Gon bops - Whats the word?

[Cohiba]

http://www.gonbops.com/

I've heard a lot about Gon bops, more the Bongo than Conga but has anyone here tried their drums and are they all they're cracked up to be?

[ABAKUA]

The top of the line series is supposed to be as good as their old school drums.
If you can get em at a relatively good price, and appear as good as their rep claims to be, then go for it.
Myself, I have a very good long time relationship with a local LP distributor here and have used LP for the last 14 years or so.
I currently have 3 Classics and stands ( 2 x 11.75" conga, 1 x 12.5" Tumba ) which have been with me for over 10 yrs..
Recently as part of a partial endorsment as a result of some touring I went with 3 Palladium Giovanni series and 3 new top of the range LP stands. ( 2 x 11.75" conga and 1 x 14.5" Super Tumba as seen below )

So you get a rough idea of the Super Tumba's size I placed a CD on the skin...



Edited By ABAKUA on 1118402038

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... rTumba.JPG

[ABAKUA]

Most of my tumbadoras gang...





Edited By ABAKUA on 1118402119

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... CONGAS.JPG

[ABAKUA]

Back on topic of GON BOPS, their Tumbao series seem to be of higher quality than the California series (judging by pics alone)

These seem fairly high quality..


I have no idea what their current skins are like though.

[mco]

Abacua,
The California Series is the higher quality "hand made" line while the Tumbao series is their budget line. The California series is based on the SOL designed congas (not the old original GonBops). As pictured, their unique rims and hardware may not look as substantial as the hardware used on the Tumbao line, but I would bet that it is of much higher quality.
I have a pair of California series bongos on order. The wait is 4-5 months, so I hope to see them late this summer or early fall. I'll report back then.
mco

[ABAKUA]

Ah cool, thanks for the correction mco.

Like I said though, judging by the pics, it would seem the other way around.
Either way, Im sure they are of high quality, the brand has developed an excellent reputation over the years from their old school drums, it would be a shame if new patents/ownership lessened in quality since their original manufacture..

[ABAKUA]

These look trick.



Cool sizes also:


Quinto (10.75”x30”)
Conga (11.5”x30”)
Tumba (12.25”x30”)
Super Tumba (13.25”x30”)

I read they are fitted with cow skins... What are these like?

[Cohiba]

ABAKUA, man that is a serious arsenal! Some heavy sound-power, that Supa Tumba is bigger than me!

Was that little furry one your first and do you still hit it? And the red beads, does that mean you are a son of Chango?

[windhorse]

Was that little furry one ---?

Sorry for jumping in,, I know the question is for Abakua,
but here's something...

It's called a Twinchin from Ghana where they play songs like Panlogo.. I have two of them and started on them before going to congas..

[JerryA]

I just got back from visiting my local Guitar Center and they had a couple of Gon Bops Tumbao sets on display (quinto/conga w stand). One of the sets was tuned up and let me tell you....they sounded pretty awesome. The sound was pretty loud and the skins to me seemed like good quality. The sets were selling for about $500 which is not that bad. The shells looked pretty good too as did the hardware. The stand was heavy duty.

[Tone]

Hi Cohiba,

I have a pair of old mahogany Gon Bops and they are wonderful. The classic cuban sound very earthy and wooden. They are very light (comparatively) which is quite nice but they are not the loudest instrument.
Since we are both in London you can come and check them out if you like. I have a conga(IC3300)10'3/4" and tumba(IT3300) 11'1/2" which are pretty small, the serial number seem to suggest conga and tumba but they are almost a quinto and conga. I am looking for a third and bigger one, maybe one day...
I was very lucky to find them in Loot for £450 a couple of years ago.

[Tone]

and another thing...

of course the new Gon Bops has nothing to do with the real thing.
Gon Bops were, I believe, two Cuban guys, who started making congas in San Francisco in the 70s. They went out of business in the 90s.
The stock and parts were taken over by Timba for a while( I got their very last two lugs from them a few months back).
Now this new Gon Bops is just people sticking the name on some standard drums.
The originals were legendary but will never be made again I am affraid.

They get snapped up pretty quickly these days. I was tracking a set of five on ebay in the US last week, and they disappared before the auction finished, the seller never bothered to answer my questions.