, but I have never heard of a maker here who made drums like these. It's kind of interesting with those little stands. They remind me of the stands of the german conga maker, that there was a thread about recently; but the drums are definately not the same. My knowledge of European makers is unfortunately not very good, so I don't really know much...

Magnus

[Mike]

Hey Magnus,
if the congas are not too expensive, I would give them a try.
Judging from the pictures you have posted they look very solid
and well-built. DO you have any idea as to their age?
Cannot tell much about their sound of course, but Bongosnotbombs is right,
these congas somehow resemblea sort of European Gon Bop hybrid.

Allt the best
Mike

[Joseph]

Hi Magnus
Interesting full body profile on the shells, not just a belly protrusion.
Especially the tumba, that one is all belly

Shells/hardware look strong and of quality construction.
Wood looks like what is known as Ash, which is a desirable conga shell stave material, because of its stability, strength to weight ratio, bending and gluing properties.
http://www.hardwoodinfo.com/species_guide/display_species.asp?species=ash

Doesn't look like you have a lot of room to tune them up anymore, as all lugs look pretty well bottomed out, and skins pulled way down, so if you buy them, a new set of skins may be in your future.
...But, that would be a small (additional) price to pay to breath new life and sound into them.

~Joseph

[bongosnotbombs]

Thats right the German, or is it Denmark, maker. They look like they might be an early set of his drums.
Maybe you can contact them. His sideplates for the congas are different know, but the ones on his djembe look the same as the congas you posted.

http://www.reiche-trommelbau.de/

Another idea might be to post in the Italian section of this forum, I bet those guys know a lot
about European makers.

I agree those drums look really well made, I would by them for myself. They might need new skins but that is a small
matter.