by Raymond » Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:44 pm
Meinl Free Ride bongos are great. However, be aware that the "Ronald Meinl symbol with a steel device" in the middle that serves as as the wood bridge that other bongos have to hold the two drums together, tends to bent or even break.
A prominent bongocero here in Puerto Rico was once in Ismael Miranda concert and the thing broke. A "miracle" there was a welder and welding equipment to work on it and fix the bongo. He is not using the Meinl Free Ride bongos anymore...Bad experience for him....
I've played them, seated, and they tend to feel "wobbly" because of that device....
Nevertheless, great sounding bongos with that "glitch."
Saludos!