Hector R Bongos - Pics Inside
31 posts
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by Ivan » Thu Jan 26, 2006 3:52 am
Hey All,
I just scored on some classic Hector Rocha Bongos; I am going to begin bringing these back to life... One of the lugs is stripped other than that check out the pics and please leave some suggestions like sand paper grade, type of finish one would use to bring the wood back to life etc... I plan on using steel wool to bring the chrome back to life...
BTW, I got these for an even trade of some old Matador Bongos I had and never used... I am greatful my friend traded for such a good deal... i know these are rare and in my opinion beautiful....
Hmmmm.... ???
Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ngos_1.jpg
I just scored on some classic Hector Rocha Bongos; I am going to begin bringing these back to life... One of the lugs is stripped other than that check out the pics and please leave some suggestions like sand paper grade, type of finish one would use to bring the wood back to life etc... I plan on using steel wool to bring the chrome back to life...
BTW, I got these for an even trade of some old Matador Bongos I had and never used... I am greatful my friend traded for such a good deal... i know these are rare and in my opinion beautiful....
Hmmmm.... ???
Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ngos_1.jpg
Ilu Ache,
Ivan
Ivan
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Ivan - Posts: 244
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by Ivan » Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:01 am
I recall some older Gon Bops used this method of installing a loop in the shell... I remember them being on the inside of the shell... Does anyone recall this method??
Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ngos_4.jpg
Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ngos_4.jpg
Ilu Ache,
Ivan
Ivan
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Ivan - Posts: 244
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by Ivan » Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:08 am
"El Piernas" made in Columbia by hector rocha...
Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ngos_3.jpg
Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ngos_3.jpg
Ilu Ache,
Ivan
Ivan
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Ivan - Posts: 244
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by ABAKUA » Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:57 am
Nice find.
I would not use steel wool on the hardware though!
2 suggestions on my part in order to achieve the best possible finish...
a) Take the hardware to someone who can professionally polish them up to mirror finish. It wont be expensive at all.
b) Once you have used wet finish sandpaper (for metal) and taken them back to a smooth finish, take the harware bits to get chrome dipped. Again, it wont be expensive, the parts are small.
For the wood, use some dry sandpaper which is course enough to remove the gloss on the wood.
Once done, use some 180 grade dry sandpaper or finer to smoothen out all the wood.
Once done, use some wood stainer or gloss finish protector to bring them up to "as new" look.
Below is a pic of what I use on my guiros and chekeres, gives it a touch of darkness (very minor) and provides a great shine and protective coat.
Apply thin coat with paintbrush, covering all areas evenly, leave out to dry for a few days to make sure layer has absorbed well into the wood, once done, apply a second coat, again will take a few days to dry properly.
We have been having some incredible heat here over the last few weeks, and on my gourd guiro, it took 7 days before the layer was truly dry and hardened. Time delay will vary on your climate...
Finish is superb though. Like anything.. perfection takes time my friend.
All the best and good luck with the project... which reminds me.. I better get my ass into gear and restore that smahsed about ancient LP 'Original' fibregalss quinto I have in the backroom. (28" height, 11" head... pics to come!)
Edited By ABAKUA on 1138251593
Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -CLEAR.JPG
I would not use steel wool on the hardware though!
2 suggestions on my part in order to achieve the best possible finish...
a) Take the hardware to someone who can professionally polish them up to mirror finish. It wont be expensive at all.
b) Once you have used wet finish sandpaper (for metal) and taken them back to a smooth finish, take the harware bits to get chrome dipped. Again, it wont be expensive, the parts are small.
For the wood, use some dry sandpaper which is course enough to remove the gloss on the wood.
Once done, use some 180 grade dry sandpaper or finer to smoothen out all the wood.
Once done, use some wood stainer or gloss finish protector to bring them up to "as new" look.
Below is a pic of what I use on my guiros and chekeres, gives it a touch of darkness (very minor) and provides a great shine and protective coat.
Apply thin coat with paintbrush, covering all areas evenly, leave out to dry for a few days to make sure layer has absorbed well into the wood, once done, apply a second coat, again will take a few days to dry properly.
We have been having some incredible heat here over the last few weeks, and on my gourd guiro, it took 7 days before the layer was truly dry and hardened. Time delay will vary on your climate...
Finish is superb though. Like anything.. perfection takes time my friend.
All the best and good luck with the project... which reminds me.. I better get my ass into gear and restore that smahsed about ancient LP 'Original' fibregalss quinto I have in the backroom. (28" height, 11" head... pics to come!)
Edited By ABAKUA on 1138251593
Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -CLEAR.JPG
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ABAKUA - Site Admin
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by pidoca » Thu Jan 26, 2006 8:54 am
Gday, I have a friend who is a french polisher, his suggestion was not to go to fine on the sand paper orther wise the lacker/oil or polish that you apply won't be absorded by the wood. you have to leave the pores of the wood open.
Hope that helps.
Pidoca
Hope that helps.
Pidoca
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by ralph » Thu Jan 26, 2006 2:14 pm
score you did!
Thats a very rare item there (where'd you get them from by the way?), not many people have a piece of work from El Piernas...i personally have never heard them but many people liken them to other mythical bongos such as the "Pan Con Queso" joints out of Venezuela...that are even rarer...what you may want do also is get in touch with one Matthew Smith, he recently made me a conga and does alot of restoration on bata, congas, and bongo, his input would be invaluable and also if you even come to the point that you want him to do the work i'm sure he'll do it for you no prob...although i am assuming you are going to do this dolo....
Ralph, if you like send me a private message i'll get you Matthews number#...
Thats a very rare item there (where'd you get them from by the way?), not many people have a piece of work from El Piernas...i personally have never heard them but many people liken them to other mythical bongos such as the "Pan Con Queso" joints out of Venezuela...that are even rarer...what you may want do also is get in touch with one Matthew Smith, he recently made me a conga and does alot of restoration on bata, congas, and bongo, his input would be invaluable and also if you even come to the point that you want him to do the work i'm sure he'll do it for you no prob...although i am assuming you are going to do this dolo....
Ralph, if you like send me a private message i'll get you Matthews number#...
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ralph - Posts: 434
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by Ivan » Thu Jan 26, 2006 3:15 pm
Thanks for your suggestions Pidoca, Abakua and Ralph... I'ma run wit'it! 
Ralph, to answer your question about where I got the bongos... My friend I do folkloric gigs with moved here from Columbia about 2 years ago... He had the bongos sitting in the back of his car... He's one of those guys that can play a little of everything... He didn't play these bongos cause one of the lugs was stripped and he couldn't get the tention one needs to play these bad boys... So I offered to trade some Matador I had; they were actually my first set of bongos: blonde wood, gold finish.... Typico...
He jumped on that in a heart beat and you know what??? So did I!!! :;):
They are straigh from Columbia, Cali Columbia to be exact... When I took them a part I feel some sand fall out from inside the tuck of the crown... I can't wait to take the suggestions I've received so far and bring these bad boys to life...
Ache!
Ivan
Ralph, to answer your question about where I got the bongos... My friend I do folkloric gigs with moved here from Columbia about 2 years ago... He had the bongos sitting in the back of his car... He's one of those guys that can play a little of everything... He didn't play these bongos cause one of the lugs was stripped and he couldn't get the tention one needs to play these bad boys... So I offered to trade some Matador I had; they were actually my first set of bongos: blonde wood, gold finish.... Typico...
He jumped on that in a heart beat and you know what??? So did I!!! :;):
They are straigh from Columbia, Cali Columbia to be exact... When I took them a part I feel some sand fall out from inside the tuck of the crown... I can't wait to take the suggestions I've received so far and bring these bad boys to life...
Ache!
Ivan
Ilu Ache,
Ivan
Ivan
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Ivan - Posts: 244
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by Diceman » Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:48 am
I have a pair of HR bongos, a good friend brought back from Colombia, They are awesome and have fantastc projection and once I got over the weight, dont use anything else. They look the same to yours but have welded metal lugs on the base rather than cast, but otherwise the same.
Go for it mate, you wont want to put them down, and show us some pics when they are done.
suave
Diceman
Go for it mate, you wont want to put them down, and show us some pics when they are done.
suave
Diceman
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by Diceman » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:24 pm
Onile bro,
I guess they are as heavy as glass fibre, due to the size of the hembra, the thickness of the shell and the extra metalwork, but having not had any experience of playing gf bongos, I couldnt be sure.
What I can tell you is that my previous bongos where Matadors and since getting the Hectors they havent seen the light of day. The hembra sound, is beautiful and the macho kicks ass, they are magic!!
Diceman
I guess they are as heavy as glass fibre, due to the size of the hembra, the thickness of the shell and the extra metalwork, but having not had any experience of playing gf bongos, I couldnt be sure.
What I can tell you is that my previous bongos where Matadors and since getting the Hectors they havent seen the light of day. The hembra sound, is beautiful and the macho kicks ass, they are magic!!
Diceman
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Diceman - Posts: 495
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by Raymond » Wed Feb 01, 2006 1:49 pm
Be careful with the hardware of HR or El Piernas bongos. I have in my possession one from a friend that bought it in Colombia. The bongo sounds great but the hardware was not good quality and started bending big time....I have it here in Puerto Rico to have it sent either to JCR in New York and/or somebody here in PR to get good hardware on them....Beware!
Saludos!
Saludos!
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by ralph » Wed Feb 01, 2006 2:24 pm
Raymond wrote:Be careful with the hardware of HR or El Piernas bongos. I have in my possession one from a friend that bought it in Colombia. The bongo sounds great but the hardware was not good quality and started bending big time....I have it here in Puerto Rico to have it sent either to JCR in New York and/or somebody here in PR to get good hardware on them....Beware!
Saludos!
i wouldn't be surprised that the hardware is shabby...JCR is a good choice, as he'll put some heavy duty hardware, you can also contact Matthew Smith in PA (Ritmo Drums), i just got a drum from him and it has some HEAVY hardware...
Ralph D....
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