“My 1950's Candido Requena project”

[FidelsEyeglasses]

Otros!

Beautiful, superb chrome job.
I true classic.
Better looking than a 1955 Chevrolet.
Perfect small chrome handle. (I put one on a S.O.S.)

Matt S. just finished restoring my Requeña bongoes, I'll post fotos of "before and after" when I receive them back.

Beautiful drum, great photos, thanks for sharing the photos.
Both this one and the Requeña owned by James (in Berkeley) are true "classic Cuban" drums.

Mark

[taikonoatama]

Wow, that's just gorgeous! Matt did an amazing job, and I still can't believe the finish restoration/chroming on the hardware.

You'll find the sound to be quite unlike that of a modern conga. It's got that dry, woody sound you hear in old recordings (assuming you've got the appropriate skin, and one would certainly think Matt would know about that). I think one big reason for the difference in sound is the very thin shell - about half the thickness of a modern LP classic (in the case of my Requena, at least).

Would love to play this drum sometime!

Cheers,

James

[KING CONGA]

Would love to play this drum sometime!Cheers,James

James anytime you’re down here visiting in good old Sunny Southern California contact me and we will get together, you can most definitely play this Quinto. Adios.

[Omelenko1]

What gave Vergaras and Requenas that incredible sound that is not heard today is that the staves were thin in comparison to today congas. The fact that the staves came from cured wine barrels also added to the sound. Mongo's Vergaras always sounded the best. Now they reside with Tommy Saito in southern California. Markito has a small Requena bongo' that sounds like no other and Matthew is reconditioning it. I can't wait to see it finished. I have a Requena bongo' as well with original hardware and it still sounds amazing.

[KING CONGA]

Greeting all. Ok I could not resist the temptation and had to tune it up just a lil bit, I had to hear it, I wanted to hear the heart beat on this beauty...I wanted to hear this drum come alive again.
I carefully put on that 9/16 open wrench on the first original square nut, one by one I carefully tightened each one, my heart beating at 100mph. All the time being extra careful, not wanting to over tighten anything, finally, the moment of truth..."Hijo-e-su!!!!!!!!", IT's ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!, man it almost brought tears to my eyes, I was in awe. Threw some open tones base tones and a couple of slaps, I was a happy man.
From the beginning I purposed not to just have a pretty drum for display, but to have a drum that I could actually play, at least once in a while, and this is a drum that I can definitely play. I have no doubt that it will sound even better when the cuero is broken in.
Tank you all once again for sharing my joy.
Juan

[onile]

Alafia mi hermano Juan-two-three!
Espero que todo este bien contigo Papa!

Wow! I'm sure that you are just giddy over your new drum, heck I know that all the rest of us here are! You've got to post more pics, maybe with you playing it????
I've shown your drum here on the site to a couple of my students and they are in awe of it! You have definitely got a great treasure in your possession.

Stay well

Onile!

[Bongobilly]

Wow beautiful! Enjoy that conga!!

[KING CONGA]

Here is an image that I came across of Ubaldo Nieto with what I believe to be a Requena, what do you guys think?
Click on the image to enlarge.

[guarachon63]

It's really gratifying to see a thing like that come together, a real historic restoration, congratulations!

[Omelenko1]

Ubaldo pictured with Requena quinto, Vergara bongos and Leedy timbales. Machito lives!

[Anonimo]

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

[TONE74]

I think thats the best or one of the best looking drum I've seen so far.
Tremendo palo. Enjoy..

[KING CONGA]

This lil Quinto is screams!!. Definitely old school sound. I had a chance to use it in an open setting, using mic's, sound mixer and all, wow what an awesome sound. I got a lot of good complements, the sound will no doubt improve as the skin breaks in. Again, thank all of you for your encouraging comments.

[Psych1]

Here is an image that I came across of Ubaldo Nieto with what I believe to be a Requena, what do you guys think?
Click on the image to enlarge.

Aha got one of my photo that is one of many photos I got of Ubaldo Nieto was my teacher for a few years that photo was used in book How to play Latin American rhythm instruments.The timbales in photo are Leedy but from Slingerland era not Conn.the bongos are the one of the Vergaras that I own.The conga is a Requena That drum belong to Luis Morales one of the Morales brothers. Just came in to my head would you like recreate that photo I have the timbales you have conga and I have a friend that has that conga drum with tacks. painted same way.This time in color

I've got that big tack-head tumba. Thin, light, mahogany - deep resonant sound. Was going to have Matt bring it into the modern era but I'm glad I left it as a tack-head. Someday it goes to a musuem. Let's take a group picture!

[joaozinho]

Amazing restoration,I just cant believe.Why does Matt smith not live in France??????I'm very happy for you King konga,a trully ressurection,enjoy your beautiful drum!!!