by Isaac Gutwilik
Tradicion Percussion Sales
Authorized Rep. JCR Percussion

Once in a while a rare percussion treasure can be found on ebay. A lot of sellers use the word "vintage" to attract sales to their item. This does not necessarily mean that much.  If it's Vintage it should have an old label shown, or some of the identifiable unique hardware designs. Some of the older pieces may have cracks and are bad need of new heads. Consider the real costs of these repairs. Be sure to ask a few questions. If you're handy, that's a big plus. A good repair project can be very rewarding and even therapeutic for some individuals with the proper tools and workspace. Be wary of sellers with no feedback or a few negative feedbacks.  Sometimes good older percussion items end up being sold by people who know very little about what they're selling. (They often incorrectly refer to them as Congos or large African Bongos) For bongos, does the hardware still fit? replacement lugs are easy to obtain to replace rusty old ones. Head diameters are incorrectly measured, for example, and the age & type of wood may be unknown. Be sure to ask about cracks. If the crack is on a seam line, it can be repaired with the proper glues and clamps.  For steel bands, welding may be required. There may also be a need for an internal steel alma ring to reinforce and put a drum back in "round" if it's been warped. Cracks in other areas can be dealt with but the sound of the drum may never be the same.  In any case, always ask the questions beforehand.

If a piece has no cracks, investing in a new set of skins like calf, steer or the best - top of the line imported mule skins will elevate any drum' sound.
Some humid climates or working situations may call for a synthetic head...which isn't a vintage sound but very practical on the road.  Many pros have
more than one set just for different performance styles or performance spaces, or recording.  The skin is a major part of your instrument's sound and old skins usually will sound lifeless.  Rest assured, the mules are not killed for skinning, but culled from the old retired work animals which are abundantly used in traditional mountain farming regions. They are available on a very limited basis only twice a year. . . . Thicker skins also enhance fiberglass congas, eliminating some of the ringing tones. The newer stock asian water buffalo skins on todays mass produced congas & bongos may be OK for beginners, but are not the way to go for a true vintage sound. The sounds they produce are not the authentic ones, and will not do justice to a wood handcrafted instrument.   For an authentic sound experience, new players should listen to some old school players like Mongo Santamaria to hear what I'm talking about! Vintage isn't just a matter of looks or style -it's also a quality of sound that's hard to find new in a stores or online today. Finally, in the heat of last minute bidding frenzy, stay cool and consider the real final costs. It can cost more for a fixer-upper than a new instrument handmade by one of the few dedicated makers still in business. Their skills are rare and they've only gotten better over the years. I wish you luck if your an aspiring player or an experienced collector.

For vintage bells, similar questions should be asked - any cracks, rust, does the mounting bracket still work?  For timbales -
are they still in round? are the lugs lubricated or stripped? Are there undamaged skins? is there a stand?  A new stand can cost 1/2 the price of an entirely new set.

~ ISAAC GUTWILIK ~ (ebay id: tradicion-percussion) is a Percussionist in the New York area, runs TRADICION PERCUSSION SALES/ Auth. Rep. for JCR Percussion
for the past 5 years, and Mid-East Percussion.   email: jcrpercussion@gmail.com or tradicionpercussion@gmail.com  phone: (609) 336-7422 regarding any purchase inquiries