another mahoghany solid shell

[AlexV]

Thought I would share with you all some pictures of the bongo I just received back from Caly. I purchased these CR shells off ebay a while back and finally got to sending them out for hardware. There are a couple of aesthetic issues whic I was kind of surprised to see. There are dings and dents on different parts of the top rim and on a couple hooks. One of the hooks looks like the chromer brushed it up against something while wet. Nothing major and more importantly, it's nothing that effects the most important part which is the sound. And it sounds wonderful. The skins already are sounding great. The hembra has a nice medium mule that looks like it could go on a conga. I was lucky getting this wood. The weight is on the heavier side but it's worth it to play. Caly did a wonderful job with the center block, although it looks like he took off a tiny bit too much on the underside of the hembra. I'm not sure if he cut it down that far because of the taper in the shell though. Either way it sounds so nice and it feels great to have my first real instrument. I will play the hell out of them. a few pics.

[AlexV]

a couple more. I love the style of the bottom rims.

[juancho]

Hi Alex,
Is it normal for the actual wood overlap the bottom ring on your hembra? seems like the bottom ring is not the correct size. I personally like the rings to go even the the groove pero se ven TENAZ !!!!!
juancho

[yambu321]

NOW THAT IS A GREAT LOOKING SET OF BONGOS! AND I'M SURE THEY SOUND JUST AS GOOD AS THEY LOOK AS WELL!

PS. REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DETUNE YOUR BONGOS WHEN YOU'RE DONE PLAYING, FOR THE DAY.
SOLID SHELL DRUMS ARE MORE PRONE TO CRACKING, THAN ONE'S OF STAVE CONSTRUCTION.
I KNOW YOU'LL WANT THOSE TO LAST FOR YEARS.

CHARLIE.

[thomas newton]

Maybe you can find something nicer than those unpretty, wrong sized galvanized washers.

[AlexV]

I've been playing the crap out of these bad boys. Let me tell you guys that the sound is incomparable. When I play it sounds like a recording. I never got that feeling before playing lp's or other mass produced bongo of siam oak. Mahoghany for bongo with mule skin is a match made in heaven. I am so freaking happy with the outcome of this little project. And for the total cost I couldn't be happier. I will never let these go. The wood is sooo damn melodic!!!

yambu- Gracias pana por el consejo. But yeah I always always detune. I never had a solid shell anything before but believe me, de-tuning was the first thing on my mind with these.

juancho- Hello hope things are well in your neck of the woods. In regards the bottom of the hembra the hoop is tight on the bottom shell like it should be. The real problem was that the groove on the wood was made too wide. The hoop has to hug the wood. I would have preferred less wood taken off and the bottom hoop made larger but it's too late for that. either way suena criminal.

Thomas - I'd love to change the washers. Any suggestions?? thnx.

[thomas newton]

Thomas - I'd love to change the washers. Any suggestions?? thnx.

Judging from the pictures, they look like they would only need to be a few mm larger than the nuts but some lugs seem to have two big washers others one big one small and without them in front of me I'm a bit reluctant to suggest.

Perhaps someone else can offer their input on this matter.

[AlexV]

thomas- the picture doesn't do them justice. everything is even all the way around including washers. 1 big and 1 small on each lug. it's the big one's that need changing if anything. i think what i'll do is take one to home depot or lowes and see if there's a match with something a little more polished.

[Whopbamboom]

I'd use stainless washers. If you don't like what you find at a hardware store (be sure to check ALL their bins and drawers, they seem to have different types in different places), then you can step up to something like what ARP sells to the automotive racing crowd.

[Whopbamboom]

I'd use stainless washers. If you don't like what you find at a hardware store (be sure to check ALL their bins and drawers, they seem to have different types in different places), then you can step up to something like what ARP sells to the automotive racing crowd.

[AlexV]

whopbamboom- excellent. thanks for the tips!