Bongó " Dandy " Graduation

[caballoballo]

Hola Bongoceros, Last Friday was road test evaluation for the Dandy althought I have been using it for rehearsal this was the night, I had a gig and the Dandy was out to dance. We went to play at the Humming Bird Balcony which is a Salsa Club. So I cranked up and we started playing, I could just see the smile of my friend on the Conga listening to the clear sound projected by the Dandy. Later on I have to Solo on a theme named No critiques by Manny Oquendo & Conjunto Libre, there were some people looking into the stage while I was performing,that told me the sound was good. I tell you guys,this Bongó have a tremendous sound. Also twice I let a friend Bongocero to play it so I could go out of the stage and listen. Somebody told me the Dandy is a limited production so get it while they last. Here at Tropical Music store only received three and are gone. The dandy scored 100 on the test.

The Only modification I have done is to change the skins to a thick Mule from L & H on the Hembra and a ready mount on the Macho by Tambores Barranquilla. Every body know that the factory skins do not reproduce the real sound so a change was required. I will post some pictures of the skins later. Hasta la vista ............................

[KING CONGA]

Joey De Leon who is currently playing with Poncho Sanchez is playing a set of Dandy’s. I seen the group twice within the past three months and let me tell you those Bongos scream, they really sound good not to mention that they also look very nice. I love the combination between the vergara and Valje.

[Psych1]

OK - I've got a set on the way. I've only been waiting for your follow-up review. Have never seen or heard them, just going on your review which I trust completely. Too bad about the stock skins - I was hoping these were different but I expected that. I'm probably going to put goat on the macho - cow on the hembra - because that is what I have easy, and very cheap, access to and what I have been playing on for a while. Glad the Dandy is working out for you.

[caballoballo]

Psych1, the factory skins are not that bad if you compare to the ones install on the other Lp models,they are superior, the macho is thin and come about 1/8" down from the rim, that gives you lots of room to crank up and it will get to a nice high pitch. On the other side the Hembra thick skin is mounted too far up to be comfortable to play at least on the one I got.In a reply from Dandy Rodriguez I was told the next order from factory would have that problem fix, may be you get one ready. If not you can wet the skin and then tune so it can stretch further down. It is a matter of taste,you may find them ok & no reason to change. I still have the Macho skin to be use later as a replacement. I am maniatic about the sound I like, if it not there then a change must take place.

King Conga, thanks for adding a live report to the post. Two friends Bongoceros bought a set about 3 weeks ago, waiting for their reviews.

[Percman]

The Dandy Bongos have a real "pop & crack to the sound"! I heard Dandy with the "Mambo Legands" (Puente's big band) and they sounded powerful!

[Omelenko1]

The Dandy signature bongo came from Mongo's 1954 Vergara. When Dandy played with Puente and Nengue Hernandez was Mongo's bongocero, both groups coincided many times in places like the Blue Note in NYC. Mongo used to let Nengue play his Vergara and Dandy always admired them and often times played them, as Mongo knew Dandy since he was an infant, through his Dad, Johnny La vaca. When LP decided on a signature bongo' for Dandy, he called me and asked if I could send him detailed photos of Mongo's Vergara. I did just that, as Dandy is my personal friend and always has been my inspiration on the instrument. LP tried to copy Mongo's Vergara shells (notice the black line in the center) except Mongo's Vergara's are solid Caoba and Dandy's LP are staves. For the crowns Dandy used the old Valje design, as he was also a friend of Tom Flores and as a teen spent his summers in Valje's shop on Sunset Blvd. ,when La Vaca moved the family to LA in the early 60's. Dandy attended high school in LA.

Enclosed Mongo's Vergara, notice how Dandy's shells look like them . Mongo playing the Vergara with the band 1962, notice the lengendary Victor Venagas on bass.

Dario

[caballoballo]

Omelenko Que Volá ? Yes indeed, the Dandy is a copy of your Vergara. Fijate, today is a good day to post an update since I already have use it in various gig. First the sound of the Hembra is very mellow and sweet but do not expect it to be very tight as on a 8.5" or 8 5/8" with the right skin, the Macho sound as now does not really please my taste but it is my fault as I been kind of lazy to get off my A$$ and mount a skin or just change the existing one. Sometimes a skin is a roulette where does not matter if it is from cow,mule,goat, ect, it may sound good or so so, even if already has the breaking time or not. That is why I get to the point of keep tunning until split. Overall the Dandy it is the best LP Bongó on the market today, as somebody mentioned on another post all the others except the Giovanny (Ash) which has a flat bearing edge very uncomfortable to play and the Lp Valje ( Beech ) are made of rubber wood and has a predictable sound.

[PRDRconguero]

Dandy speaks about them on the product page on LP's site....good stuff.

[casaet]

Thanks for all the very convincing info. I have almost decided to buy. A dealer in Europe gave me an offer I cant refuse. The only thing people here are not quite satisfied with are the LP skins. On the LP demo he plays with the original skins, and that sounds good. But on Martin Cohens Profiles in greatness the drums sound much better. To my ears the sound on the macho is absolutely awesome, and he seems to be using the same skins, I am pretty sure about that. But if I should be wrong on that point, it would be fine if someone would correct me.
casaet

[Dangler]

I ordered a set in Sept. when this thread was started,I didn't get my hopes up because I have not had very good luck ordering lp stuff in the past, but 2 days before christmas my music dealer phoned to inform me they had arrived.I am still getting used them,but feel fortunate to have one.
Thank you Omelenko for sharing that history on the drum,this forum is fortunate to have your contributions.

[caballoballo]

The Dandy is great Bongó and the factory skins are not that bad at all. The problem that time was the high level of the Hembra skin which was too close to the bearing edge making playing uncomfortable. Once I contacted Dandy and he said the problem was to be corrected on the next run at the manufacturing plant. So you may get one with the problem already solve. If not just tune the Hembra and wrap a hot water tower around until the skin get soft, then tune so more until the skin stretch to the desire level.