congaplace.com

After a long time of thinking, planning, saving, and finally talking to Mario (with some last minute help from onile - thank you sir), I've put the down payment on my very own set of cherry Islas - quinto/conga/tumba, Matanzas-style. They're going to look exactly like onile's did before he switched out the crowns (forgive me, onile, for reposting your pic):


It's probably going to be late May at the earliest before I've got the full amount saved up, but it's going to be worth the wait. I'm so excited!!!

Light Seeker,

Congrats on your purchase!

You won't regret the sound (fat and no ring) that you'll get from your future Islas, especially when the skins break-in after a few months. I, too, own a set of quinto/conga/tumba in canoe wood and rosewood color, partly shown on my avatar to the right and the photo below.

Mario is just a cool and very accomodating dude to deal with--before, during and after the manufacture of your Islas.

All the best,

Thanks Manny! Your drums are beautiful (of course).
There's a part of me that almost regrets the fact that I'm not getting canoe wood, due to its warmer sound. However, Mario has reassured me that because I play in a very LOUD band with a lot of horns, cherry is the way to go to really project and cut through the mix, and I will still love the sound. Also, onile has reassured me that the cherry drums sound amazing in every style of music he's used them in, from folkloric to salsa.
And, to be honest, in the demo videos made by Isla, I can't tell a difference in sound between the canoes and cherrys. Granted, it's just a video, not like hearing (feeling?) them in person... but still, the cherrys still sound fantastic on the videos. As far as the canoes go... well, that's for another day, another 1500 dollars.

Light Seeker,

You're welcome! Thanks for your very kind words!

Funny, but I'm the exact opposite as you! There's a part of me that "almost regrets" that I didn't get cherry wood. For an additional cost of "only" $100 per drum, cherry-wood Islas are still relatively a bargain!

Canoe wood has a very warm sound and is light, but the trade-off is that canoe wood (yellow poplar) is a little too soft for my preference. As a result , they can be dented relatively easily. So one has to be careful to avoid accidentally banging them to anything harder and, especially, sharp.

One consolation is that, per Mario, canoe wood stains very well to almost any color. I wanted my anything but natural color, so it works for me.

Best regards,

Hey good choice Light seeker.

I ordered my set 3 weeks ago also Very exited .
Not sure when Ill get mine maybe early june , shipping to the UK will take few more weeks .
But I will be the first owner in the UK .

Coolio

Manny - I didn't know that about canoe. Mario told me that both canoe and cherry are medium-hardwoods, although he also said that cherry is a bit stiffer, so maybe that means it won't dent as easily? Another thing I've read about cherry wood that Mario didn't mention to me is that it darkens through time. I wonder if I can expect this with my Islas. Could be a potentially nice aging process.

Congadelica - congrats on being the first UK owner. Undoubtedly after people across the pond hear the drums, more and more will want them (that is, after all, how Isla came to be, no?).

Congadelica wrote:But I will be the first owner in the UK .

Coolio

Nice..... how much is shipping is going to cost you?

Alafia Abures!
I hope that you are all well and abundantly blessed!

Congratulations Abure Light Seeker!
As everyone is saying, you won't be dissappointed!

I have another 13" Cherry on order with Mario, who by the way has recently been blessed with a baby girl!

here is a pic of my Cherry Islas (they have gotten darker since I purchased 'em)!

here is another pic .....


Many blessings Abures!

Onile!

A Hearty Congratulationsto you!!!!!! Way to chose well!! Ka-ching!! Another really nice set of tumbadoras for our congaplace family!

Coco wrote:

Congadelica wrote:But I will be the first owner in the UK .

Coolio

Nice..... how much is shipping is going to cost you?

is $150 by freight container.
Mario has shiped to other European Countries . if your ever near Manchester call us Ill let you check them out.

marco

Shipping

Cheers for the offer !

They look lovely....I thought the damage on the shipping would be much worse....result.

Congratulations on your new congas. Be sure to post some photos for us to see when you get them.
Mike Gallichio

I would assume that is $150 per drum...

I would assume that is $150 per drum...

What, that´s an awful lot of money for sipping and custom fees, isn´t it?
Remember a couple of months ago someone suggested that a cruise from Europe to the States with conga shopping there
could a more comfortable and senseful way to spend the money.