Cuban Heat Up Bongos: Real instrument, or just souvenir?

[Anonimo]

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[Psych1]

I'm not where my 2 & 1/2 Requena's are so I can't post exact sizes or fotos now. But, all 3 are very different in finish and size. The ones I posted the pic of is about 61/2 - 71/2 and nicely finished inside. The one I like better is smaller, about 6" & 7", but has a bigger sound. It has a thicker shell and is not well finished inside. It has only a small sticker inside that only says "Solis"

The stickers on the one I posted are larger and in English. The stickers are in both shells. They are damage disclaimers because many musicians, and some other tourists, bought bongos in Cuba, took them back to the NorthEast, and because of the very different climate, and poor glue, they cracked.

Both of these sets are real instruments, professional quality for their time, and still great sounding bongos today. But, they were also sold to tourists as souvenirs of trips to Cuba.

[Omelenko1]

Bmac states:

"Interesting, we have here a vintage picture of a bongocero caught in the act of heating his instrument with a candle. Cool"

That bongocero is Jose Mangual " Buyu". One of the best bongoceros in the history of the instrument. No disrespect intended, but you can not compare Mangual to Costanzo. Mangual was the ultimate master.
With regards to Requena, all his bongos were very much alike, very light weight but incredible sound. Vergara in the other hand, made a more professional bongo', he used solid Caoba wood to make his bongos. Omar, your bongo is probably 6.5 x 7.5". I assure you with hardware from Matt or Jay it will sound incredible. As a conversation piece they are very interesting as well.
Jaquie from our forum, "Congabluedog" has a very similar pair that I was instrumental in getting for her. Maybe she can post a photo.

Dario

[OmarFuzz]

Hey all, thanks so much for all of the great info and comments. I'm glad that my seemingly little aquisition has fuled such great conversation!

Dario, very good point about the comparison between Mangual and Coztanzo. I was meerly comparing their tuning techniques!
As you state Mangual is easily one of the most respected if not best recognized bongosero in the history, a true Master; Martin Cohen's "Buyu" recording with Mangual, Puente, and Patato is on heavy rotation always in my listening room!

Now I can't wait to get my little old bongos in my hands!

Cheers All,

Omar

[OmarFuzz]

OK All, so here we have it! My bongos have made it to my hands, and they come with bitter sweet results, so in an effort to continue to offer education via this forum I've listed some info below as well as pics.

BITTER:
-Definitely NOT a playable set of bongos
-At best maybe something that could be roughly tuned for a child to use
SWEET:
-Definitely still a great conversation peice to display in my studio
-Stamped 'Made In Cuba' further confirming they are just like Brando's

So Bmac, I have to tell you, you were right on about the size of these, as you can see from the photo and the measurements, SMALL to say the least. The second I saw the box they came in I said 'Oh Well...'.

Dario, Leedy...thus my question still remains; could this little set of bongos, with all of the 'Requena' characteristic, be some sort of souvenir made by Requena?? I guess like Leedy said, it's between Requena and his hairdresser ..they're even made of Cedro as they smell really good, like those wood blocks I put in my sweater closet!

So lastly, because I'm still on the hunt for a real player Cuban tackhead bongo...does anyone know someone looking to get rid of a set??

Psych,,,interrested in making a deal??

Thanks again all!

Omar

[Psych1]

Oh well! Like you say - too bad. Hang on - another one will come along. But, sure, I'm always willing to make a deal. I'll be in Miami in the Winter - and my Requena's are in the US - we can do this through PM. But all mine have hardware.

The 1/2 is totally original. I've been hoping the other 1/2 would show up but no luck. Will probably donate to a museum where it belongs.

The one I posted has all the original hardware but it has been reinforced and chromed - only the butterfly nuts were changed. I fixed a few cracks, titebond and hose clamps, between the staves, so well I defy you to find them! That is the one I'll trade.

The small one that I like the best, and will keep forever, looks just like yours, only bigger, with the same thick staves. We were hoping yours would be the same. It once was a tackhead but now has super stainless brushed steel hardware in the old style - even has stainless steel butterfly nuts for tuning.

I do have an old cuban tackhead but its hard playing days are over. One of these days I'll take it back to Cuba where it should be on display. There is an old thread here on that one.

[burke]

I don't expect you'd even remotely interested in this, but if I had those [just for the sake of an interesting experiment]...I'd be tempted to use the set's macho as a hembra and frankenstein's bride it to another macho.

But still as is, a cool decoration.

Cheers

Darrell

[Anonimo]

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[BMac]

Well this has been an interesting drama, with so many voices weighing in. Thank you Omar for the money-shot pics to bring us some closure. On the other end of the size scale, I have a Moperc super tumba ... the big boy ... coming.

Cheers!
BMac

[congabluedog]

Ok...I wanted to post sooner but this is the first chance I have had to take some pics. I traded Dario some time ago now for his infamous little black hardwared Requena. It is definitely one of my favorite bongos. It is an amazing little drum. The other bongo that I purchased from one of Dario's friends is a tack head. I was told by Dario that it was a Requena. The skins on the tack head are very thin but they are animal skins. The size of the heads are as follows:

Dario's hardware Requena: 51/2" and 7"
The tack head Requena: 61/4 and 71/2

Any comments on it would be appreciated. Was this tack head also meant as a souvenir? The wood is a little thicker than the hardwared Requena....but they have many similarities. Do other people think it is Requena? OK..here are the pics. The Made in Cuba as well as the inside stamp are on the tack head.

[Psych1]

Like Cuco said "Only his hairdresser------" What we do know for sure is that most Stradivarius violins were not made by Antonio Stradivari and some famous Rembrandt paintings were painted by his students.

My 2 & 1/2 Requenas look different than yours. The one I posted, and the 1/2, were nicely finished inside on a lathe. The staves on the former tackhead are thicker that the one you got from Dario but look thinner than the other one. I'm pretty sure about 1 & 1/2. The other has a "Solis" sticker so I at least know it was sold there.

However, there is a guy in my town who makes "Roman coins" in his garage to sell to tourists on the beach - he does a pretty good business too.

Nice bongos! Enjoy.

[dende]

My 2 & 1/2 Requenas look different than yours. The one I posted, and the 1/2, were nicely finished inside on a lathe. The staves on the former tackhead are thicker that the one you got from Dario but look thinner than the other one. I'm pretty sure about 1 & 1/2. The other has a "Solis" sticker so I at least know it was sold there.

Would any of you ever consider playing tack heads? everyone is always adding hardware. is it just be cause of the hassle of heating? ive been thinking of making some tack heads for the cool factor. and how the heck do people smooth the insides of these drums on a lathe?

[Anonimo]

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[congabluedog]

I have never questioned that the bongos with original hardware were Requena. I think that what we have to go on for identification is first, the experts, second, the stories that come with the drums, and third, my own knowledge and experience. There was a history behind the hadwared Requena which includes that the original owner of the drum knew Requena and got the drum from him directly. Here is a quote from one of Dario's posts:

Omelenko1 wrote:
Belonged to Diego Iborra (Mofeta), who I met as a crossing guard in Miami Dade County Schools. Diego sat in with Dizzy, Max Roach, Miles and Charlie Parker on congas (in the mid 40's before Chano arrived) On one of his trips back to Havana he brought over this Requena. If instruments could talk! Diego was mostly a tarp set drummer. What I like about this Requena is the crowns, very art decoish, steamlined, smaller ears. A giant when it comes to sound. Mongo loved playing it when he came over the house. Now is in good hands with Jaquie in NYC, a true collector.

Google Diego Iborra.http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199 ... first.html

I think the tack head could be Requena, rougher models built for tourists but who knows. I bought it for a good price I think and it is in mint condition. It is a very beautiful drum. I was just wondering if anything would help identify it as Requena. It is numbered # 73 or something...not looking at pic. Did Requena # his drums?

[Anonimo]

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