NEW VOLCANO CONGAS BY TOM ALEXANDER

[JohnnyConga]

Here are the New Congas 'hand made" by Tom Alexander in Hawaii....BEAUTIFUL!!!...

NEW VOLCANOS.jpg (8.86 KiB) Viewed 7507 times

got to Volcanopercussion.com to see more...

[ABAKUA]

Full size images here:

[Ernesto Pediangco]

Although I have only played JC's ( Johnny Conga's ) set of 4 Volcanos, I inspected every detail of contruction, evey benifit to the well designed hard wares & the crucial alignments of the entire tuning system & how they were mounted on the stave locations. Then I played every drum to experience all the open tones, slaps, bass tones & muff tones. I played them on the floor & up on hoop stands . I was delighted that the gorgeous wood shells were not overly heavy and that they sang out clearly and sounded as congas should sound. The heads were great & well matched as a set, not just token random applied heads like Asian companies throw on in assembly line fashion or even other custom builders w/ limited expertise in raw hide heads may put on drums due to limited sources and limeted mounted heads that need to be test mounted & played in order to evaluate the drums as a matched set. In all cases I found Volcano Congas exceeded my expectaions and I put them above other custom brands from both the U.S & Canada ! Volcanos are not copies of old designs that have flawed hard wares on pretty shells. Volcanos are designed as a whole to be superior to other models on the market. I love the bongos but have yet to play a set. My only concievable question regarding Volcanos is : When can I submit my specifications for a prototype " Ernesto Pediangco " designed Bongos & My own Timbale / Tambora / Tarola & Paila drum design as future Volcano product lines ! ? lol If a truely experience Drum repair person were to identify the drum designs that had flaws in design that were problematic and would construct a better drum, he would view Volcanos as the evolutionary up grade in custom congas,bongos & bata. I certainly see them in that light as well as totaly loving the musical qualities & balance of volume & tonal resonance. Its the total package ! They make other so called quality custom drums look like obsolete copies of old designs w/ same old problematic issues, not even up to par w/ import factory assembled designs. I love the Volcanos & wish them much success. I recomend them for being worth the investment & having long term value to musician / percussionist. I note the Strength to weight ratios of the shells are ideal for tonal resonance, the hard wares should never need replacement parts since the design & instalation are not flawed in any way & the Stainless Steel will never have chrome peeling or powder coats chipping off. There is no cheezy tinted gold color laquer. The heads are a drummer dream ! If you need any thing else from these drums at all, it is probably accomplished with a microphone as with any drum in a stage setting. But its worth while to hear these drums sing ! Volcanos are highly refined in quality & they elevate the standards of drum building in ways that others should learn from. As an advocate for improved Latin Drums & percussion, Volcano's are the ones to make a difference, Like Diamonds in the sand with common little sand grains.

[mrhands]

They look like jewels!! Absolutely beautiful drums. I hope to one day reach a level in my playing to justify getting drums like these. Fantastic!

[congamyk]

I like that rim design. And the wood has a fantastic look.

[onile]

I've got to say, Tom's work continues to improve with every drum he creates. Unfortunately for me, I'm so poor I can't pay attention, otherwise I'd be purchasing a set or twelve!

The wood he uses looks incredibly beautiful, and makes his drums look more like classic furniture than instruments to be played. And, if you play them, you'd better take care not to scuff, or scratch the finish, otherwise you'll be crying about it till the day you die!

Great Job Tom!

[Psyammy]

i got a Volcano mango wood conga from Tom on Dec 20th (thats the day it arrived to my door) and i have to say that it is the first time i have had a drum "call" me to play it, i can not express just how much i love my new drum, and the photos of his drums just do not do them justice, ya just have to see them up close and in person to really appreciate the work he has put in to them. and they really do sound as good as they look.

Psyammy

[seisporocho1]

Onile,

That's funny you mention Volcanoes as drums to nice to actually play cause I have a 14" Koa/Mango and every time I played it with my band (maybe 4 or 5 times), it would come home with a new scuff and I decided not to take it out of the house again!
Now it sits pretty in my living room almost like a beautiful piece of furniture.

6x8

[CongaTick]

Too beautiful (and expensive ) to take anywhere to play without worrying somebody or something would come too close.

[Hawaiian808]

Aloha volcano family!! Wanted to thank you for all the wonderful comments posted about my uncle tom's work. We are so proud of the art he created and can't remind you how much he truly admired the sound of music. We lost a true master drum maker yesterday and I hope you cherrish the work you have bought for ever. Aloha. I love uncle Tom!!

[onile]

Aloha Hawaiian808!
What devastating news (if I read it correctly), the great artisan Tom Alexander has made the journey home! What a sad event for his family and friends, and us admirers of his artfully beautiful craft. His drums ARE some of the most beautiful instruments out on the market today. May the Creator receive him and welcome him back home, and may he also embrace you and all of Tom's family during this difficult transition in your lives!

Respectfully,

Onile!

[Gallichio]

I am so sorry to hear of our loss. I loved Thomas like a brother. He was a true friend. He was so generous to me, he once surprised me on Christmas day 2008 and sent me a beautiful set of Koa Jack Costanzo bongos. He surprised me again on Christmas 2009 with a beautiful Koa Snare drum. I also know that Thomas was very generous to many others. I have purchased congas from him over the years and found them to be the finest built, most beautiful, and best sounding drums in the world. I will always cherish all of the beautiful / fantastic sounding drums he made for me. I will most cherish the fact that we became good friends and talked often over the phone for hours and hours. I am honored to have had him in my life. He really put his heart and spirit into his craft. Please continue to pray for him and his Family.

Rest in peace my dear friend.
Mike Gallichio

[Hawker]

I didn't know Tom but obviously we have lost a true craftsman and visionary. My condolences to his family and freinds.

[Jaisen Torres]

I just want to say im sorry to the family & close freinds of Tom , that im so sorry for your lost , i knew tom for some time now & have dealt with him in the past & he was a wonderfull person , my condolences go out to his family...

[bongosnotbombs]

Truly a very sad loss for Tom's family, Hawaii and percussionists across the world. Tom and Volcano were visionaries and innovators in the percussion trade, truly Volcanoes were like no other drum. Tom will be greatly missed, however his drums will continue to be enjoyed for generations, so his legacy lives on.