ISLA PERCUSSION - Discussion, Quality, Experience, etc

[congamyk]

Isla!

[bongosnotbombs]

New stuff from Isla. Mahogany congas. Mahogany bongos and Ziricote bongos in 4 and 5 lugs for the hembra.
The skins look pretty good.

[SpEd]

Thanx for the update bnb... I've been checkin for updates a couple times a week lately, but hadn't checked today... LOL!
I'm looking forward to a mahogany set I have on order, but I requested only 4 bands... startin to get itchy now!

[pcastag]

Has any of this stuff made it to the states yet?
PC

[RitmoBoricua]

IMHO the metal band on the bongos takes away from the wood. Let the beautiful fine wood (mahogany and ziricote) shine and do the talking on the bongos. Some sort of and grooves on the bongos is a good option too and less obstructive. The congas look very good.

[Anonimo]

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

[ABAKUA]

I really dont like the bands on the bongo & Im not a fan of the lugs, nor their new lobes for the crown, I prefer their previous welded type. Im sure they sound great though.

[KING CONGA]

I agree and would prefer the bongos without bands, the beauty of that wood really should be fully exposed.

[ABAKUA]

Also, the lobes look like they come down too far, would be uncomfortable to play traditionally.. Then again I could be wrong, I am only going off what I can see in the picture.
I do like the rustic look of the matt coloured steel bands and hardware on the congas, would prefer polished finish though. But the more I look at the bongo with bands, etc the more I dislike it. The wood is far too beautiful to be obstructed with a band. There just isnt enough body in it to have a band and still show off the wood. If the bands are purely decorative, the bongos would be better suited without them.

[Anonimo]

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

[sonorlite]

So Mario originally told me that he shipped my Requinto to me on April 28 via Hyde Shipping. Hyde goes from Belize to Florida.

Since I never received it I contacted Hyde who said they had no record of the shipment. I followed up with Mario a few days back and got this e-mail today:

"I had to see what was the hold up on getting me info so I pulled your drum and just paid the extra money and sent it on a plane. I have a copy of the paperwork. I will send you a copy of it. However your baby is gone. Sorry for the bumpy start but it seems to be the pattern here. Thank God I figured it out. Took six months!!!!! Ha Ha!!!!!!! Don't worry she is gone. Thank Bro."

From this incoherent response I still don't know when it was shipped or by what means. Does he mean it was just sitting at Hyde and he pulled it sent it on a plane? Who knows.

[Congadelica]

When I took delivery of my drums i had a similar time . first a friend of Mario was bringing them over by plane , but the cost of freight by charter plane was way too high . he ended up sending them my Air freight and I got them within 7 days to the UK England . you can now start to get exited for the delivery of your new Requinto .
Post a pic when she arrives .
I hope this helps to ease your pain .

Marco

[bongosnotbombs]

I think Mario has done a decent job with the bongos, I'm pretty sure these are his first ones, but I agree with most of the criticisms expressed. If it was up to me I would also have the older welded rims, those were cool. The band is not so bad, I think the main thing for me is it is out of scale with the little drums. If it was thinner, about the same width as the crown and bottom hoop, I think the appearance might be improved. Not a bad effort though, sometimes you just have to go with an idea and to see how it's going to come out. I would really like to hear how they sound. Mario told me the mahogany and ziricote is just too valuable not to use the cuttings from the congas and bata to make bongos.

[juancho]

Too much bling,bling and weight.

[RitmoBoricua]

Now I have seen some “El Piernas” bongo sets with chromed bands that look real good and I think the bands are set in the wood rather than on the wood, and the bands are right-sized for the bongos. I wonder if Mario could put together a sound clip or video in youtube of the new Isla drums , I know he has done before and even sent out DVD’s of his drums in action.