As the proud owner of Moperc, I feel compelled to take a moment to share my personal journey and the philosophy that drives everything we do here. I’m not just the owner of Moperc; I’m also the most active conga maker alive today, a title I wear with pride but also with a deep sense of humility. Crafting the finest congas, bongos, and timbales isn’t just a job for me – it’s my passion, my life's work, and a driving force that defines who I am.
Creating and playing drums goes beyond passion for me; it's a fervor, an unwavering purpose that gives my life direction. It's a commitment to a life project that continually challenges me, motivates me, and brings meaning to my existence.
I owe much of my craft to the wisdom of Michel Ouellet, the founder of Moperc, who began his journey in drum making back in the 1980s. His 30 years of expertise, combined with the thousands of drums I’ve had the privilege of crafting over the last seven years with a small but dedicated team, have been instrumental in shaping who I am as an artisan. It’s this invaluable experience and ongoing pursuit of knowledge that fuels my continuous growth and dedication to producing exceptional, hand-crafted instruments.
Photo by Jonathan Mercier
The State of the Market
The world of hand percussion is dominated by mass-produced drums, most of which come from overseas – particularly from countries like Thailand and Indonesia. Musicians who play instruments like bass, guitar, trumpet, and others are fortunate enough to have access to top-quality, hand-crafted instruments that reflect their skills and status. Unfortunately, percussionists aren’t afforded the same luxury. The most renowned drummers often play instruments that cost only $40-$100 to produce, and that price point often says everything about their quality.
To put this into perspective: with $100, I could barely buy a drumhead, six tuning lugs, and a box to ship a drum. The difference between mass-produced drums and handcrafted instruments isn’t just about materials – it’s about the labor, the expertise, and the love that goes into every aspect of creation. Running a shop and paying for everything from rent and insurance to salaries and materials means that high-quality, hand-crafted drums come at a higher cost, one that mass-produced alternatives can’t compete with.
Even though the market for top-tier, hand-crafted percussion instruments is relatively small, it’s the quality that matters. I’ve spent years investing in promotions and expanding my reach to find customers who understand and appreciate what Moperc drums stand for. However, it became clear that even if I offered my drums at cost, trying to compete with the prices of brands like LP or Meinl wouldn’t solve the underlying problem: there simply isn’t room for high-quality craftsmanship in a market so saturated with mass production.
Photo by Marc-André Lauzier
What Happened?
After careful reflection and testing the market, I came to a profound realization: I can live a more fulfilling life by focusing on quality over quantity. This shift in perspective led me to make some tough choices. I scaled back, hired fewer people, and refined my processes to ensure that every drum I create meets the high standards I’ve set.
Living a simpler life, spending more time with my family, and embracing the peace that life in the countryside offers has made all the difference. It’s allowed me to find a new balance between my craft and what truly matters.
When my shop manager decided to leave, I saw it not as a setback, but as an opportunity to reconnect with the craft that first inspired me. This new chapter has allowed me to focus on the process and take pride in the work that truly speaks to me.
The New Team
Today, it's just me and my partner, Laritza, running Moperc. She’s Cuban, and she’s been my unwavering support since I took over Moperc seven years ago. She handles everything from shipping and management to assisting with part of the manufacturing process. Together, we’ve managed to keep things running smoothly despite the smaller team. But our commitment remains unchanged: to create extraordinary instruments by hand, with love and care.
Photo by Jonathan Mercier
Currently, I have over 60 custom drum orders in the pipeline, which means lead times for custom drums are around 90 days. While I know that a three-month wait can feel long, I want to remind everyone that the value of a custom, hand-crafted instrument is immeasurable. Each drum takes time and attention to detail – qualities that are often lost in mass production. This wait is an investment in something that will last a lifetime.
A Word on Customer Feedback
I recently came across a comment on Facebook that said: "I’m selling mine as well! Cause they have horrible customer service. F*** Moperc!" After putting in countless 70-hour weeks, reading such a comment can be disheartening. But when I looked back, I realized that just three weeks earlier, this same customer emailed us asking about skins and the cost of a custom Cubano. The lack of a timely response was a mistake on my part. A simple two-minute reply could have addressed the issue and directed him to the right resources.
I deeply understand the frustration of waiting for a response and want to take full responsibility for that. In the past seven years, we’ve crafted and sold over 2,000 drums, and every single one is the result of dedication, hard work, and a deep commitment to quality. We are a small, family-owned business, and we do everything in-house—there are no distributors, no stores, no middlemen. It’s just me and a small, passionate team, working to create something special.
I ask for your understanding and patience as we continue to navigate the balance between producing high-quality drums and maintaining excellent customer service. We’re not a massive corporation – we’re a small team, and every drum that leaves our shop is a reflection of that.
Photo by Simon Nolet
Refining the Craft
Since I returned to crafting drums full-time, the first few months were dedicated to cleaning up the shop and refining our processes. With a smaller team, I had to implement new systems and adjust workflows to ensure everything meets the highest standards. Each drum I create is a chance to improve and refine the process, and I’ve made sure that every step of production embodies the Moperc philosophy of quality and craftsmanship.
I’ve also noticed that customer communication has become more challenging with the growing demand. While I’ve always prioritized the quality of the instruments and customer satisfaction, I’m learning to better manage my time. After all, if I’m answering messages all day, who will be crafting the drums?
Photo by Marc-André Lauzier
A Lifetime Investment
For those who truly understand the value of Moperc drums, I know the wait is worth it. Creating something exceptional takes time, and I am honored by the trust you place in my work. Moperc isn’t just a brand; it’s a lifetime investment in craftsmanship, passion, and a commitment to delivering something extraordinary.
As I look ahead, I am excited to continue refining our processes, improving delivery times, and pushing the boundaries of craftsmanship. But above all, I am committed to giving back to the community. The events and donations we’ve organized in Puerto Rico, the Bronx, Miami, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are a testament to our dedication to the community. Moperc is more than just a company – it’s a part of something larger, something that inspires future generations.
Meet the Moperc Expert Team
In the meantime, I’m pleased to introduce our Moperc expert team. They’re available to assist with customer service and help answer any questions you may have. Some of them even have drums in stock for those who want to try them in person:
-
Javier Cabanillas - Northern California: javier@javiercabanillas.com
-
Joey Sevilla - Southern California: joeymoperc@gmail.com
-
Dave Perlowski - Denver, Colorado: daveperl1@aol.com
-
Luis Reyes - South Florida: lrpercussionist@gmail.com
-
Thibaut Chipot - France: tibochipo@hotmail.fr
-
Marcelo Malovini - Australia:
drifting1@bigpond.com - Phil Kullmann - DACH countries [Germany (D), Austria (A), Switzerland (CH)]: moperc@rawartistic.com
Thank you for being part of this journey. I’m committed to delivering drums that stand the test of time—both in sound and craftsmanship.
22 commentaires
Keep up the amazing work! While I haven’t the pleasure of having a Moperc set (yet!), I’ve played them before, and this difference is astronomical! Beautiful drums both visually and sonically! Thank you for the quality, top-tier congas!
Hey Francis – thank you for sharing your story with us. You have always been very responsive to me and yes, I know what it feels like to get a bad review, when often we feel it isn’t justified. Your drums are simply the best available, by far.
As previously mentioned, I’ve owned Gon Bops (my first set when I was only 15), Skin-on-Skin, LP/Galaxy, Meinl and I’m so excited to be getting my second set of Mopercs very soon…five black walnut rumberos…and looking forward to seeing you at your shop in person.
There are many of us who understand and appreciate your philosophy and the quality of work you bring. We also know that your drums will last more than a lifetime – my children know they are to keep the drums in the family forever.
Keep up the great work, I hope you can continue to balance things because you have many people who would like to witness your ongoing success.
For those of you reading this who do not know – Francis’ Moperc tumbadoras and timbales are featured prominently in the new Broadway musical “Buena Vista Social Club” and Francis deserves large kudos for making that happen and for being recognized in that premium fashion.
All my best hermano…see you soon!
César
Dear Francis: Thank you, Joey and your staff for who you are and what you do. I feel both fortunate and priviledged to have met you and Joey, for your personal guidance and assistance in choosing my set of Brazilian Cubano’s, for personally bringing them all the way from your shop to Riverside, CA., for educating me with regard to the differences in the sound quality of the different drum woods and to Joey for personally visiting me in Chandler, Az, to help me properly tune and set them up. They are absolutely perfect for me. My journey as a percussionist began 73 years ago when, as a 9yr old, I fell in love with the sound of the Conga drum in pop music. That journey ended 35yrs ago due to arthritis in my hands and frustration with not being able to get a decent slap out of the drums I owned at the time (Valje’s). My journey began once again about 4yrs ago when I purchased my set Mopercs from you. Their sound is gorgeous. They beckon to me constantly and I play them daily. Their beauty is exceeded only by their extraordinary sound quality. I am fortunate enough to have found a local mentor/teacher (Tony Valenzuela) who has enabled me to gain a deeper understanding, appreciation and respect for the history and culture of the percussion instrument we all love. My knowledge and skill set has grown enormously over the last 2 years. I hear music completely differently than I did before. And now, “drum roll please”, I even have a very decent slap. (And NO, Joey, he did not make me change from playing left handed). To say that: who you are and what you do has brought immeasurable joy to my life, would be a gross understatement. You and your staff are true artisans without which our journey of becoming the percussion artists we seek to be would not be possible. Stay true to your values. Ignore the noise. Best Regards, Dennis Holcomb.
we think the drum is wood and metal with a skin, it’s so much more, it’s a vessel, an ancient IPhone to talk to the gods.
The first thing I noticed,and it was profound, the Mopercs were alive.
If anyone has anything bad to say about Moperc they obviously aren’t in a right way.
This ain’t LP so if you want top tier customer service then go ahead, sacrifice quality for your need for immediate service. Come on that’s some 1st world problems. Go to Havana and see how things work, you have to breathe in and release, relax.
Thank you Francis your legacy will be your gift to humanity and you can sleep well every night knowing you built something beautiful and impactful.
Francis,
I was a high school band director for 20+ years and it took me a while to figure out the balance of work/life. I applaud you on your journey to accomplish this…… It ain’t easy.
As the owner of mid 90’s Moperc drums, I can personally attest to the superb quality of your product. I am excited about the drums you are making for me and I know you will uphold the tradition of incredible craftsmanship throughout the entire process. Thank you for taking whatever time you need to get things right. Your customers appreciate it.
RW