congaplace.com

Hi All.

I'm a new member and I love this forum.

I'm looking to upgrade soon to a handmade set with stainless hardware i.e. Isla, Volcano or Ritmo.

For value meets quality, it seems like Islas are the favorite but...

Does anyone have experience with PM Percussion or Motherland Drums?

PM: http://www.pmpercussion.com/

Motherland: http://www.motherlandmusic.com

Haven't seen any videos of PM. They look beautiful and the craftsman certainly has skills!
There's quite a few vids for Motherland on Youtube and they sound nice and are very well priced for single shell congas, just wondering about hardware quality.

Any input is helpful as I'm looking to buy this summer. Thanks...

One World _ One Music
Peace...

The Motherlands are nice drums. I have played the Ghana congas and they have a nice tone. The hardware package on the drums was beautiful. It has blind fasteners, meaning no screws/bolts showing on a teardrop pattern. I have never played PM but would love to own a set from what see on his site.
For what it's worth, hope this helps.
Peace,
KK

Thanks KK.
Good to hear that Motherlands are nice. I have a single shell Cuban Quinto that would go well as a set w a Seg and a Tumba.
Do you know if the hardware is stainless? I live in super salty air and standard hardware just degrades in front of your eyes down here.

Got an email from Peter from PM Drums. The prices are comparable to (slightly less than) Volcanos, all handmade stainless hardware and he gives tons of different head sizes if you want bigger tone or tighter tone. Apparently drums can be made to totally custom specs! Pretty cool. I'd love a set w/ a small diam snappy requinto thru to a thunderous fatty tumba!

Says he's making a video w a Cuban Conguero to demonstrate his sounds. Can't wait to hear them! If the tone matches the craftsmanship and beauty, well...

Notified him about this site so maybe he'll post some stuff on here about his tubs.

I spoke with Peter some time ago. I think I would lean toward his drums if I had the opportunity. Motherland are nice drums and would stand up to the elements but I think from drum to drum the consistency would be tighter with PM. Gon Bops California Series are great congas as well. There are a lot of choices these days, thats a good thing. Again I would love to have a set of PM. Just my two cents.
Peace,
KK

I also spoke with Peter some time back. I was considering ordering a requinto from him. I have no doubt that he makes a quality instrument non the less his drums are in the same price range as an S.O.S. I would take a set of SOS before I would invest on PM's. SOS have some of the best reputation arround, one that continues to this day, quality all arround, you will, if you havent already, come across much information about SOS in this forum. If you are a little tight on money but would still like to invest in in a good drum I would go with Islas. Yes there has recently been some comunication issues with Mario as well as some shipping issues but I trully believe that those issues are being worked on by Mario being that he is still familiarizing himself with the way off doing buissness in a foreign country. I will be the first to admit, Marios drums are not built like SOS or Matts non the less they are solid, GREAT sounding drums which for the money can't be beat. Currently there is a set of three on ebay wich are being offered for a reasonable price.
Please keep us Conga Junkies informed and let us know what you decide.
Good luck.

Man, I've really got to get up there and check out those PM drums, it's only 45 minutes away.

BNB,
I used to live in the Bay Area and I would love to go play those bad boys, but now I'm 5000 miles away! His site lists several shops where he sells. If you do get a chance, let us know what the feel and sound is Bro! I bet if you stare at those beauties long enough, you'll make the drive- lol. They truly are visually stunning. I played a pepperwood solid shell ashiko YEARS ago in Portland that had awesome tone. We'll see...

KC,
I'm definitely looking at Ritmos and SOS as well as Volcanos and Islas. The shipping issues with the Islas may be simpler for me because I'm in the Caribbean region so no US customs and whatnot; plus they do sound NICE and have a great price. One thing I'm wondering is if the Mahogany will stay truer over the years than Northern woods because I'm in a very similar region, heat and humidity wise. Any idea?

KK,
I agree with the consistency issue w the MLs. They are nice looking though. The sound is a bit loose and large for what I want, from the vids (could be the mic'ing too). I love the tight, woodsy tones of the Islas for instance, and the round melodic tone of the Volcanos is nice too. Played some VPs a while back, in Hawaii and they are gorgeous and alive! Gon Bops- I'm playing GB now as my gigging drums- Love Them, but the hardware just dies in our salt air, man. I need stainless, definitely!

I'm gathering info, saving $ and want to get a 3-4 tub set by busy season here, Novemberish and this forum is endlessly helpful in so many ways.
Peter said he'll send a video or post it on his site or maybe we'll hear from our man, BongosNotBombs with a sudden trip to Petaluma!

Here's the retail shops- a couple in The City!

PMPerussion drums are sold in music stores at:
Drummers' Tradition, San Rafael, CA; Sonoma Valley Music, Sonoma, CA; Tall Toad Music, Petaluma, CA; Zone Music, Cotati, CA; People's Music, Sebastopol, CA;
Haight Ashbury Music Center, San Francisco, CA; and CA Percussion, San Francsco, CA.

Thanks A LOT Bros...

CaymanCongas wrote:Haight Ashbury Music Center, San Francisco, CA; and CA Percussion, San Francsco, CA.

I've been to both of these stores several times, and visit them frequently, they don't currently have any of his drums. I think his website might need some updating.

Oh well. We shall see... and hear...