I use carbon osmosis to achieve our amber color. The process is absolutely non-toxic and sustainable. It highlights the careful processing and unique grain of each piece of rawhide. This is Middle Eastern Steer, and very handsome.

This set of solid shell congas is on the way to our friend Phil Kullmann in Germany. All the wood was sustainably harvested in Athens, GA. Ryan stated, “I have spent a little time with them and they really sing together incredibly well. While all of my drums are unique individual instruments, I believe the chestnut wood tumba is and will remain the only one of its kind in the world. American Chestnut trees are all but gone in their natural habitat due to a fungal blight that destroyed nearly all of them in the first half of the twentieth century. The tree was threatening a school and it was decided that it had to be cut. The tone of this wood is off the charts beautiful and will continue to develop over time.”

13-7/8″ spalted maple super tumba
12-5/16″ chestnut tumba
11-5/16″ black ash conga
10-3/4′ spalted elm quinto
9-7/8″ spalted sycamore requinto

Height: 30″
Skins: Middle Eastern Steer
Hardware: 304 stainless steel half round Moderna crown, heavy duty 3/8″ tuning lugs

Here’s a before and after picture of some spalted poplar congas in progress. Logs are first inoculated with different fungi and allowed to gain their colors as the fungus spreads. Logs are then rough cut and hollowed into this basic shape before being allowed to dry naturally. When they reach the correct moisture content, they are kiln dried to ensure that they remain stable for the life of the drum. Once kiln dried, the shells are then put on the lathe to be finish turned. They get a high quality clear coat applied before having the internal geometry crafted to create beautiful tones.

This PreMounted™ Fat Cat™ Matched Set is artfully processed and crafted with close attention to detail. This ensures the tone, color, finish and feel are as closely matched as possible. These skins like all of our skins are the highest quality as a result of our relationships with suppliers. They know exactly what we’re looking for- the best. When skins arrive, I carefully inspect and measure the thickness with a long reach outside digital caliper. I send this same tool to each of our suppliers so we’re all on the same page. Inspecting the skins carefully and thoroughly ensures our customers know they are getting the very best skins. Available now. Check out this video demo.

Skin Type: Fat Cat™ Nili Ravi Buffalo (Middle East)

Skin Color: amber

Crown Type: LP Extended Collar (Z)

11” Quinto Skin Thickness: 2mm

11.75″ Conga Skin Thickness: 2.2mm

12.5″ Tumba Skin Thickness: 2.3mm

Sound: crisp slaps, controlled overtones, warm and classic

Feel: medium action, smooth playing surface

Ryan will use these two pieces of spalted maple for center blocks in future bongo builds. He takes sustainability seriously, and makes the most of each log.

These solid shell walnut bongos were made with wood sourced from Athens, GA.  They feature our handmade stainless steel hardware and horse and steer skins.

Wood: walnut from Athens, GA

Height: 6-3/8″

Width: 6-3/4″ macho, 8-3/4″ hembra

Bridge: walnut with gold fleck and magnesite inlay

Skins: 1mm chocolate horse on macho, 1.6mm chocolate steer on hembra

Hardware: 304 stainless steel, half round Moderna crown

Weight: 12.5 lbs

These walnut/cherry bongos were made with wood sourced from Athens, GA.  They feature our handmade stainless steel hardware and horse and steer skins.

Wood: walnut and cherry sourced from Athens, GA

Height: 6-3/8″

Width: 5-1/2″ cherry macho, 7-1/2″ walnut hembra

Bridge: purpleheart with maple burl inlay

Skins: .9mm chocolate horse on macho, 1.3mm amber steer on hembra

Hardware: 304 stainless steel, half round Moderna crown

Weight: 10 lbs

We received a shipment of top quality Middle Eastern Steer this week! It’s available as flat skins to mount or PreMounted heads. Thickness ranges from 1.6mm to 3mm for any application. The sound is warm and classic with crisp slaps, round open tones, rich bass and controlled overtones. It has medium action, smooth and supple playing surface and is ideal for live and studio. It is our shop favorite and what we mount on all of our solid shell congas.

It’s here!!! I’m so excited to share the newest baddest tool in the shop!⁠ Many, many thanks to the guys at theokspindoctor.com for this incredible Clark Steady Rest. With 5 wheels for unbeatable support, I’ll be able to make bigger bata, djembes and other drums I’ve been wanting to build. If you’re into wood turning, you’ve got to check out Dr Clark’s online shop. Their ingenuity, attention to detail, and customer service are second to none!

I recently sent PreMounted heads to our friend David Romero. He sent back photos from The Latin American Music Awards. BROADCAST LIVE ON TELEMUNDO AND PEACOCK TODAY, THURSDAY, APRIL 21 AT 7PM/6C