Isla Percussions: Afro-Cuban drums hand made in Belize

Made by hand.

Isla Percussions makes all of it's instruments by hand in the lovely country of Belize. Isla's unique location provides access to the choicest of wood savailable nowhere else. Only Isla can provide Honduran Mahogany (Caoba), Ziricote and Caribbean Rosewood for drums. These woods create an authentic sound with a truly uniqe appearance.

Some photos of the creation process from Isla's Belize factory location. Made for musicians by musicians.

Iya on the lathe

Conga staves carved from wood.

Ziricote conga shells

Stainless steel hardware

Caribbean Rosewood bata shells

Caoba = Honduran Mahogany

The scientific name for this wood is Swietenia humilis. The lumber and wood trades have long called it Honduras Mahogany or Mexican Mahogany. It is locally known as Caoba del Pacifico, Caoba del Honduras, Caobilla, Cobano, Caobilla.

Isla Percussions is the only drum manufacturer to provide Caoba/Honduran Mahogany for it's instruments. In Cuba this wood has been prized for decades for the sound it provides and has been used throughout the island for the best sounding musical instruments.

Isla Percussions makes instruments in this Caoba for a truly authentic and beautiful sound. Made for musicians by musicians.

New Wood Available - Caribbean Rosewood

Isla Percussions is very pleased to announce a new wood available for all instruments; congas, bongos and bata. Caribbean Rosewood has a sound that is bright and clean.Only Isla Percussions can provide this wood for it's intruments for a sound that is authentic and unique. Made for musicians by musicians.

Stay tuned for upcoming photos of congas in Caribbean  Rosewood in a post soon to come.

Beautiful Ziricote Congas

The latest from Isla Percussion; a very beautiful set of congas in Ziricote. This set includes a specially made Super Tumba. One very lucky musician is now the owner of this set of drums which are truly unique and unlike any other congas. Only Isla can provide congas in Ziricote with a truly beautiful and authentic sound as well as a beautiful appearance. Made for musicians by musicians.

Isla Bata Drums

Isla bata drums are now available in mahogany and ziricote. Mahogany was the wood of choice for the original Afro-Cuban instruments and Isla is proud to offer bata drums made from this wood for a truly authentic sound available nowhere else.

Isla bata are made from carved staves which are glued together to form a single drum. Isla bata are not two drums fastened together. The shape of an Isla bata is taken directly from the Pablo Roche lineage of bata drums, whose dimensions and specifications were painstakingly recorded in Cuba for the purpose of reproduction. Isla's mission is to offer the most authentic aberikula bata drums for a truly authentic sound.

Isla is also offering ziricote bata,  made from the prized tone wood ziricote which is not only beautiful in appearance but also sound. These bata have the same true and authentic Cuban sound that Isla Percussions drums are known for and Isla is proud to offer them as one of the two new woods available at our new location in Belize. Handmade by Musicians and for Musicians.

Not only is Isla the sole bata maker to offer mahogany and ziricote bata, Isla is also the only drum maker to offer skins tanned in house intended solely for bata drums. Skins are the important second half of any drum. Isla is a company of musicians and applies passion for music and musical experience towards the choice and development of skins. This is the embodiment of the meaning behind Isla's motto; "by Musicians and for Musicians."

 

Ziricote wood is an option for bata when ziricote wood supplies are available. All hardware is stainless steel. See our price list for more information.

Isla Percussions

 

Exciting new work from Isla percussions. Check out our ziricote congas and ziricote bongos.

New Ziricote Congas

 

The latest from Isla Percussions, ziricote congas with our own tanned in house skins. These ziricote congas are made from the prized tone wood ziricote which is not only beautiful in appearance but also sound. These congas have the same true and authentic Cuban sound that Isla Percussions drums are known for and Isla is proud to offer them as one of the two new woods available at our new location in Belize. Handmade by Musicians and for Musicians.

Not only is Isla the sole drum maker to offer the rare and beautiful tone wood ziricote, Isla is also the only drum maker to offer skins tanned in house intended solely for our drums. The skins are purpose picked and tanned to offer the best and finest drum skin available.

 Ziricote wood is an option for congas when ziricote wood supplies are available. All hardware is stainless steel. See our price list for more information.

New Ziricote Bongos

The latest from Isla Percussions, ziricote bongos with our own tanned in house skins. These ziricote bongos feature a 5 lugged macho and are made from the prized tone wood ziricote which is not only beautiful in appearance but also sound. The bongos have the same true and authentic Cuban sound that Isla's bata and congas are known for and Isla is proud to offer them as part of our expanded drum line up. Made by Musicians and for Musicians.

See our price list for more information.

Current Progress

The latest from Isla Percussisons. Mahogany congas and Mahogany and Ziricote bongos with hardware and skins ready to ship. Click on the images for the close up.

Works in Progress

     
        A few recent  shots of Ziricote congas, and some claves being made in the new Isla Percussions factory. Isla Percussions is in the process of tanning our own hides for drum skins, eliminating the middle man and bringing the highest standards to the tanning process for our instruments. Skinned drums with the latest hardware soon to come. Stay tuned for updates. These are very exciting times for Isla Percussions as we develop the latest in Afro-Cuban percussion instruments from select tropical  hardwoods for discerning and discriminating percussionists worldwide.

Ziricote Bongos

     Isla Percussions is developing bongos out of the incredible Ziricote wood (Cordia dodecandra). Ziricote is a prized wood for instruments and it is particularly suited for bongos due to the hardness of the wood. One of the most beautiful of tone woods, Ziricote is also very rare and expensive, even in it's native country; Belize. The beauty and sound of this wood makes for some very special instruments, which for the disriminating musician will be worth the extra expense. This wood is available for all Isla Percussions instruments whenever it is available.

Ziricote

    In addition to Honduran Mahogany, Isla Percussions will be making instruments from the highly figured and beautiful Ziricote wood (Cordia dodecandra). Beautiful in appearance and sound, Ziricote has been used in custom guitars and other fine instruments for years. Isla Percussions is now pleased to offer their percussion instruments and drums in this fine tone wood.

    Ziricote is rare and very difficult to obtain, even in Belize. We offer this wood for all our instruments  when it is available. Please contact Isla Percussions to inquire about Ziricote and its current availabilty and supply.

 

Honduran Mahogany

     Isla Percussions is the sole percussion company offering hand made drums made with Honduran Mahogany (swietenia humilis). This highly sought after and rare wood was the traditional wood of choice for congas in Cuba. Selected from several species of wood during the early development of the instrument, Isla Percussions is proud to present the return of the Afro Cuban instruments made from mahogany, providing the truest, most authentic sound and an unsurpassed appearance.