Mathew Smith Bongó

[caballoballo]

Saludos, there is a set of Bongos made by Matthew on eBay. $525,black walnut, 8 years old. From the pictures seems like the crowns are too big or the skins are too thin.

[docarroyo]

Hermano what are you basing your judgment on? From the photos they look fine I have seen Ritmo bongos and played them in person and the proportions are always perfect. I have even been in Matthews shop and seen his work in progress he does great work and takes great care and pride in his work. So I'm curious why you think the crowns are to big, if its the spacing between them some of us prefer them as close as possible and set one lower than the other for tuning clearance. It looks as though the seller narrowed the connecting block. Why you think the skins may be to thin is beyond me even guessing from the photos.

[caballoballo]

Hermano, my judgment is based on the gap between the crowns inside diameter to the skins. That is the reason. As you I do prefer the shells close together but not like on those. Yes, could be that the owner made an alteration to the center block or could be bad pictures.

[salcero1]

Caballeros, Buen Dia a todos,
Matthew's craftsmanship is impeccable. I have a Carribean Rhythms bongo outfitted with his hardware on it and a fully crafted bongo He made for me a couple of years ago in cherrywood. I'm planning to obtain a black walnut bongo with chrome hardware come this September with my choice of size in the Hembra and Macho's diameter and head size. Can't say enough of the good things about Matthew. His is a very nice person to speak and transact business with, a true gentleman and good friend. Long live his works in the drum making business.

[Omelenko1]

Matthew makes the best percussion instruments today, his attention to every detail is very precise.

[El Magnifico]

Caballeros, Buen Dia a todos,
Matthew's craftsmanship is impeccable. I have a Carribean Rhythms bongo outfitted with his hardware on it and a fully crafted bongo He made for me a couple of years ago in cherrywood. I'm planning to obtain a black walnut bongo with chrome hardware come this September with my choice of size in the Hembra and Macho's diameter and head size. Can't say enough of the good things about Matthew. His is a very nice person to speak and transact business with, a true gentleman and good friend. Long live his works in the drum making business.

I'm wondering: what's the price of a bongo like this?

Gracias!

[RitmoBoricua]

I'm wondering: what's the price of a bongo like this?

If I remember correctly for the walnut bongo on eBay that initiated this thread bids started at $525.
I lost track of the bongo on eBay so I do not how much it went or if the bongo even sold.

[caballoballo]

Saludos, a friend player contacted Mathew inquiring for a price on the Spanish cedar bongó and the response was $750 plus 9 months waiting. Imho one could buy 3 bongos for that amount.

[El Magnifico]

Saludos, a friend player contacted Mathew inquiring for a price on the Spanish cedar bongó and the response was $750 plus 9 months waiting. Imho one could buy 3 bongos for that amount.

WHAT??? And I thought the Timbas were expensive...I mean, they are a piece of art BUT....I'm happy for those who can afford it. Not me.

[FidelsEyeglasses]

Not every person understands that several factors dictate the price level/s of a truly custom made fine instrument, whether it is a violin or a
set of bongoes.

Factors that dictate pricing:
1. 'Custom made' in the U.S. as opposed to fabricated on an assembly line in an Asian country, or any country.
2. The type/s of wood the instrument is made from, the more the rarity o sea 'exotic' type of wood/s that are used for the instrument.. the higher the pricing.
3. The unique skill and expertise of the instrument maker, as opposed to an assembly line workforce that basically build the instrument based on a standard 'blueprint'.

Re: Matt Smith "From the pictures seems like the crowns are too big or the skins are too thin".
Matt Smith is a true master drum maker that does not build crowns that are too big, not even by accident.

Re: "I'm happy for those who can afford it. Not me."
True, understandably not many musicians are able to purchase a custom made instrument built specifically for them.

Re: "Imho one could buy 3 bongos for that amount."
Perhaps that may be true, however I doubt that the 3 pairs of bongos would come anywhere near the "that amount" bongoes in type/s of wood used, hand finishing, attention to detail and most importantly.... "tradition" as related to "form, shape, design", a major factor to many professional musicians.

"From the pictures seems like the crowns are too big or the skins are too thin."
You can't always judge shape/size/color/quality by a photograph, however in this case you definitely can:

[pcastag]

Could be the wood, spanish cedar may be a bit pricier than say north american ash, walnut or maple.

[El Magnifico]

Mathew Smith is not the only artisan who made bongo by hand one by one. Nobody here is taking merits away from his superb artisan skills, neither criticizing his products. He could price his instruments as he wish, but the price still high. Timbas, 3A, the guy from Ponce, El Piernas and many others do this for a more reasonable price. In today's economy, spending that kind of money in a bongo seems a little sensible. For example: I have a "one piece" set from 3A that doesn't need to envy any MS bongo. You can also buy direct a new set of Timbas 7 & 9 for $200.00 less and so on. At the end is not the "arrow". It's the "Indian" who made it sound beutiful or awful. I have seen players with a $125.00 set of Matador bongos making circles around fellows playing with a $800.00 set. "No es la flecha. Es el Indio".

If you are happy with a museum piece like that and can afford it, good for you! For me, it isn't just practical. Everyone has the right to buy what he/she please and I simply don't care. When I'm going to play a jig or to record a tune, nobody cares if it is a Thailand's Tycoon bongo or a hand made Timbas Ismael. They just want a good sound and excellent performance. And that's exactly what I try to offer who's paying me to do so and to fulfill my responsibility as a trained musician to the general public who came to listen us.

Anyway, I'll certainly be happy to have one of those MS, but not for $800.00 (shipping incl). But again, that's me.

RUMBA!

[Omelenko1]

In my opinion, if you can pay the price for a custom made instrument then do it. You'll get an instrument handmade by a dedicated craftsman who puts his heart and soul into it. I hate mass produced instruments, also gold plated hardware and beefy comfort curved crowns. If you are going to spend the money, then just do it once in a quality handmade percussion instrument, that's my 2 cents.

[El Magnifico]

In my opinion, if you can pay the price for a custom made instrument then do it. You'll get an instrument handmade by a dedicated craftsman who puts his heart and soul into it. I hate mass produced instruments, also gold plated hardware and beefy comfort curved crowns. If you are going to spend the money, then just do it once in a quality handmade percussion instrument, that's my 2 cents.

Yeah, you have a valid point there. Every custom made instrument would cost you more because it is "custom made". But, in my opinion, you can also obtain very good instruments from a hand made brand without paying stratospheric prices. Again, if you can afford it, by all means go and order one!

[caballoballo]

Saludos, yes I agree with Magnífico & Omelenko. Magnífico thanks for writing the truth in a very diplomatic mode.
There are three types of members in any forum, the collectors, the fanatics & the amateurs, also you have the fuckers but those are another breed I may have a little bit of the last type . They all have their goals and I respect that . I am neither one of them. I am an active bongocero playing for various salsa bands thus I don't need an instrument that expensive and fancy to perform my job. It is not that I cannot afford to.
Yes indeed, there are others Artisans who do the same for less. I have Bongos made here in Puerto Rico by
1-Jorge Miranda who played 13 years with Sonora Ponceña, La Terrifica, etc.
2-Papo Del Valle who played with Tito Rojas & Conjunto Borincano, Atabal, etc
3-Charlie Vega who is famous for his pleneras and a fine musician too.

All them very fine and skilled musicians Artisans who know how a Bongó should sound like, they made instruments from different native puertorican woods including mahogany. With them you have the option of only buying the shells and then have somebody like Manito Percusión to make a flawless hardware. Altogether is not going to cost you close to $400 including your choice of skins.
Like Omelenko said, if you want to expend that much go for, it is your cash. Like Magnífico said, is not going to make you play or sound better, it is the Indian not the arrow.