congaplace.com

Posted: **Thu May 31, 2007 12:09 am**

Does anyone here have drums made by Resolution.
Can you give a description?

http://www.resolutiondrums.com/parts.asp

Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1180570227

Posted: **Thu May 31, 2007 12:57 am**

These are VALJE CONGAS....I knew Tom Flores and had gone to his shop many times on Sunset Blvd....Great Congas....but if u dropped one or if it got "hit" by something it could crack on you...."JC" Johnny Conga...

Posted: **Thu May 31, 2007 4:32 am**

resolution congas are not valje. the shape of the drum is a bit different as the belly is lower and the bottom more pinched. this creates a different sound from the drums; i have played both. marios isla congas have a similar shape to the resolution but have their differences as well that create a very unique sound - including choice of wood. tom flores, had a 'covenent not to compete' clause in his contract after selling the rights to valje to haight ashbury music. when the covenent not to compete was up, he created the resolution line using many of the same techniques, but not the exact shape. tom passed away a few years back and his son ralph is now making the resolution drums and bongos. they are not produced very often. you can contact ralph for info at the above web site.

Edited By congalero on 1180589455

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 4-9_1_.jpg

Posted: **Thu May 31, 2007 4:36 am**

older valje drums

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ection.jpg

Posted: **Thu May 31, 2007 4:59 am**

There still Valje to me even if he did lower the belly ...same hardware same look...."JC" Johnny Conga...

Posted: **Thu May 31, 2007 2:53 pm**

Talked to Ralph last week, he said he is hard at work to bring the resolution tubs to us soon.

He is going to try to replicate everything his father did in the sunset shop - process, tools and materials, etc. But, most importantly to me - Ralph has his fathers insistance on quality.

Im looking forward to playing Ralph's Resolution drums, i know his bongos rock!

Tony

Posted: **Thu May 31, 2007 8:34 pm**

congalero wrote:tom flores, had a 'covenent not to compete' clause in his contract after selling the rights to valje to haight ashbury music. when the covenent not to compete was up, he created the resolution line using many of the same techniques, but not the exact shape. tom passed away a few years back and his son ralph is now making the resolution drums

So then what, Haight Ashbury sold the "Valje" rights to LP?

Then LP sold out to Kaman.
Gon Bops sold out to DW
then Sol sold out to DW

So now we have Valje's (LP) and Gon Bops with no connection to
Gon Bops or Valje's

at least Resolution have a direct lineage, a little sad that Ralph can't use the Valje name, but maybe it's okay for him to make his own name in the drum world.

Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1180674372

Posted: **Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:31 am**

JohnnyConga wrote:These are VALJE CONGAS....I knew Tom Flores and had gone to his shop many times on Sunset Blvd....Great Congas....but if u dropped one or if it got "hit" by something it could crack on you...."JC" Johnny Conga...

Would'nt you think they use more improved and modern methods of construction
now?
Valje's, might certainly have certainly done this, but now we have better
glues and cookies..
Not to mention Ralph's experience.

Did they crack because they don't have bands you think?

I wonder how hard it really is to make drums..

Posted: **Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:55 am**

Just to update this thread on Resolution Congas..

I've ordered a complete set of 3 congas and a bongo from Ralph a few months ago.

It's a good deal, he gave a discount for the size of the order and he includes a Resolution conga stand and a very nice customized bag for each conga in his price.

I just got off the phone with him earlier today. he told me he his drums normally do not have any bands on them, but many customers ask for a band around the bottom, like a lot of Valje's have. I decided not to get one.

For the bongo I asked if he could do a "Jack Constanza" model for me. This style has 2 metal tubes instead of a wood block connecting the drums, we talked about it and I decided to leave it up to him, I'd be happy with either style.

I asked him about the fires in LA recently, he was unaffected, but there was a fire a few blocks from where he is which was put out quickly.

My drums are on schedule and should be done by the end of December! Just in time for Hannukah!

Posted: **Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:37 am**

Can't wait eh BNB? Anticipation is a biatch. 1 more month:D
BTW, you may want to opt for the bottom bands. When you do get them, try to get some vinyl tubing on the bottom of the shells. Do it right or you can slit the wood.

T

Posted: **Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:33 am**

Hey Tonio,
I think I'm going to go without the bands, I think I know why your recommending them, but I have to believe Ralph has been able to improve over his father, what with experience and advances in construction technology..

...besides I like the no band look, and I know you do too! When I look at that pic congalero earlier in this thread those drums looks so clean.

I'll definately but some sort of rubber shoe on them if they don't have, but I'll probably be playing them in those cool stands a lot.

Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1195611290

Posted: **Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:42 pm**

I was talking to Ralph Flores about my drums last night............just 2 more weeks! a 6 month wait!

We were talking about the drums and he is offering an unusual deal for me.

I guess LP has not renewed the ownership of the Valje name and he is ready to retain ownership of it again.

So he told me that the Resolution drums could be redeemed in the future for new Valjes when he gets the rights back.

The Resolution drums have a little bit different shape to them due to the copyrights and such associated with Valje.

So when Ralph gets the Valje ownership back apparently he is going to reproduce Valje's exaclty, a "resurrection" kind of.

I'm sure I'm going to be more than happy with the Resolution's, and I doubt I'm going to trade them in, but I think it's very cool how Ralph wants to maintain the pure line of Valje.

Posted: **Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:16 am**

Best news I have heard in a while. Ralph is such a nice guy. I hope it goes his way and he gets the rights to his fathers drums. I would love to see the old Valje design out again. I also think Ralph can improve on it by making a nice thick, funtional band on the bottom. Not like the original Valjes where the band was more for looks than for practical function like keeping all the staves tightly together at the bottom of the drum.
With all due respect to Ralph's Dad, His drums will always be legendary Classics in my book. Not sure how people on the east coast feel about it. Maybe it's a west coast thing. Valje, Gon Bops, King Conga, a west coast thing.

Posted: **Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:35 am**

Finally got them.
They look great.
They sound great.

Posted: **Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:17 pm**

Woooow...BnB, that´s some Funky set, man...Thumbs Up!!! Enjoy them as much as you can
Aché

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