Up until I played on my Volcanos, the best sounding drum to me was made by "Pan con Queso" in Caracas...I got to visit him on a tour back in 1976 and got to play on his bongos(incredible one piece/no slats shells) and a conga drum he made and he used Caoba wood that he would get from Cuba every couple of years...EVERYONE that was ANYONE on the NY Salsa scene that ever went to Caracas bought his maracas/bongos/claves/and cowbells..his work has been copied over the years..he was a true Artisan.....Carlos E Landaeta(Pan con Queso)
Mr. Landaeta is in the white suit...a very very nice and kind man, who actually "tested' my drumming skills before he would commit to my needs....and that was to buy his claves a bell and maracas....