Cast or steel bottoms on your bongo's ????

[skinslapper]

I would like to know what you like .

For me it's steel bottoms only on my bongo's .
After I had a cast bottom break .

Cast bottoms are a no no for me .

But that dous not mean the are bad .

So please, your experience with cast bottoms ????

Ever broke one ?????

[RitmoBoricua]

I like the classic LP bongos from the 60's and 70's with cast iron bottoms but besides
that I prefer steel bottoms. Never had any problems with cast iron bottoms. Now I have
a couple of older LP bongos with steel bottoms where the wood shrunk and the bottoms
are a tad too big now.
.

[salcero1]

SS,
My very first bongo ever was a LP Garfield N.J. bongo with the cast bottoms but was not too pleased with the bulk factor of them. Every bongo I own as of the present have the more streamlined Cuban styled steel bottoms. The overall look is sleek which I prefer and is much more comfortable to play seated. Just my 2 cents. Peace brother.

Jorge.

[bongosnotbombs]

Either or, cast aluminum or steel, both are fine. It's not what I think about when I think of bongos.

[Omelenko1]

What makes this Zebra wood LP so sleek is the Cuban style LP steel bottoms. In the late 60's early 70's you had options of either Cuban style bottoms or cast iron bottoms with LP bongos. With cast iron bottoms it would not look as nice, it would look bulky.

Dario

[skinslapper]

It's much nicer indeed .

Verry nice bongo's by the way !!!!!

But anybody ever had a cast bottom broken ?
I just wonder if the are really weaker ,not if the look nice (the don't )

[bongosnotbombs]

Guys, the LP bongo bottoms are usually made of cast aluminum, not cast iron. Cast iron would be way too heavy.

[Thebreeze]

I remember commenting on Omelenko1's bongos in another post. Those bottom plates really make the Bongos look so nice. There are other pictures of the LP Bongos with zebra wood, but with the bulky cast aluminum bottom plates and they just do not do the Bongos justice. Of course this is only a " for looks " thing, but who wouldn't want their Bongos looking their best if possible. I don't think I have ever seen a nicer set of LP Zebra wood Bongos as nice as Omelenko1's.

[No.2-1820]

I'm a prima donna when it comes to my bongo's, I can't deal with the look of those cast aluminum bottom's. I found a great sounding set of old US made lp's and the first thing I did was replace them, didn't change the sound one bit but it made me happy !

[skinslapper]

But anybody ever break one ?????????????

I would like to know if there's more people whom had broken cast bottoms .

It's not about what looks best !!!!

[Mike]

I think I will never ever be able break the aluminium bottoms of my LP vintage bongos.
What happened to yours, I wonder
Must have been a severe accident.

Those Cuban-style bottoms on Dario´s LP zebras surely look very nice, but I am not so much a stickler with my equipment,
the bulk factor does not matter that much to me.

BTW, Skinslapper, you can get these decent steel bottoms at Resolution drums: http://resolutiondrums.com/accessories/bongo2.jpg

[p.a.dogs1]

What makes this Zebra wood LP so sleek is the Cuban style LP steel bottoms. In the late 60's early 70's you had options of either Cuban style bottoms or cast iron bottoms with LP bongos. With cast iron bottoms it would not look as nice, it would look bulky.

Yes, but you have to see the formal conjunction of crown and bottom. Both should look well-balanced regarding the tractive forces (corresponding to Vitruv´s demand of firmitas, utilitas and venustas). Such a steel bottom would possibly look rather flimsily when being combined with a comfort rim on the top.

Regarding the sleek look of the bongos: the zebra grain - vertical to the rims - supports the impression of balance between tractive and compressive forces optimally.

By the way: a cast bottom probably spreads the tractive forces better than a steel bottom.

p.a.dogs1

[skinslapper]

@Mike thanx thats a verry good tip !!
My bottom broke after a fall .
I've noticed that ther was a smooth place on the break on both sides so i guess there was an air bubble !

[Thebreeze]

Ralph at Resolution does great work. That bottom plate would look great on any bongos. I like the rivets he used on it. The only thing is that it would be best to send him the shells so that he gets a perfect fit on them for you.

[skinslapper]

Thanx ,but i forgot to mention mine broke 15 years ago .(and stil have a trauma obiviousely)