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This is a special order i made with Michel OUELLET from MOPERC, after a lot of questions and always really quick replies by Michel, he gave me all the informations i needed to choose the model i needed.
So this particular BONGO is a SALSA CLUB made of MAPLE (not Ash as the normal model), i asked for a really fit shape between the hembra and the macho and asked for a dark thick skin on the hembra, here is the result : fantastic.
Hardware is so strong built that i'm sure my descendants will play with this tambor.
According to me the major characteristic of this Bongo is the power of it's sound : The MACHO is dry and dynamic and the HEMBRA is so deep and melodic...
I can't compare this instrument with the one i played before without being abusive (sorry) : the "LP top of the line Galaxy Giovany series" is a complete crap in comparison.
Michel gave me a skin and also a macho skin ring as gifts.
I want to insist on the quality of Michel's work, sure he understood what i wanted and did it. Michel is also a really good person, each time i had a question (and i had a mountain of questions and doubts) he always has replied to me by email on the next or the same day...
See the attached pics

The bongocero from Adalberto Alvarez Y Su Son has the very same bongo in Maple. I got to play it several times while in Cuba, great sounding well built bongo.
Congratulations on your purchase.

Gracias ABAKUA,

I have been traveling with you reading your trip report to Cuba, thank's for that and all the pics (Que suerte has tenido ponerte "very close friend" de esta cantante llamada Jilly... ).

About these Bongo, i'm happy you got to play and enjoy its sound during your trip, i know Rolando 'El Niño Mentira" Salgado plays MOPERC, also Los MUNEQUITOS, it was Rolando playing with Adalberto Alvarez ?

I also bought 3 Tumbadoras MOPERC recently, i will send comments and pics on the accurate forum of Congaplace as soon as possible.

Planning a trip to Cuba, i will contact you by PM later during 2011 (If you agree of course).
There is a flight between Australia and the island where i live, maybe see you in Sydney one of these days.

Hey brother, Rolando is not playing with Adalberto, though he did source the bongo for him.
While on the topic of Rolando, I also played Rolando's congas when we went over and had lunch with him at his house, great sound.

Yeah, i had seen videos of Rolando's Moperc congas. When i ordered mine, i asked Michel "The same model Rolando Plays", Michel did it, can see some pics here

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=6282&start=30#p64923

Good choice Amigo. Here is mine from the 2000s. It is the same color but a little darker from aging.Made of ash.

caballoballo wrote:Good choice Amigo. Here is mine from the 2000s. It is the same color but a little darker from aging.Made of ash.

Thank's caballoballo. Your model is nice, i like the darker "yellow",

Did you paint the black hardware parts or Michel did it like that at the time ?

Regular MOPERC's SALSA CLUB bongos are made of Ash (The Custom Cubano are made of maple) ,I choosed Maple for my SALSA CLUB.

Michel Ouellet explained me the differences between MAPLE and ASH for Bongo Drums:

"- MAPLE is heavier than ASH,
- MAPLE has more projection than ASH,
- ASH produce a brighter sound,
- MAPLE sound is rounder than ASH,
- All these differences are really subtles."

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

Saludos Bongocero, Yes a friend sand blasted the hardware then added primer and painted them flat black sometimes during 2006. On those models from early 2000 Michel did not made the bottom hoops of stainless steel as he told me and I decided that to prevent any rusting was better to paint them. With that paint is a unique model.

I agree. Mo Perc is head & shoulders above Lp & other Asian made Bongos. The heads are of course the bigest reason but nothice Lp's pro bongos have very shap drum bearing edges that are hard on our hands & fingers and also contribute to early expiration of the skins. Lp is just a name. It waqs once a leader 30 or more years ago...but they lost the logical considerations long ago. Thier top of line items are all flash & no musical substance in my opinion. Drums at half the price, can serve a giging drummer better and the drummer can buy more toys !