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Since buying my JCR's, I am a now devoted fan of quality, handmade custom work....but am curious about these when they come out. I'm poor right now anyway....I stress only "curious"!

I wonder how they would sound with better skins on em. I know LP just cuts him a check to for his name, but I hope this bongo does his reputation justice....

Dandy was talking about how he was working on the design for these over in the BongoGroup message board,
so he has actually had input on these bongos. Dandy is a big Valje fan.

I saw and tried the Dandy's bongos at NAMM and they are great...He personallly played with them in a presentation his band, Latin Greats of Jazz, formerly TP's band at NAMM, and they sound great on him...(They had problems with the hardware but remember what is shown at NAMM are sometimes prototypes).. (Got to meet Dandy which is an honor....great guy)!

The same comment you say about Valje design was made by many people at NAMM. (Somebody told me that Armando Peraza took the new bongos and said that the bongos look, feel and sound like his original signature bongos)..

They are light and sound great...The same question you have I wonder...with great heads they could sound great...

Expect for them in late March..(I think)...

Saludos!

Dandy took pictures that I sent him of Mongo's Vergara and had LP desing the shells according to the photos. When it came to the crown, he chose the Valje design because as a teen he lived in LA and visited the Tom Flores shop frequently. Mongo's Vergara shells are 7" & 9" and Dandy chose the same sizes, as he likes the hembra to be big. On account of these, his signature bongos, he sold me his old Vergara's because from now on he has to use his signature bongos every time he performs. Dandy has been the tastiest bongocero since Yeyito, in my opinion.
Enclosed see Mongo's Vergara, compare the line designs on the shells with those that LP made for Dandy (clik on the photo for a larger image). Mongo's Vergara were the inpiration behind Dandy's. Next time anyone runs into him you can ask him.

Dario

It may be too early to tell, but is the LP Valje Bongo comparable in sound to these?

Mongo playing his Vergara's (now mine) in the early 60's. Victor Venegas on bass, Rogers Grant on piano. Painted Vergara congas also featured.

Dario

Omelenko1 wrote:Dandy took pictures that I sent him of Mongo's Vergara and had LP desing the shells according to the photos. When it came to the crown, he chose the Valje design because as a teen he lived in LA and visited the Tom Flores shop frequently. Mongo's Vergara shells are 7" & 9" and Dandy chose the same sizes, as he likes the hembra to be big. On account of these, his signature bongos, he sold me his old Vergara's because from now on he has to use his signature bongos every time he performs. Dandy has been the tastiest bongocero since Yeyito, in my opinion.
Enclosed see Mongo's Vergara, compare the line designs on the shells with those that LP made for Dandy (clik on the photo for a larger image). Mongo's Vergara were the inpiration behind Dandy's. Next time anyone runs into him you can ask him.

Dario

Bongo Vergara Mongo.jpg

Now it was about time for Dandy to get signature bongos, no doubt a premiere bongocero and a master percussionist. Can't go wrong with Dandy patterning his signature bongos from Mr. Mongo Santamaria's old Vergara bongos and now the pride possession of Mr. Dario. So basically Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo , Sr. Vergara and Tom Flores live on this signature bongos, that's what keeping with the tradition while moving forward is all about. I like that combination 7" macho with 9' hembra, I think Dandy's signature bongos are made out beech wood.

Random surfing also brought me to Toca's Rafael Padilla Bongos. I really do not know much about or follow Toca, but I will admit that these are easy on the eyes. On the other hand sound is obviously what matters most. The Dandy Bongos are considerably larger than these as well....less projection on these I'm assuming. Judging by Toca's prices, these appear to be mid-level...but I like the traditional look.

a little more of what Dandy has to say about his bongos, from The BongoGroup.

They are the same wood that the Valjies are made from....but stain in a beautiful color. After Cuban Vergara bongoes I always thought Valjie were the best sounding bongoes.
"John "Dandy" Rodriguez"

I also remember Dandy writing on the bongogroup that he requested that heads are close together for more comfortable traditional playing.
His bongo was to have fiberskyns on them right out of factory, because that's what he plays nowadays. By the looks of the picture, LP has not agreed to that and put the usual LP skins on them.

I am curious why these big companies are not interested in putting better skins on their instruments? It would be better for their sound... They can also rise up the price few $$ but mount better skins on SOME of their stuff! Many people can't remount heads for better sound. Just my opinion.

a little more of what Dandy has to say about his bongos, from The BongoGroup.

They are the same wood that the Valjies are made from....but stain in a beautiful color. After Cuban Vergara bongoes I always thought Valjie were the best sounding bongoes.
"John "Dandy" Rodriguez"


Dandy was always pro Valje because as a teen he lived in LA and spent many hours down in Tom Flores shop, when his dad relocated the family there. Dandy's dad, Johnny "La Vaca", was a famous bongocero. Here is Dandy with a Valje concert bongo from the 60's that I bought from him. Now this bad boy is sunning by my pool in Little Havana along with Mongo's Vergara