I've tried every Bongo on the market over many years,
and have just returned from the NAMM instrument show
in Anaheim, CA. I'm a Rep. for JCR Percussion Co.,
which makes handmade bongos, bells, timbales, mule
skins and more since the 70s. So, having said that,
you know where my bias lies. I prefer handcrafted vs.
machine made. The larger companies have tended to make
some short cuts to be more profitable. The drums of
late
are looking more polished and slick, yet soundwise
are worse because of poor heads. However the skins
they come with, which is really half of what produces
your sound, leave something to be desired.
For the two you asked about I would have to say that
the Mountain Rhythms's is the better choice over the
Pearls.
1.~ its very good wood, the traditional material for
bongos. Fiberglass is definitely louder if you need
the volume, but it has a tinny overtone that doesn't
sound
as pleasing and lacks the warmth and subtlety of
wood.
2. ~ the skins on the Mountain Rhythm are cow,
not the cheap and overly thin water buffalo heads used
by LP, Toca, Meinl, and also Pearl (made in Taiwan).
The Mountain Rhythm Co. is Canadian, where nice
wood is plentiful. Overall it's a good buy.
As to yor question on the 9" version Hembra.
Its going to sound really "ringy" unless you replace
that big head with something thicker to mellow out the
sound. With the right head you can take advantage of
the 9", otherwise you're opening up a whole new sound
problem.

I hope this helps you get those bongos and start
playing soon. ps. I don't work for Mountain Rhythms,
but was impressed with their products which I had
previously underestimated.

~ ISAAC ~
percussionist / Rep. for JCR Percussion Co.
funkytradition@...


--- passn_thru2 <passn_thru2@...> wrote:

>
>
> they look different in the pictures...
>
> but they never say what they are made of or why they
> are "Elete".
>
> i am purchasing a set of Bongos, i have limited my
> selection to
> companies that do not also make weaponds of war,
> which limits my
> selection to Mountian Rythem and Pearl..and not a
> bad choice at
> that.
>
> i have decided to get either the 'Mountian Rythem
> Havana' or the
> Pearl 'Elete' series fiberglass Bongos. The only
> hang up is a
> question about the Pearl heads.. what are they ??
>
> and does anyone think 9" is worth the extra $35
> ..for that 1/2 inch
> on the Diameter...??
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>




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