consciousnist wrote:and there is a difference with the skin as well, now that you name it, the Quinto and Tumba
got calf skins while the newer Conga seem to have a cow skin on it.
Mike wrote:Now with the skins there seems to have been a change over the years too,
first calf, then cow, and finally water buffalo ...
Mike wrote: ... the earlier times of the Woodcraft production, these drums are so unique anyway
Maybe the first ones did not have any at all.
Mike wrote:Anyway, the older, the better, seems to be the idea of Woodcrafts, despite the better
hardware of the more recent models.
p.a.dogs1 wrote:Don´t be too sentimental! Roland Meinl GmbH & Co. KG is the world´s biggest percussion producer. Every Meinl product is primarily not the result of a philosophy but a result of a pricing.
p.a.dogs1 wrote:When the first Woodcrafts came up, all over Europe existed workshops, where freaks built really unique instruments under specific local conditions. Afro Percussion in the Netherlands, PJ in Copenhagen, Delaporte and formerly ASBA in France, Finnish Percussion in Suomi, Schalloch in Hamburg and some more ... Even Sonor, one of the big brands, built congas from local beech for professional requirements and with elaborated hardware (Sonor congas were at that time more expensive than the Classic models of LP). But nevertheless there was the suspicion that the really authentic congas were made in the USA: Gon Bops, LP, Valje. Meinl was more or less known as a producer for reasonable school equipment, not for high-end.
p.a.dogs1 wrote:Considering this market situation it was surely a good idea to show some competence by combining "Made In Germany" with original barrel making traditions, provoke connotations of the legendary german oak etc. What I want to say: the beginning of Woodcraft production is more motivated by marketing strategy than by cultivating a specific requirement. This can be seen at the today´s instruments named Woodcrafts. They don´t have anything in common with the original barrels. Meinl seems not to be very much interested in continuing the self-initiated tradition.
p.a.dogs1 wrote: I am sure that the Woodcrafts from the 90ies are of same quality (or even better) as Woodcrafts from the 80ies. Btw. those plastic pieces under the sideplates make not much sense in my eyes - and prevent that the instruments become dignified with age.
Mike wrote:I do know that Meinl did not produce for humanitarian reasons, but to make profit.
Mike wrote:I simply find the early Woodcraft and its sound really stunning.
Mike wrote:Of course Meinls are mass produced, which does not say much though, as virtually ALL major brands are mass-produced.
Mike wrote:They have really marked their territory just as much as LP or Pearl, with all its good and bad sides.
Mike wrote:Hence bashing Meinl for their undoubtedly clever marketing strategies would be rather pointless.
Mike wrote:At least I am still loving those oak tubs
Mike wrote:What do you mean by dignified with age?
Mike wrote:I have seen sideplates sunken into the shells of luan Gon Bops, for example, and cannot say I find that particularly "dignified".
Mike wrote:... perhaps the shells can vibrate more freely? Don´t know.
p.a.dogs1 wrote:Mike wrote:Hence bashing Meinl for their undoubtedly clever marketing strategies would be rather pointless.
This is not what I want.
p.a.dogs1 wrote:Mike wrote:What do you mean by dignified with age?
There is no structural affinity between the charisma of the whole instrument and those pieces. When looking on antique furnitures we can discover details (for example the used keys) which tell us if something is made in the blooming period of a specific style or if it is just a sentimental imitation from a later time.
consciousnist wrote:Sorry that I can't describe the sounds of a drum any better, I am just not used to talk about drums,
will come up with some rather boring videos sooner or later maybe, not sure yet ...
consciousnist wrote:I believe its too many Germans here , maybe I am the ( most clueless ) one that is just one too much.
Mike wrote:At the end of the day it is like always a matter of taste which congas you prefer IMO,
critical or even ideological thinking aside.
Mike wrote:I love my Gon Bops just as much as my Woodcrafts...
Mike wrote:And the Delaportes are also fantastic drums...
consciousnist wrote:since Kiel is just around the corner, you are always welcome at my place to check out the drums and get some
nice homemade food with it whenever you are in Hamburg.
consciousnist wrote:I'd love to hear the sounds a more professionel (conga)player can pull out of these drums, not that I suffer with what I do so far.
consciousnist wrote:would love to see a pic from your Cherry "Woodkraft" please, to get back on topic.
consciousnist wrote:the shop guy at Schalloch told me he wants 1200 Euros for the
2 piece Woodkraft anniversary set they got sitting on their shelf for so long.
must be the old DM prize then, should be 600 or better 500 Euros by now, but not sure If I am going to
ask him that question.
p.a.dogs1 wrote:I remember that the prices for European high-end congas of the early-until-mid 80ies were between 750 DM and ca. 1200 DM per drum - very expensive (and my absolute favorites at that time) were the PJs from Copenhagen.
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