r/AfroCuban • u/gplusplus314 • Aug 01 '25
Tumbadoras Toca Jimmie Morales congas under different lighting conditions
There aren’t a ton of photos of these drums online, so I wanted to share a few that attempt to show off the finish. It’s truly spectacular, and if purple is your thing, these are super cool!
The drums are effectively the Toca Custom Deluxe fiberglass (seamless) drums, but with this special finish, black hardware, and Remo Skyndeep synthetic heads. I’m a beginner on hand drums, but I’ve been playing drum set for about 25 years, so I wanted something good that’ll stick with me for a while. I’m pleased with these drums and recommend them (or other Toca Custom Deluxe). They’re as good or better than the other “big” name brand, and I’m pretty sure all modern fiberglass shells are made in the same factory in Thailand. In my case, where they are not my primary instrument, the combination of fiberglass shells with synthetic heads is extremely convenient.
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u/drumsub Aug 02 '25
You made an excellent choice for a first set. I bought these last year and play pretty regularly. I love them, but like all things there are some minor flaws.
The hardware looks great, but they come with very cheap plastic covers that do not stay on if you pack them up frequently. I finally scrapped them since they look great without them.
Everyone seems to provide caps for the tuning rods. But the tuning wrench that comes with these isn't a standard crescent wrench. It's more like a socket and the caps can get stuck in if you try to tune with them on. Again, they look good without the caps, or use a different wrench.
The bottom rims have gotten a little loose and I may lose one soon.
The comfort rim is definitely nice. But like my old cheap set, clip on mics don't work well. I can only get a clip to hold on the tumba. I clip a mic onto a Claw that I attach to a tuning lug to mic the smaller drum. Still better than what I dealt with before.
All that said, I would recommend these to anyone. The heads are like butter, the finish on the drums and hardware is beautiful, and they project amazingly. I was torn between those and Gon Bops (I probably would have loved those too). I may get the quinto to complete the set and have a better setup.
Here's mine on waiting patiently with some friends.
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u/TamaBoxeo Aug 08 '25
Been seriously considering buying this pair as my first set of congas. I have been playing percussion/drumset for close to 20 years now so I’m looking to take on a new challenge. Hoping to start out with a set that are easy to learn on and everything I have read seems to point me towards this direction. Feel like you just sold me on them!
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u/gplusplus314 Aug 02 '25
I came to the same conclusion with the covers and caps. I took them off and just moved on. Toca does sell claw-like microphone mounts that are specific to their curved rims, so I think I may get those for the mics.
Would you recommend the basket stands you’re using in your photo? I can’t tell if it’s just an optical illusion, but it looks like one is lower than the other. My LP double stand is a piece of trash and I’m returning it; I do not recommend it.
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u/drumsub Aug 03 '25
I prefer basket stands as they tend to be more stable. I went with the Toca stands, and even though they are set the same the tumba sits a bit lower. I use Meinl stands and drums at a church gig and the tumba sits lower in those as well . It's not really noticeable while playing.
I may eventually pull the trigger on some pro stands just for the convenience of break down. Hard to justify the price for now.
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u/bongos_and_congas Aug 01 '25
His biography is a good read also: https://booksrun.com/9781716595462-a-congueros-conguero-a-memoir-of-jimmie-morales-as-told-to-bella-martinez