Mule Skins

[caballoballo]

Buckoh, those stores sre located down here in P.R.
Papo from Timbas del Valle told me that the best place tu cut the skins is from the center where the spine was located. You get better thickness consistency from there.

[BMac]

Removed for brevity. See my first posting in this message thread.



Edited By BMac on 1204124690

[Whopbamboom]

I find everything about this last post to be hillarious... EXCEPT the prospect of receiving skins with deep cuts! That's not funny...

[buckoh]

To clarify anything I've said on this thread, Isaac sent me skins based on what I told him my needs were. Had I been sent something unusable I would have brought it up with him. He didn't send me anything I didn't ask for. It was approximately 6 months before I decided I didn't like them. Isaac was helpful and businesslike. I will still go to him for my conga/bongo needs as they arise. I hope to stop in N.J. sometime and meet him and maybe hear one of the bands he plays in. Buck

[CongaTick]

Can't please all of the people all of the time.

[Isaac]

FROM ISAAC to BMAC

I normally don't like to air this type of private business matter in public, but
you were skating on thin ice making insinuations close to slander. I assure you I'm not
gloating and trying to "rip you off" as you imply. It's modest side business done
more for love than money.

For the record to Mr Mac, I offered to send a replacement head. His head, had a dent, not
a gouge. These indents stretch out and flatten over time...I mounted it myself and have since played it.. it
was a thick one and sounded great. I can post a photo of it. Caly wouldn't take it back because
it had clearly been soaked for a while. They are not easy to mount.
As Caly Rivera often says " The ugly ones sound the best".

If pristine clean skins are a priority , stick with commercial tannery products.
I do often get a request for a matching set of clean white skins, and I tell
them politely to look elsewhere.
There is absolutely no commercial mule skin industry to compare this with.
They are the sole effort of a few individuals we use as personal couriers
to bring us the skins of the "retired" work animals direct from the mountain farms.
The thinner ones might make it to commercial tanneries where they're chemically
processed in a large high pressure boiler with the "wet blue" harsh chemicals. The high pressure chemical
bath automates hair removal. These we don't touch. Its the process for Water Buffalo.
The Mule carcasses get taken to S. American Zoos, so nothing is wasted. If the tanning process
is a bit rough, it's also an indication they're not using chemicals, and are probably not
professional leather workers.
I've just made an extensive tour
of 4 leather tanneries to find out the hows and whys in rawhide preparation.
It's all part of drum making which I take seriously.

Being new to the mule experience, Mr. Macdonald maybe took the hide to a 3rd party to mount who
advised him it was a bad skin...Perhaps he wanted to sell him his own steer skin instead..I don't know.
The skin had already been soaked and was no longer flat, indicating a failed attempt at mounting it.

Mr Macdonald, had some kind of chip on his shoulder and chose instead not to trust my
30 years of experience... and chose instead the refund over a replacement. ( after many months of holding the skin,
way beyond any reasonable return policy) minus the restocking fee/handling fee.

I have respect for every lover of the congas, and feel a bond, no matter at what level, or part of the country,
and was confident this would be the case for Mr. MacDonald also. It's been over 1.5 years
since this all transpired. The fact that you're still not over it, tells me you maybe really still
want to try a mule skin at some point. Your'e a stubborn guy, and I respect that.
You deserve to play upon an equally stubborn skin!, that won't be affected by
any cosmetic marks. They are extremely durable, more so than cow. I'm willing to work with you again and make
some accomodation in that regard... I'm waiting for a new shipment now.

The rest of my skin buyers who are in over a dozen countries,
can attest to their favorable experience...and I assure You I'm not selling goat, or rabbit, or
cheaper cow passing as mule. I do have some great cow bongo skins to tide me over till more mules arrive.
Cows have some beautiful attributes as well.
There is a big difference with mule...if you can't tell what it is visually, the sound & strength will definitely
make it obvious to the trained or appreciative ear. It's not for everybody's taste.

ISAAC ~ TRADICION PERCUSSION (formerly Funky Tradition ) Authorized Rep. JCR Percussion Co.
Tradicionpercussion@gmail.com or jcrpercussion@gmail.com

[Chupacabra]

Based on what I've just read, it almost makes me want to get or make a set of bongos just so I can do business with Isaac. Sounds like he has good, ethical ways to me! When I'm looking for hides I would much, much rather buy from someone who has a connection with their suppliers, or even better, the actual animal the hide came from. Especially after seeing the undercover ASPCA video footage of Hell's abattoir known as "Hallmark Beef" in California last week!
30 years as a drum maker is pretty rare in North America, I think you'll be hearing from me pretty soon!

[Mike]

It's modest side business done
more for love than money.

That is precisely the reason why I prefer Isaac´s products, which are something really special anyway, over others.

The rest of my skin buyers who are in over a dozen countries, can attest to their favorable experience.

Yes, I am one of those you mention. Many people know about Isaac´s professional and yet humble approach to customers, because he speaks not only to buyers, but addresses us as people in the first place, and congueros, bongoceros, percussionists, musicians, whatever.
Every single communication I had with you so far, Isaac, was quick, helpful and simply great. You are the man!

It's not for everybody's taste.

And yes, of course is mule skin something special - if you feel up to it, you should go for it.

My two mules up!



Edited By Mike on 1203756923

[Thebreeze]

Very well spoken Isaac. I hope the gentleman in question reads your reply and can come to a point where he can re-establish trust and communication with you. It all sounds like some kind of nightmare that no one needs.

[CongaTick]

I echo TheBreeze. Hear, hear Isaac!! Spoken like the true pro you are. Though married, I fear that in a house fire, saving my 3 mules might be my first priority. Despite the obscene imagery --there's nothing like stroking one of Isaac's mules. :;):

[BMac]

Removed for brevity. See my first posting in this message thread.



Edited By BMac on 1204124746

[Congadelica]

I was not going to respond to this thread . But Im affraid I need to I like others here on this forum have had nothing but good things to say about issacs Mule . like the man says they are not going to be inch perfect My conga skin has said gouges in them this is just what you get when you buy mule . Its the music they make which counts , not the prettist skins for congasbut defoa whaling banshee of a skin to my ears and lots of other guys .
So please take your slanerous comments elsewhere . I can appreciate your idea of try to Dis Issac on here but you will have to go a long way to convince me and others that Issac is a bad person to trade with .
Ok brother Ill leave it there .

Peace and respect to ya

Marco

[BMac]

So we have another confirmation regarding gouged mule skins. I think it's important for buyers to know what to expect from a purchase. Gouges is what you get when you buy mule skin? Why should one expect gouges but for my bringing this subject to light?

Like I said before, now I've been warned ... and so have you.

Cheers,
BMac



Edited By BMac on 1204124808

[Mike]

BMac, you do not seem to get the point, do you? ???
It´s like Congadelica has just said:

My conga skin has said gouges in them this is just what you get when you buy mule . Its the music they make which counts , not the prettist skins for congas

OK, you´re free to choose and also free to think what you expect what you order. Period.

What I find strange to the verge of irritating are your slanderous or even threatening remarks towards Isaac, one of our board members. Please refrain from doing this, brother. I´m not saying this because I´m biased towards Isaac (even if I am a satisfied customer of his indeed).
What it boils down to is this: This planet is big enough for differences in opinion, but life is surely too short to get lost in the pesky and petty quarrel about mule cosmetics... The bottom line is that I find we should treat each other fair and with all the respect we also would like to get in return!

Paz!
Mike



Edited By Mike on 1203959369

[Thebreeze]

BMac.....In reading your letters It seems to me that you stand by what you are saying and you feel you have been wronged to a degree and you feel you must let all potential buyers know to beware of buying Mule skins from Isaac. I am not going to say you are right, or wrong. It's not for me to say, and only you and Isaac should settle this in friendly emails to each other. Remember.."what's done is done" and the only good thing to do is move forward in a Positive manner. Nothing good will come of continuing on this way. I think that deep down inside you are a nice guy with a good heart. Why not put it all in the past and move forward.
I have also dealt with Isaac in the past and can say he was straight up with me so why don't we just chalk this one up as an unfortunate mistake or misunderstanding and start all over. I am sure things will turn out better and you will be glad you did.