Re: Gon Bops Mariano Series Congas
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:01 pm
These Gob Bops are actually improved over previous Mariano Models. Marianos were usually soft mahogany wood w/ black hard wares. The are basic Gon Bops but w/ improved side plate lugs ( copied from lp & other Asian lugs but are better than riveted lugs ! This wood is a good alternative to mahogany or similar soft Asian woods, The HEADS are claiming to be Latin American cow hides !!!! THATS GREAT ! Its been decades that I have been advocating cow hides from affordable sources of cow hide heads. I would love these drums ! The classic Gon Bops traditional sound can be expected & if you need more attack & volume....USE a Dammed Microphone or Plastic heads ( which will sound like plastic of course but u can mute the ringy over tones w/ materials added to the underside of the head ( rubber cement works well or thin rubber weather stripping tape made into rings & applied like tone control rings seen on bass drum heads or sound control dots seen on tom tom heads. The price stated is competitive to Asian made generic congas. Brands don't matter in Asian made drums since they all use the same materials & similar construction. I find that the top end Lp's are over built heavy shells that smother lots of tone and can sound less musical than a cheaper drum any way. Basic Gon Bops are better now than before and the high end Gon Bops are in the range of custom made high end drums & price range...more like luxury items & mid life crisis bling items. Close your eyes & open your ears ! Can you judge a great drum by its sound ! ? The nice thing about these non chromed steel is that they can be repaired easily if ever needing welding since you do not have to re chrome. These hard wares can be powder coated or painted or sand blasted to the raw metal & re surfaced by many metal finishing methods. I do not see a thick poly coating so it will probably be easier to touch up scratches or re stain. I hate Asian drums w/ that difficult coating. I would imagine these drums are light and easy to carry and that also helps to add resonance that you can not expect from heavy dense wood shells or glass shells. These drums represent a happy medium and long over due Gon Bops of acceptable design correction & decent heads ! Viva Gon Bops ~ well done ! Ernesto Pediangco 2/24/2011