congaplace.com

I just got it last night in a torrential rain, down in Homestead, 30 miles south of Miami. Vergara Cuban quinto 30" tall by 10" playing surface, BC (way before Castro). The hardware was made in Cuba by the late Alfredo Farach. Alfredo was a Cuban artisan that made excellent drum sets, timbales, lugs and hardware. He bought shells from Gonzalo Vergara and from Candido Requena. Alfredo died last year, he was 89 yrs. old.

The quinto needs regluing,as some staves are separated. I'm thinking Cali (JCR). Matt is the Picasso, when it comes to restoring, but he has a long waiting list with major projects. Cali will have it done in a month. It has an alma from Cuba.

Dario

That is a real beauty. I know it's not good for the drum, but I love the look of the staves separating through that white paint.

Congratulations, that is truly an unbelievable find. How did you find it? the shape is totally Vergara for sure. Do you know if all of the hardware is original? Can you take a picture from the inside?

Homestead?? close to the swamps of the everglades??

The Vergara quinto came out of the Everglades swamp! No, in reality it belonged to a friend who had it for years but never did anything to restore it. He finally told me to get it, so it bought it from him. It needs to be reglued, as its probably close to 60 years young. The hardware is all original, made by Farach in Havana, very sturdy and the chrome is in good shape. I think it will clean up nicely with fine steelwool and Noxon. I'm envisioning King Conga's Requena on my mind, but I don't have the patience to wait so long. I'm devating which way to go. Ritmo Clinic seems like the place.

Dario

Omelenko1 wrote:I'm envisioning King Conga's Requena on my mind, but I don't have the patience to wait so long. I'm devating which way to go. Ritmo Clinic seems like the place.Dario

I would say go with Matt. My Requena only took four months from date of shipping, well worth it as you know. When I talked to Matt. on the phone he told me that he believed that he could have it for me within two months, of course I knew better, being as busy as he usually is, and figured maybe seven, to my surprise I had it back in four months and was extremely impressed with the results, well worth the wait

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

Since I don't have the time, don't have the place anymore and the ecomony has hit me as well, I'm going to let this Vergara quinto go. Matthew Smith has agreed to restore it. This would be a real gem when Matt works on it, the staves are separated due to age, but there are no cracks. If interested email me.

Dario

drosen8@yahoo.com

Waw! It's vintage night here! Beauty indeed!

Beautiful drum Omelenko....looking forward to seeing the finished product.

I'm going to sell the quinto, since I don't have the time and the money right now to restore it. If any one on the forum is interested, send me an email. It will look similar to King Conga's quinto once is resotored. Whoever wants it, Matthew can do the work.

Dario

drosen8@yahoo.com

Another gem acquired by someone from this forum on its way to Matthew "BIG HOSS' Smith this week to be matthewsized.lol Way to go : L

chiringo wrote:Another gem acquired by someone from this forum on its way to Matthew "BIG HOSS' Smith this week to be matthewsized.lol Way to go : L

Viejo Mario,
que tarde llegue????? que pesar. Hope you enjoy that movie.
Slds
juancho

chiringo wrote:Another gem acquired by someone from this forum on its way to Matthew "BIG HOSS' Smith this week to be matthewsized.lol Way to go : L

Ok inquiring minds want to know, who was the lucky one? Man this is going to be a bigger gem than it is already indeed. Congratulations to whoever acquired it and best of luck...wait a minute, MANOS DE ORO, Matt Smith, has it? In that case no need for luck, IT WILL look beautiful. It will no doubt be a long wait but well worth it.

The lucky one is me
Now, if only King would sell me his IF he ever wants to part with it AND Abakua is nice enough to let me have the honor.
Your drum would be a prized addition to the set I'm putting together (and much needed as I can only find quintos of this vintage).
I can even work in a set of Kings to sweeten the deal.