Cuban Conga Drum Identity?

[Mr.Rumba]

Mr. Breeze,
No problemo... and thank you for your apology. Much appreciated. Hopefully we are all here in the positive spirit of the drum, learning and sharing.. and I hope to continue to do so. I appreciate everyones help and comments when I ask questions, this is a great place for answers.

[Omelenko1]

Consulting with an expert friend of mine, he states that the drum is an early Matthew Smith. Probably from late 80's early 90's. This is a time period where Matt was experimenting with different hardware styles and it was early in his craft. It could very well be it.

[Joseph]

I don't think that shell is constructed of oak.
Google some images of quarter & flat sawn oak.
The grain pattern, while figured and colored (stained?) somewhat like oak, does not resemble oak.

In addition, in the 2nd picture (profile pic without handle visible), you can see 2 repairs.
Both of these repairs are not cracks at the glue joint, but rather splits (or checks) in the staves.
Oak is a dense wood, and somewhat prone to checking from the end grain (splitting from the end of the board), but would it be very rare for it to check over the entire length of a stave as is evident in that repair.

Here's an Oak Gon Bops Project recently on Ebay (auction is ended, so you'll have to scroll down the page to see item images).
Plenty of cracks at the gluelines. Couple of checks from the bottom endgrain, but none for full length of staves.

Compare the attributes of the grain patterns between the two shells, they are not the same.

Still a nice looking shell with interesting hardware.
Just don't think it is Oak.

JMHO

[RitmoBoricua]

I agree with Dario and Joseph assesments. Really looks like a "Timbas Ismael" conga drums
made out of a wood native to the caribbean, central and south america called "capa".
Check-out the chest at the botton of the page of the following link, it really resembles
the wood grain on that vintage conga drum.

http://edicionesdigitales.info/maderasp ... rieto.html

[Mr.Rumba]

How much $ and how long do full restoration projects take? This drum looks like it needs work. I know Tony Sterns does full restorations.
I am not thinking to buy the drum just curious and would like to hear from people that have undergone the process. The wood looks beautiful and I think someone will get a nice drum on this auction.

[pcastag]

When Matt restored my sonocs it cost about 250 a drum ( maybe a bit more). He is the master though and those babies are beautiful and will last a longggggg time. Jay did some gon bops work for me a while back that was about 100 I think to put an alma in and put the drum back in round.
PC

[RitmoBoricua]

You know Mr. Rumba the sky is the limit if someone choose to go real fancy with it.
We have seen what a good artisan can do on these vintage drums. There is member
here that had a vintage Requena quinto if I am not mistaken redone by Matthew
Smith as we know that drum has been in diplay at a museum for a number of years
now. This option could be pricy
Also, it could be a very nice do it yourself project, you got to take your time
with the project and restore it yourself which is probably the most cost efficient
route.

[Omelenko1]

I agree with pcastag, Matt is the ultimate repairer for a drum like this. He has done repair work for me and he is the man. The more I look at this drum up close, looking at the wood and hardware, it looks like an early Matt Smith. Must be when Matt was starting out. This drum will look pristine if he restores it. Your looking at time and money.

[RitmoBoricua]

I think thosre are early Timbas Ismael check out what Martin Quinones is
playing almost look like that drum on ebay.

[RitmoBoricua]

Looks like the bidding wars are picking-up with only
hours remaining until the end of the auction.

[pcastag]

It's on!, I'm out.

[RitmoBoricua]

I am not bidding on it but keeping an eye on it
to see how much it goes for. Won't be long now
before the market let us know their price for
the drum.

[pcastag]

my guess is 350-400. OF course if it is an early timbas ismael there may be some boricua who has a lot of money and wants it more for the historical value. Hard to tell from the picture you posted but the layout of the bands looks correct! Would've been nice to pick that up for 250 or so.
PC

[RitmoBoricua]

To me they look like an early "Timbas Ismael" probably late 50's or
early 60's and the drum almost look indentical to the one on the
picture. I tried to zoom-in to take a look at the side plates but to
no avail, the picture quality/resolution is very poor.

I thought about bidding since I would like to undertake a drum repair,
restoration or renovation project for the spring. I know it will not be
this drum for sure, drums project can become money pits real quick
if you are not paying attention.

[bongosnotbombs]

This is what an Ismael looks like.