cuquito, There is an old Roman saying, "there is no disputing taste". If someone is satisfied w/ their instrument, there is nothing more to say.
I have picked up several of these bongos over the years to cannabalize the hoops & parts. They are pure junk, w/ thick soft wood. (I tend to prefer my Valjes).
cuquito, There is an old Roman saying, "there is no disputing taste". If someone is satisfied w/ their instrument, there is nothing more to say. I have picked up several of these bongos over the years to cannabalize the hoops & parts. They are pure junk, w/ thick soft wood. (I tend to prefer my Valjes).
Valje Is a great Bongo, That only thing those bongos are good for parts for a drum kit haha
Very nice bongos!
I have one-half of a set of Star bongos in a Red Tiger Pearl and it's a decently made drum too.
There is one good thing within the opinion of cuquito717: we all know such guys out there selling us these 'pieces of crap' we call MIJ drums.
Only by this way ( ! ) we still are able to find our bargains out there. So it's better we leave them in good faith that all japanese coming from this era are FIPOS.:D
Ralf
NB
No, cuquito717. If your opinion would be the truth, it wouldn't make sense what happened in the next decade, in the 70's: Pearl, Tama and Yamaha started to become the biggest names/ producers in drums worldwide (only judging by the number of drumsets they sold), leaving some of the old established names far behind them, even some of these crashed.
Lets not confuse the Bongos made by the different drum companies w/ their Drum Sets, whether MIJ or USA. Many of the major manufacturers of excellent drums, made bongos, that were only worthy of school children, & were never played by any professional. That includes Ludwig, Rogers, Gretsch, Sonor, et al., & MIJ brands. They are all fun to play ,but also at the level of toys.
That also includes all of their Congas. I've had bongos by all of these companies , as well as some Congas. They're not even close to the Real Thing.
You're correct, tdennis - but he stated this way, too:
quote
... As a professional drummer for 60+ years and today retired I consider Japanese drums toys. ...
unquote
And this statement appears not to be meant for bongos exclusively.
Ralf
Lets not confuse the Bongos made by the different drum companies w/ their Drum Sets, whether MIJ or USA. Many of the major manufacturers of excellent drums, made bongos, that were only worthy of school children, & were never played by any professional. That includes Ludwig, Rogers, Gretsch, Sonor, et al., & MIJ brands. They are all fun to play ,but also at the level of toys. That also includes all of their Congas. I've had bongos by all of these companies , as well as some Congas. They're not even close to the Real Thing.
Know out of those You are mentioning Rogers made a very good bongo, Also Sonor today makes a quality bongo The rest of the company's have not gotten on board yet.
There is one good thing within the opinion of cuquito717: we all know such guys out there selling us these 'pieces of crap' we call MIJ drums.Only by this way ( ! ) we still are able to find our bargains out there. So it's better we leave them in good faith that all japanese coming from this era are FIPOS.:DRalfNBNo, cuquito717. If your opinion would be the truth, it wouldn't make sense what happened in the next decade, in the 70's: Pearl, Tama and Yamaha started to become the biggest names/ producers in drums worldwide (only judging by the number of drumsets they sold), leaving some of the old established names far behind them, even some of these crashed.
Ralf
All these company's Pearl,Yamaha Have come on board with what is a true bongo today. Those Japanese bongos back then were used by drummers only to get and affect of a bongo. An affect is not a true sound just gives you a feeling of what the drum should sound like. Companies like Pearl and Yamaha in the last 20 years have came out of the bottom in making quality Latin percussion instruments and have left the competition behind. A Japanese bongo such as what we have been discussing is good to a drummer if he want to get an affect , hitting with sticks, Now for a Hand drummer that bongo is no good produces no quality sound. Yet professional drummers out there Today turning to quality drums because those old style of bongo did not cut it. As the saying said and I quote '' a photo says a million words'' look and pick out which is a better quality, better sound better design.
Here is a write up i wrote on bongos and comments of others
Bongo were developed as the foundation of what is called son a rhythm developed back in the late 1800’s and became very popular in the 1930. The Son arose in a Cuban province named Oriente in were groups used Instruments such as guitars, tres ( A double 3 string guitar used to play cords) , clave, maracas and a bongos that severed as the foundation of the rhythm. The Bongo would play a basic beat which is called the Martillo ( The hammer ) Which was basically keeping time. As time went by groups such as Cuarteto Havanero , Cuarteto Oriental, and a few others developed a more powerful swing to the rhythm son, having Bongo produce off tempo beats. What may be called by many as riff, and many other names.
Later in time as the groups grew from quartets to sextets many added what is called the conga drum and here rhythms section would change. The conga drum took the place of the bongo as the foundation of the rhythm and the bongo would become the singer for the rhythm section or best said a story teller for the rhythm section. New Rhythm would emerge and the Bongo would take new rolls in explaining the rhythm patterns. Now were it become confusing to many within all the rhythms today Bongos are not made to be used in all of them, yet many use playing erroneous affects.
For Example : The rhythm Guaguanco a up tempo beat also developed in Cuba. Yet may use the bongo in playing this rhythm, It was design to be played with 3 conga drums and not a bongo. But today many use the bongo taking the place of the Quito conga drum (high Pitch conga drum).
Another example: In Rock music yet today they are adding Conga, bongos to create the Latin Flavor to it. Much of this is reality is not playing in a traditional matter but creating affects to basically create hit’s and sell Recordings. In my opinion a big error, it’s destroying tradition.
People that like dancing today are going back to tradition, simply they don’t like much of the music being played today or way that it’s being played. I highly recommend those that want to learn to play Bongos, conga timbales or any other instrument go back to its origin. Learn how it’s made, for what, and apply. All so called new rhythm’s that is being created today most are combinations of other rhythms and those that are creating these ideas can’t even know how to explain what you are listening to.
You want to listen to technique on bongos listen to bands like the Machito you have there Jose Mangual , Manny Oquendo Great bongo Play as a timbale player I found him very noisy. Vitin Gonzalez Played with Tito Rodriguez excellent player, Ralph Marzan played with Pacheco excellent bongo player, Yeyito Iglesias played with Cachao . These are just a few great bongo players from yesteryears . STAY AWAY FROM Modern Players from 70-today many are making tons of mistakes over and over . Many of the new Cuban player just want to gain fame and have no togetherness also keep away be very selective as who you want to listen too.
Hope this advice help many of you that want to learn the right way noise will get you nowhere.
One other advice don't ask some one that knows less than you questions 99% will steer you in wrong direction. And Practice practice practice.
Jim Centeno Cuco, if may add, Son Music produced the "Martillo Son" which did not produce a 4/4 basic beat. It 'flowered' the rhythm, because the the basic 4/4 didn't need to be emphased. Chino Pozo was America's first great bongo player, followed by Pops Mangual and later by Armado Peraza. I'm very proud to say that I was personally mentered by all three. Armando liked, by the way, my conga playing more than my bongo playing. And Tito Puente, Bobby Rodriguez and Cachao like my timbal playing best. Life is so very funny sometimes.
August 9 at 7:09pm · Unlike · 2
Faustino Cruz Hahaha I like your timbales playing also hahah Yes Chino was very I forgot about him. Yet I like Mangual I learned a lot from him back then.
August 9 at 7:29pm · Edited · Like
By The way Jim Centeno was the bongo player for the Tito Puente orquestra 1960's -1970's
