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If anybody has had the opportunity of playing or owning a set, please share your expeience. I always wanted one but Sky Whaley eventually closed shop. I am curious hear how they compare to high end drums like Ritmos, Islas, Volcanoes etc. Thanx

I have 3 DelCielos, 10, 11 2/4, & 12.5. I replaced the head on the conga with a flat Hand Picked LP and it sounds great. Good drums and very collectible. Buck

Buckoh,
If Im not mistaken, Del Cielos came with Bill Confer's Texas Bullhide which is one of the best skins out there for congas. Any particular reason why you changed the skin for a thinner LP option?
Also, "good drums" is a description commonly used for LP drums or commercial brands...would you say that Del Cielos don't match (in sound) with "incredible drums" like Ritmos, Islas, Volcanoes etc??
I would imagine Del Cielos are different drums altogether just for being solid wood shells...
I have been a fan of these drums thru pictures for over 6 years. Never met anyone that owns them. Never seen videos of them. Never heard sound clips. I'm obviously really curious about these drums!

thx

6x8

Omelenko mahe man with the scoop on Del Cielo congas he is a wealth of knowledge. Hopefully he pops in and gives his opinion.

I changed the head because it sounded dead. I still have it and it looks good. The LP head made it into a different drum, much better. Maybe I'll put a thick steer hide on it and see how it compares to my Ritmo. The tumba has a good sound. Clear open tones and deep bass. I like the drums overall but I want to sell them to pay for my Ritmo. I just want 3 wood drums and 3 good fiberglass ones. Buck

I had Del Cielo's and they sound great. They are different because they are solid. Excellent bearing edge and nice round tone. I would recommend a set in good condition to anyone. The heads are from Texas (Confer's) and are nice. The thick skins would compare with Isla's sound. In fact I was using a Del Cielo with a couple of Isla's for a while. They are nice drums, I would rate them up with the best.

Thanks Buckoh and Kkonga,

Sounds like they are professional grade drums after all.

But KKonga, when you say "they are different because they are solid shells", you mean there are different expectations one has as far as sound goes (open tones, slaps etc.)? or one must treat them differently as far as the wood? Or simply different for obvious reasons?

Here is a clip from the forum on Del Cielos a while back. I was hoping you guys can tell me what you think of it. If it's true or not:

bongo wrote:

taikonoatama wrote:Sky Whaley and Del Cielo Congas

I went up to visit Sky Whaley (founder of Del Cielo Congas) a couple of years ago at his workshop in the redwoods - way up in the mountains of far Northern California. Spent an afternoon with him and got the full tour of the place and operation, and an explanation of how his drums are made and what makes them so special. He's an amazing guy - master craftsman/inventor/mad scientist/machinist/mountain man/drummer - and very, very, very smart.

I too have visited Sky and tested his drums. Thank you for the discription, you saved me a lot of words.

For all his theories on the physics of sound, I was disappointed in the sound of his drums. They were dead sounding, without the crisp slaps and hollow open tones I expect from a high end drum.

True I only heard the few drums he had at that point in time, but he seemed pleased with their sound and didn't seem to know there was something wrong.

Since then I met a fellow in S.F. that had his set of Del Cielo for sale, and he felt the same way. He hated the sound and used an expletive to discribe them. Obviously he knew I wasn't a potential buyer.

I am sorry to say negative things about any one or any drum. It may have just been the drums I heard and others are really good, I do not know. I am sorry for saying negative things, but believe it is something that needs to be said if there is a problem.

No doubt these drums are very beautiful, and that Sky put his heart into everyone of them, that in itself is something wonderful.