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I just love this version of "Errante y bohemio" (written by Arsenio?) by the band "Son con Cuero" from Nantes, France - in particular the bongosero Cyrille Maillard and his bongó!
I am curious to know what kind of bongó he is playing there. Can anybody help me identify the instrument (or rather the skins)? There is a close-up at around 1:40.

Thanks in advance!

I can only guess. The heads look like the old LP stamp, and they are oversized. Could be the LP Original 1964 reissue.

TA

The heads have the (worn) logo "TB" (Tambores Barranquilla).

The LP 1964 reissue has 6 3/4" and 8 1/4" heads, and is smaller than standard sizes -7" and 8 1/2", or 7 1/4" and 8 5/8"). It also has the socalled "Cuban bottom rings", instead of the usual cast model :

https://www.lpmusic.com/products/bongos/lp/original-bongos

I don't know the measurements of the Generation I (the genuine 1964 model), so my guess would be then either an old Generation II model (they used to use several wood species back in the days), or a stained Generation III model (these come only in hevea, rubberwood, pompously called "Siam oak", and the set in the video has a rather dark look).

Edit : I forgot to put the links to Generation II and III models :

https://www.lpmusic.com/products/bongos/lp/generation-ii-bongos
https://www.lpmusic.com/products/bongos/lp/generation-iii-bongos

Thank you Thomas and Chtimulato! The logo is definitely "Tambores Barranquilla"! I'd never heard of this brand before. Couldn't it be a TB bongó then?

It also looks like an oversized hembra to me (9" or so), but it's hard to tell from the video - the camera has a little fisheye effect, I think.

The Moperc congas (played by Tobie Koppe) also sound fantastic! And yes, "Errante y Bohemio" is from Arsenio Rodríguez, according to the video description.

Btw Chtimulato, since you seem to have many good connections, and they are "compatriotes à toi": do you happen to know any of the musicians?

Tambores Barranquilla is a Colombian brand.
There were some posts about this brand here, make a research.

[...] do you happen to know any of the musicians?

No, I don't know them. I live rather far away from Nantes (about 700 km) and know very few people there. Though my family-in-law lives not so far away from Nantes. And an uncle of mine too. I'll make a little research, I think I have somewhere a CD of a percussion band recorded in this town. (But where is it ? )

BTW, they happen to have a website :

http://www.sonconcuero.com/

and a Facebook page :

https://www.facebook.com/sonconcuero/

From what I've seen, the bongó could be Tambores Barranquilla. But the guy could have several sets. On some videos, they seem too be light couloured with grooves on the middle of the shell, and in the one you posted, they seem to be darker. Either it comes from the light, or the man has several sets, which is obviously possible.

Hey Everyone! Hope you guys are healthy along with your loved ones. I see the TB logo on the skins. They are good skins. Ive seen their Bongos before, not sure those in the video are TB Bongos. My guess? LP Generation 3? Just because the Hembra looks slightly rounder than a 8 1/2” or 8 5/8” Hembra.

BTW, the group sounds tight! Love that arrangement.

Juaort

Thank you Juaort and again, Chtimulato! I appreciate your master drum-forensics skills. You guys are the CSI of bongós!

I found some posts about Tambores Barranquilla on the forum. They seem to have a good reputation for both skins and drums. I guess they are a small manufacturing company (or at least not huge mass production like LP and the like). Despite of that, their drums are not too expensive, apparently. It's the shipping that adds a lot to the price, according to the old posts.

Do you guys know any distributors for TB in Europe? I'm just curious, though - not planning to buy any more drums for the moment!

The only contact I know for them is their Facebook page (yes, Facebook, again ):

https://www.facebook.com/TamboresBarranquilla/

Here's the page presentation :

Tambores Barranquilla es una empresa familiar que nacio gracias a la inteligencia y creatividad del ya fallecido maestro ISMAEL ANTONIO CERVANTES CUESTA.

Yes, it's a small company. I couldn't find a website, so I guess they don't have one.

Typing "Tambores Barranquilla" in a browser, I found several 2-hand offers, on eBay or Mercado Libre. And this :

https://www.informacolombia.com/directorio-empresas/informacion-empresa/tambores-barranquilla-importaciones-exportaciones-sas


They should be hard to find in Europe IMHO. Unless you know someone living in or traveling to Colombia...

If you browse regurlarly and patiently these sites, maybe some could come up one day :
https://www.leboncoin.fr/recherche?text=bongos (on this one, a guy had once several HR bongo sets - another appreciated Colombian brand - for sale)

https://www.gumtree.com/percussion-drums - this one is in the UK, so there will be consistant shipping costs...

Good luck !

Merci beaucoup! I'd love to travel to Barranquilla some day, so who knows? Maybe I'll pay them a visit.

I couldn't resist the temptation and looked into Chtimulato's suggested link, and I found this guy selling an HR "El Piernas" bongó, "completely new".

In case someone is interested:
https://www.leboncoin.fr/instruments_de ... =206978287

I couldn't resist the temptation and looked into Chtimulato's suggested link, and I found this guy selling an HR "El Piernas" bongó, "completely new".

In case someone is interested:
https://www.leboncoin.fr/instruments_de ... =206978287

Yes, I know this ad. The seller had several HR bongó sets for sale for a while. He also sells skins and other stuff. The price is correct, and shipping is possible (which is not always the case).
I had a phone conversation with a friend today about it, amongst other subjects.
My friend bought him some skins, and told me the seller's mother seems to travel regularly to Colombia and to bring back some stuff.

If someone is willing to buy some HR bongó, you need to know they're said to be very good, but also VERY HEAVY. It's better to play them on a stand, if you also play other percussion instruments on a gig or in studio IMHO. If you only play bongó and campana, I'm not sure you can hold out a whole gig with them. Unless you're a market porter or a fairground wrestler.

There’s a person on eBay that’s selling new from Columbia HR Bongos. Chtimulato is 100% correct. The HR Bongos are amazing high quality Bongos, but they are built like Sherman Tanks. I have a set and I love it, but you better have the legs of a Silver Back Gorilla to hold them up for long periods of time. One set and you’re done. Lol. But the sound, look and quality is superb.

That’s my set!

Chtimulato wrote: I'm not sure you can hold out a whole gig with them. Unless you're a market porter or a fairground wrestler.

Juaort wrote:... but you better have the legs of a Silver Back Gorilla to hold them up for long periods of time.

Now I understand why his nickname is "El Piernas"!

@Juaort: that set looks awesome!!

Thank you Sir! It sounds just as good as it looks.