ISLA PERCUSSION - Discussion, Quality, Experience, etc

[KING CONGA]

from the harvesting of my tree to the finished product including the making of the hardware. my dad (deceased) planted the tree that we harvested but it had toppled over with hurricane Dean and it was still living.

Cant wait to see them Rumbero but do you think that the wood has cured enough as of now to make drums out of it?
Just out of curiosity, how many drums are you having made out of that tree?

[Hawker]

Wow..can't wait to see the drums and read more of the details as these drums come together. Even better, a quality video would be great!

[pcastag]

That is a very nice looking drum!
PC

[KING CONGA]

The only way to describe this drum is...Wow!!
I want it!!!
Can you take some higher resolution Pictures for us?

[rhythmrhyme]

Cadenza I got in contact with Mario since I was inquisitive about the situation with your drums and he told me that he sent you a set of drums but you weren't happy about the glue lines it had and he told me that you could keep that set of drums and he will send you another set but since he moved to Belize he had problems with shipping and hardware including skins. He said he has ironed out all the bugs and is on track now and will send you your drums shortly. He said he has even mastered the art of skins and he hopes you like them. He also mentioned that his drums are designed for serious players and not intended for "collector" type people. As a matter of fact I found it strange when me mentioned that he wishes he could interview potential customers so that he is certain that his drums will get in the hands of people that understand Santaria, Anya and authentic afro/cuban music which Isla is all about. It was interesting when he mentioned to me that he agreed with your concern but was powerless setting up in a third world country where only the wood is available. He said it took him a year and a half to start all over again but has ironed out all the bugs and is now back on track. So I guess you'll soon get your SECOND SET of drums soon.

PS - My name is Andres and I take Mario's his side since I can see that mrhands doesn't know sh--- about your situation and is just blabbing off defending you. I have his work in my hands and I know what I'm looking at.

My previous handle was Cadenza. In fairness to the board, and my own sanity, I'm not going to repeatedly post on this thread. However, I think it's noteworthy that a year ago the above post was made. Since then I have initiated contact with Mario several times and the story remains the same - you will get your drums papa, you have waited a long time and you deserve to have the deal made right etc... the only reason we didn't negotiate an "exchange" is because of the shipping cost to Belize, it's prohibitive. That and there is no resale value for Mario in terms of the drums I have, they are truely all "seconds".

The Zirocote drum looks great - but most artisans can pull it off once or twice. It's about consistency and not having some of your customers left out in the cold, as I was and still am. This all started around late 2007 or early 2008 for me and the deal remains unresolved. Mario my man, I sincerely hope you can make right with your commitments – people who have been jilted never forget… you acted like my friend then treated me like a chump.

[pcastag]

Kicking an old dead horse. Hell if you spend top dollar for what is to be a top dollar product ( artisan boutique drums) then you should get top dollar quality. That's why it's always best to do your research, you never hear a peep about the quality of work from Jay, Matt or Michel ( moperc) you may hear different opinions on sound, looks, time for delivery etc., but never any complaints about craftsmanship. I've heard plenty about Isla, out of round, glue lines, hell why is a glue line there? Because there are spaces between the staves! That's not top quality, so yeah if I got them I'd be pissed too. Anyways you get what you pay for, Isla definitely was cheaper than other top three, and I'm glad mr. mario is improving his product, but if you send out product that was built shodily or in haste you're going to get some unhappy customers, period. Personally I'm glad people on this board have spoken about their experiences good and bad, as long as we're not bashing and posting falsehoods it's good for the board members.
PC

[onile]

Alafia Abures!
I hope that you are all well and abundantly blessed!

I must echo the sentiments of brother pcastag, and as an owner of a set of 4 Isla tumbadoras....I can speak with knowledge of the product, and sound produced! I have very thin glue lines on my last drum (a 13.25" Cherry tumbadora), when it arrived, I was so excited, but when I took it out of the box and placed it on my floor.....there was a hand full, or slightly more, of sawdust that piled on my floor. I turned the drum upside down and noticed a void in one of the slabs of wood. I don't know exactly what it's called, but the "nott" in wood that sometimes comes out. Well it had appeared to have fallen out at some point and was filled with sawdust and some weak joining liquid that apparently came apart. I tested the drum and although cosmetically on the inside it had this flaw, the damn drum sounded incredible, just like the other 3 that had been more closely matched. BTW! this last drum weighed about 8 to 10 lbs. more that the other ones.

I never complained about it, probably because just like pcastag said ....you get what you pay for, and yet I totally loved the sound of the drum! I wound up changing the crowns on all of the Isla drums, I never quite liked the wavy affect of the metal that he used/uses.....when I tuned them up, the crown would dip in areas of more pressure and this gave me concern! I don't say this to be cruel or super critical, afterall I made lemonaide with them (if you know what I mean)

I still play out with them, and people still love to play them, as well as the sound they produce.

I believe there is much to say about the "evolution" and "growth" that brother Mario has, and is going through! I'm proud of him if he in fact is improving and producing a greater product. In all that is said about Mario, I have yet to read a negative post about how he has treated someone. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not taking up the sword for him as brother Rumbero4ever seems to be, and he is fine in doing so, I am merely saying that Mario has appeared to have always treated people/customers respectfully, and politely. Apparently some things weren't in his power to change, and he is making an effort to do so, but at the cost of leaving a fairly foul taste in the mouths of some of his customers. That's the sad part of watching his company grow. I for one wish him luck!

Suerte!

Onile!

[rhythmrhyme]

Gentlemen, it's the same old story. Some people got good drums, some got crap. This isn't a dead horse though, it's still a relevant issue as there has been no demonstration of Isla being able to put out consistent product yet. Isla defenders have always been quick to slam me for having any criticism of their beloved friend and builder.

It wasn't just the 1/4 inch glue lines and open air gaps between the staves, it was the conga arriving with a crack, the tumba being over an inch taller than the other drums, the chalk marks (including my name) lacquered into the shells, the stain being heavily streaked on all of them, the heads being different between the drums with the conga and tumba head quality being very poor, the flesh hoop being the wrong size on the super tumba and the head pulling through, the drywall screws holding the bumpers on that started small cracks from the bottom up etc etc etc. Death by a thousand cuts.

I'm not going to post the pics and go through it with you all again, but if Mario is doing deals now he needs to set the record straight with those he has made promises to. It's his word, simple as that. It took a year and a half for him to get the first drums to me, they were immediately followed by an acceptance of the poor quality and an agreement to replace them. A deal is a deal.

Rumbero4ever - I've always had an agreement with Mario that I'd eat the majority (or all) of the shipping cost. I've hoped that I could salvage that cost by selling the drums I have already. Anything else coming from Mario isn't honest, or he's forgotten.

In terms of "getting what you pay for" I paid $850 for the super Tumba, $750 for the Tumba, $650 for the conga, $550 for the Quinto and $450 for the requinto. The two quinto's were reasonably priced, but the other drums are all in line with the price of other builders like SOS. The SOS drums I have sound so beautiful and melodic beside the Isla drums, there is no comparison. They are also built with care and attention to detail, a product that I'll have in my arsenal probably for the rest of my life.

I wish no ill willl to Mario, I believe he is a well-intentioned guy who has fallen on hard times. I’ve had difficult patches in my life as well – it’s all about integrity.

Speaking of integrity - I'm going to make this my last post on this thread for a long while. I simply felt it is important to remind readers that all is not resolved with Isla yet. If Mario ever makes things right with me I'll definitely switch camps and become one of his supporters. Businesses need to grow, as do people, and it takes time.

[rhythmrhyme]

OK, at your request, one last comment.

I'll send another email to Mario, we'll see if he responds. I am VERY reluctant to send him any money up front for the shipping, but I would consider a COD arrangement.

There is no need to wait for me to raise the money – I have the coin available right now. In terms of selling the drums, I'm actually planning to donate a few of them to a shipping container headed for Cuba. There are a couple groups around here that put them together once a year or so. The cracked conga has gone out of round (even though I glued the crack), and is really only good for practicing on, it has totally lost any voice. The Tumba is a reasonable Rumba drum though (even if it is an odd height and has issues) and I'm pretty sure some aspiring young cuban congero would be happy for them to arrive on his/her doorstep. I really wouldn’t feel good about selling the drums as they are… way too many issues. Hopefully I can grab a tax receipt for the donation.
RR

[pcastag]

Are you really Mario? I meanreally?

[KidCuba]

Interesting stuff... My mother and law is originally from Corozal, Belize. I have been there before. Next time I travel down there again, I'd be interested in seeing his workshop.

[burke]

You want to jam with his mother-in-law? ... kidding!

[KING CONGA]

You want to jam with his mother-in-law? ... kidding!

With all due respect, This is offensive. I would delete this post.

[burke]

With all due respect, This is offensive. I would delete this post.

In what world is that offensive?

The way it was worded it could be read: "What's her name, maybe we could jam" [ie: play congas together]. I have no idea how that could be in any way offensive. Not my problem.

Last word on that.

[KidCuba]

The Griffith Park rumba scene in the 1990s was very strong. It is a damn shame not much of it was documented.

Juanito was the real deal, I never took lessons with him but really watched him, play, dance, and sing. I had the pleasure of being run off by him due to weak drum playing, etc...

Eddie I do not know at all, but I know his reputation.

I had the pleasure of spending some time with Long John and learned a bunch.

Thats not to mention guys like Muñequo, Chekere Joe, and many of the other characters who were part of the scene.

I miss Griffith Park, there is no real rumba there, or anywhere else here in L.A. - as it relates to a public, regular gathering.

Never met Mario, from what I can remember. I left the scene for ten or more years after 2000.

Ricardo, from what I understand it still around.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoaJTMQViKI[/quote]