ISLA PERCUSSION - Discussion, Quality, Experience, etc

[mrhands]

BTW, bongosnotbombs, you do seem to be cheerleading for ISLA a little

[Anonimo]

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

[SpEd]

BTW, bongosnotbombs, you do seem to be cheerleading for ISLA a little

Well, cheerleading is not what I would call it.

BnB seems to be happy with his past and present decisions to purchase Isla products. I am as well. I can see Cadenza on the other hand definitely is not. They have both appropriately expressed their opinions in this thread about Isla products and their personal experiences. Others have done so also.

However, personal attacks are just ridiculous here. It adds nothing but a bunch of folks crowding around a virtual street fight with nothing real to add. Work out personal differences privately please...

[Congadelica]

+1

I feel for you Cadezas, i think Mario need to take care of your problem. I'm sorry I don`t know the answer but I really feel bad about your situation. My dealing with Mario have always been good and I am happy with my Drums both Bata and Congas both Canoe wood ,they are both 2 yrs+ old now and are played very often and just sound better as they age. Mario does need to step to the mark and fix what is broken IMHO. And I would not say BnB is cheer leading for anyone just giving his honest opinion like me.

I hope this problem is sorted very soon.

Peace

M

[mrhands]

It's obvious BNB is proud of his drums. It's fine to express that. But I don't think it's right to defend someone that is in the wrong (Mario). The obvious issue is Mario's inconsistancy. Cadenza, the poor dude has spent nearly $4000 o fhis hard earned money on a shady product. He obviously based his purchasing decision on the reviews of this board from guys like BNB. He is cheerleading for Isla. And the way I see it, if he cared about Isla so much and its reputation and know's Mario, he should help get in contact with Mario and get this thing resolved instead of plugging the inconsistant product. I don't really want to offend any of you proud Isla owners, but what's right is right. There's no one else to blame but Mario. There's no reason BNB should get his stellar product and Cadenza not. That being said, leedy2's other thread about buying from overseas is good.

[bongosnotbombs]

Please read the posts again, you might find your perception about the situation to be less than accurate. I have never met Mario, I am not affiliated with Isla, nor do I receive any sort of remuneration from the company and I am in not responsible for Cadenza's situation, or for it's resolution. My single remaining Isla drum is probably more or less the same as anybody's, except perhaps Cadenza's, and I have had quite the opposite experience dealing with the company.

[konkoba98]

These are my Isla's. 2 congas, 1 tumba, 1 quinto, 1 super tumba. I bought 2 congas and tumba at once and liked them so much I added the super tumba and quinto. The sound is very good. Customer service was all phone conversations with Mario. Mario was very informative and excited about his product. I did get told that my drums were almost ready a lot and they arrived much later than he originally told me. The craftsmanship is questionable, I could probably take a dozen pics of imperfections but I cannot identify any serious problems like a crack or hole in skin. I chose Isla without playing them based on the positive reviews in this forum. Aside from the runaround I got about when they would be ready and the 'imperfections', I'm happy with my decision. Also, the quality of craftmanship and sound varies from drum to drum. The super tumba arrived looking like it had been used for gigs for 15 years, but one of my congas still looks brand new. The rims were pretty high when they arrived, they are much lower now. I'm bad about detuning after use so my quinto is beginning to show a little out of roundness, but nothing in the others. The sound on all drums is great and I think they are beautiful. I have not played Moperc, SOS, Ritmo, etc before... just LP, pearl, etc so I only have that to compare to. They are a far better value than those for the same price, in my opinion. Am I surprised to hear that some customers have had a bad experience/product... no. Would I buy from Mario again? If I could see/hear the drums in person prior to purchase, yes... but since he is now out of country, probably not. I would expect that other conga makers (SOS, Matthew Smith, etc) to make a prettier drum with less imperfections and more consistent customer service, but they cost more... at least they did when I was looking to buy.

[mrhands]

Please read the posts again, you might find your perception about the situation to be less than accurate. I have never met Mario, I am not affiliated with Isla, nor do I receive any sort of remuneration from the company and I am in not responsible for Cadenza's situation, or for it's resolution. My single remaining Isla drum is probably more or less the same as anybody's, except perhaps Cadenza's, and I have had quite the opposite experience dealing with the company.

Well it doesn't really matter how you see it. Isla is an inconsistant drum maker. The reputation thus far is subpar. I would never purchase a drum by Isla now that I am aware that communication problems and issues with the drums themselves have appeared on more than one occasion. It really doesn't matter if your one drum is great. There are a few guys here describing their issues with their drums and you keep on talking about how your experience was terrific. Why isn't everyone's experience with the product great? That's why you appear like you are cheerleading for the company. I'm sure you'd be doing the same thing as Cadenza if your drums showed up the way his did. By the way I've seen better glue lines on LP Aspires
But I digress, you are very happy with your drum and nothing will change that.

[OLSONGO]

Rumbero4 if you had put $ 4,000 grand on the line and get nothing for it , wouldn't you feel hatred also ? , unless your papa is buying them for you. I really feel for Cadenza, and as part of this brotherhood that is this forum I hate to see people being taken by charlatans . I also hate the way some members are backing Mario and his asinine ways.That's my bottom line.. Do the right thing and you will get all of my respect. Personally never liked those congas, if I am going to spend that kind of money I get me some SoS or Rytmos or some custom congas made to my liking . Beauty is in the eye of the beholder , but ugliness is to the bone.

Peace
Olsongo

[SpEd]

ok... so now if we don't agree that Isla is the devil and they are not worth our own money, we are suspect....?
Yeah... Rumbero4 has limited posts and is "pro" Isla, but that's no stranger to me than mrhands with his limited posts and being "anti' Isla.

This thread is getting truly unbelievable!

[mrhands]

ok... so now if we don't agree that Isla is the devil and they are not worth our own money, we are suspect....?
Yeah... Rumbero4 has limited posts and is "pro" Isla, but that's no stranger to me than mrhands with his limited posts and being "anti' Isla.

This thread is getting truly unbelievable!

sorry, I've been here since August. You are completely wrong . Also if you cared to do any research, you'd see the Rumbero4's 3 posts are all in the bongo section under topic "Isla bongos" . He states how great they look and sound...He's clearly cheerleading for, or is Mario.That is fishy as hell. Go read it. Go do some research before you start insinuating things.

[mrhands]

Guys I,ve heard a lot of negative things about Isla but I'm gonna take the plunge and buy myself an Isla conga. Can't help myself. I'll let you guys know what transpired. Look at this pic I was sent. How can I resist this conga. Wish me luck !

You are right, great looking conga. Too bad Isla is too unreliable and inconsistant. Nobody will buy them anymore.

[Tonio]

Yo- brothers.....
Am I the only one who's met Mario? Being in SanDiego-about a 2hour drive saved in shipping and to meet him. As far as I am concerned, no one has professed that Mario was a " conga artisan". He is a rumbero, and has learned to build the drums by his own accord. I have seen his "shop" while still in Los Angeles area and we talked of past and present artisans. I admire his work-though not perfect, has grasped the old school tone - IMO is the best reason to want the drums. The original poster (though I will not name any names) years ago did relay the sentiment the drums are not esthetically prefect, however the tone was right on. That personal opinion by a few members I trust on this board ignited my pursual to purchase Isla. You should remember what is on the NEt should be taken with a grain of salt, and in the end , is your personal endevour.

Though it may not be relevant, I do not think Mario has ever made any advirtisements.

Cadenza, sorry to hear your troubles with Mario and Isla. Not sure if it applies, but did you order/make a deposit prior and or on the cusp of his move?

T

[thomas newton]

I'm sure everyone wishes you well with it.

[mrhands]

As far as I'm concerned, I will always go for sound (that's extremely important to me) and then looks. It's a plus if I get both. I've seen vids of rumberos playing in Cuba and some of their drums look like sh_ _, (looks like something the cat dragged in) but listen to the sound of their drums. It's not that I'm cheering for Isla - it's just that the instrument I bought (ziricote bongo) sounds great and I love what I'm hearing. I've seen beautiful drums that just ring as hell when you play them and it's a pain in the butt playing and having to quiet them down. Now if you're going for looks that's your choice. I prefer sound. It's so obvious that it's the same people attacking and criticizing Isla drums on this thread. I just joined and wanted to share my new instrument with you guys and damn I was attacked like I am the enemy. The next time I get on the conga and bongo threads it will be with sound files of my newly acquired Isla bongo and conga. I got on this forum because it's an Isla drum I got. I rest my case !

There is a difference however. Most people expect their congas to look prestine and sound great, that's why they pay the money that they do for them. Why can't Isla deliver both on a consistant basis? What you said doesn't help Isla's case at all. For thousands of dollars, I'd expect my congas to be both great looking and great sounding because that is what is promised by the builder, and that is what is expected. I'm the only person who should be putting marks on the drum. It shouldn't be because of the lazyness of the builder. If Isla put pictures of their drums with marks on them, looking like the one's they've been sending out than no one would buy them. If their slogan was "we sound great, but look like sh_ _" Most people would not pay that money for them. You are cheering for Isla and we hear you loud and clear. We also see through this little scheme you have going on. You are obviously associated with Isla in some way. This has done nothing but hurt the company more. If you are Mario or know him personally, tell him to get his damn drums finished and finished right. Like the old saying in show business, You're only as good as your last show...and well, Isla has had a few bad showings already.