9 inch Hembras? Opinions

[Isaac]

I seem to be hearing an increasing demand for a 9" Hembra, but once people
get them, it's harder to control the larger sound, so I'd be interested
to hear about anyone's experience with the 9" Hembra. Caly at JCR believes
a thicker skin would give you the same desired sound. I personally love the
9" hembra and am wondering if we should make more of them available in the
future. ..Perhaps the shell ought to be lighter to compensate for the extra weight.
With solid shell tropical wood, the slightly larger size means starting with
a bigger block of wood for lathing. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.


ps. Thanks Geordie for your good observations. Perhaps you'd like to post them
here on this thread.

ISAAC

[juancho]

Hi Isaac,
The hembra on those JCR that I have are 9 inch.
Tks
Juancho

[bongosnotbombs]

ps. Thanks Geordie for your good observations. Perhaps you'd like to post them
here on this thread.

ISAAC

Sure Isaac, I didn't know you were going to start a thread so I pm'ed you. It's a good subject...

Hey Isaac,
About 9" hembras, I used to own a Meinl woodcraft with the 9" hembra, and I did not really
like it. The hembra took forever to get dialed in, hembras always seem to want to ring till you
get them adjusted right. I can't say I liked the 9" sound any better, I don't know why people want them.
I will also say the 9" makes the drums heavier and wider and thus harder to play another reason I sold the Meinls. The regular sized JCR's I have seen tend to be on the heavier side in my opinion and that kept me from buying the set my friend James was selling. I think a 9" hembra JCR would be even more prohibitive in this respect.
Anyways I hope this feedback helps you out

[yambu321]

HI ISAAC,
HERE IS A PHOTO OF MY 10 KEY CHERRYWOOD MATTHEW SMITH BONGO'S. THE HEMBRA IS A 9 INCH AND IT SOUNDS WONDERFUL. I HAVE NO ISSUES, BUT, I DO HAVE LOTS OF LOVE FOR THIS SET. IT IS MY VERY FINEST. THE BEST ONE, OF ALL THE BONGOS I OWN.

CHARLIE.

[Thomas Altmann]

I have played a 9" hembra Gon Bops bongo for 25 years. I first bought them because I saw Rumbavana's Tino Alonso play a larger hembra, so I thought it would be "hip" to come up with something special, so to say. I have tried (not played) really small bongos, like the Brazilian Raul bongos, and they sounded great, too. But I don't know how they would have proved while playing in a larger ensemble. I think it's all a matter of whether you are used to play such a drum. I have no difficulty controlling the 9" whatsoever. As to the ring in a drum, I remind you (Geordie) that what you find disturbing might in reality make for a richer sound within an ensemble. And if I wanted to obtain a drier sound in small groups, I just apply a tiny bit of muff or press technique, and here we go; I make those adjustments automatically.

I must confess, though, that I never liked the modern heavy Meinl bongos. They look a bit like IKEA, but sadly they sound like that, too.

Thomas

[bongosnotbombs]

Yeah fair enough guys, I don't have anything against 9"ers, and that bongo of Charlies looks
fantastic.

Personally I haven't heard anything from 9"ers that I liked any better than regular size bongos, or
even felt 8"ers were lacking compared to a 9"er but I do prefer the comfort of the regular size bongos.

The Meinl's I had btw were an excellent drum that I played for 2 years.
Not Matt Smith good, but still very good. I now prefer my Valje which is on the small side
and my Resolution which is a little larger more modern size.

[No.2-1820]

I would probably agree with Cali although both my sets have 9in hembre's my teacher last year Hector Lugo had a regular sized set of LP's with a thick white skin on them that boomed easily as loud as mine. My 9in JCR's have what I consider a rather thin (for a hembre) mule on them that gives me great tones (think that deep throaty knocking on Son Del Monte - Compay Segundo), my timba's have a thicker recycled mule from a quinto on the hembre that gives a much thicker, more boomy tone that I love equally. I have no problem with the size of either sets, I bought the timba's after reading they were modeled on the set Mongo had made for Willie Bobo and that now frequently lounge by the pool at Dario's casa.

Barrie

[Isaac]

Ha ha... We should all be so fortunate and lounge with those bongos at Dario's poolside one day !
.... ISAAC

[Omelenko1]

Hey Guys,

The invitation stands. I'll provide the "Mojitos" and the Cafe Cubano. By the way, Mongo's and Willie's spirits live inside these bongos. Vergara 1954, 9" hembra.

Dario

[Isaac]

Is that an alligator tail to the right of the vergaras !

[Omelenko1]

No, is a mermaid's tail.

[RitmoBoricua]

Hey Guys,

The invitation stands. I'll provide the "Mojitos" and the Cafe Cubano. By the way, Mongo's and Willie's spirits live inside these bongos. Vergara 1954, 9" hembra.

Dario

Dario,

Did Mongo and Willie used this bongo on them TP all-out percussion recordings back in the 50's?
They went full throttle on those historical recordings. Beautiful instrument and a true treasure.

[Omelenko1]

Yes, it was used on those historic Puente recordings on the tune TI MON BO on "Puente in Percussion" on "Cuban Carnival". Mongo went to see his mother Felicia in 1954 and had Vergara make the bongo for Willie, Mongo had Vergara make the hembra oversized as Willie wanted a bongo' similar to the one Yeyito had. Yeyito Iglesias (no relatation to Julio or Enrique) was the creator of the 9" hembra. Enclosed Yeyito on bongo with Cachao y su Descarga.

Sonerito, suena tu bongo'.

Dario

[RitmoBoricua]

Those Vergaras are Smithsonian worthy. Yeyito wasn't he known as "Masa Blanca" too?
Pretty much all of them great ones on that picture are gone now, but they accomplished
their mission if ever.....Malanga Amarilla!

[Omelenko1]

Yeyito was known as "Masa Limpia" and "El Bizco" because he was cross eyed. Mongo was like my father and my inspiration on the skins, however, Yeyito has to be the best bongocero in history, that's my personal opinion. Cachao, who was an accomplished bongocero himself, always stated that Mongo,Armando, Candito and Papa Kila were phenomenal, but when it came to Yeyito, he was in a class by himself. I agree with that statement.

Feliz Navidad!

Dario