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Posted:
Thu Feb 02, 2006 1:34 pmby mco
Hello Group,
I had posted in March 2005 that I had ordered a pair of Gon Bops California Series bongos. My dealer said that they would take 4-5 months to ship and I was OK with that. Well, here it is 11 months later, and they finally came in. I had almost forgotten I ordered them.
They are quite beautiful, made of North American quatersawn oak. For those of you not familiar with quartersawing of wood, it is a technique of sawing wood (especially white oak) that exposes its medullary rays (called ray flakes). These ray flakes stand out from the grain pattern and have an almost luminescent quality. Check out the Gon Bops advertisement in DRUM magazine that shows Alex Acuna playing a set of GB congas. In the picture, you can see the ray flakes in the wood of the drums
I had my bongos done in a clear black stain, and the character of the wood still comes through. The bongos are finished in a high quality, thick shiny lacquer.
The macho head is horsehide (looks identical to the mule skins I have), and can be torqued up high for that nice crisp, high sound. The hembra is made of thick cowskin, and yields a dry, deep carboard-y sound with out any annoying overtones.
The rims are the style found on the old Sol line of bongos and congas, which of course make sense since the new Gon Bops are more or less Sol drums.
I know that this thread would be worth more with a photo, but I don't have a digital camera yet. I'll try taking a film image and scanning it, but it will be a while since I will have to finish the roll of film first.
BTW, I'm selling my Pearl Elite bongos (cheap!) and my LP Generation III bongos (also cheap). Contact me at dmcosborne@earthlink.net if interested.
Posted:
Thu Feb 02, 2006 2:51 pmby caballoballo
MCO, very good selection,
I did look at them on the drumswork online store before I bought the Pearl Elite, I should have selected them instead . I bet they are well hand made set. Also I have traded the Pearl Elite to a friend for $150 plus a new Matador fiberglass which I am going to sell to the Conguero in the band I play. Don,t matter what I did to the Pearl I was never satisfy with the sound. I guess it has to do with been playing all my life with wooden ones. Finally I bought a Moperc which really has the sound I like,the only thing I did was to change the macho head for a Fiberskyn. Did you find the sound of the hembra as deep as if it was 9" in diameter ? How thick is the wood ?
Posted:
Thu Feb 02, 2006 6:21 pmby franc
MCO,
my best always!! horsehide??? that is new to me. which one is best, mule or horse?? also if you can, let me know where in the internet i can see the Gon Bops Bongos??? i tried to get in touch with you and could'nt. tell me how cheap do you sell your ''elite'' and ''LP Gen..III'' and why you are selling ?? you can e-mail me if you want, ok áche!!! franc
Posted:
Fri Feb 03, 2006 11:16 amby mco
caballoballo,
I do find the sound of the Gon Bops 8.5" hembra with a cowskin head to be as deep as the 9" hembras on the Pearls and LP Gen III, though maybe not quite as loud (but loud enough). I find the Gon Bops easier to tune because the 8.5" head seems lease prone to overtones. The wood of the shell appears thick. I'll measure it and let you know.
franc,
Here's a couple of links to the GB bongos:
http://www.westcoastdrums.com/gonbocasebo.html
http://www.gonbops.com/california/bongos.htm
I'll e-mail you about the bongos for sale.
best,
mco
Posted:
Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:03 pmby mco
Here's a pic of my GonBops California Series Bongos.
I had them done in a clear black laquer.
Attachment:
http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 13__2_.JPG
Posted:
Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:09 pmby mco
Posted:
Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:10 pmby mco
Posted:
Mon Mar 06, 2006 5:36 pmby onile
Alafia Abure MCO!
I hope that you are well and in an abundance of blessings my brother!
Vaya! Those are some really beautiful bongoces MCO!
Oye Papa! How long did you have to wait for your bongo?
I ordered my California Model Supertumbas and Tumba last March. I received one Supertumba last August, and was supposed to get the other two drums on Feb. 24th (2 weeks ago). But wouldn't you know it, me robaron una de frente de mi puerta! I'm currently in the process of having UPS and WestCoast Drum conduct an investigation, but it appears that each of them is pointing the finger of responsibility at the other.
I waited a whole year to get the full set, paid my cash up front, and then Pow! this happens! The interesting thing is that who ever took it, only took one drum, it had to be a couple of kids in the neighborhood. And the bad thing about it is, hey! I would have given them lessons if they had wanted.
Oh well!
Asi es la vida!
Suave!
Onile!
Edited By onile on 1141666743
Posted:
Mon Mar 06, 2006 6:27 pmby mco
Greetings Onile,
Sorry to hear about your ordeal with your drum order.
It took me 11 months to get my bongos. Originally I was told that it would be 4-5 months. After 6 months, I forgot about them and stopped bugging my dealer.
Fortunately, I had only put down a small deposit. 5 months later, I got a call from my dealer and the drums had come in. I wouldn't have minded the wait if they told me up front that it would be that long.
Having said that, 11 months is too long for one set of bongos. Ultimately, I am glad I got them. They look and sound great.
I do think GonBops needs to get their act together. If I order anything else from them in the future (through my dealer), I will only give them a small deposit. That way, the dealer has a strong interest in getting the drums to me in a timely manner.
mco
Posted:
Mon Mar 06, 2006 6:33 pmby caballoballo
Mco,that is a beautiful set of Bongos, everything looks of such of a good quality. I do not have to ask you about the sound because I know it is outstanding.
Onile,lamento lo sucedido con un instrumento el cual as esperado por tanto tiempo. En quien vamos a confiar si ellos no son responsables de sus propios procesos de entrega. La ultima vez que usamos UPS,una de las bocinas que compramos llegó abierta y nos dieron la excusa que fue aduana quien la abrio y del azote que tenía la bocina,le fastidiaron el crossover,suerte que pudimos arreglarlo sin tener que enviar la bocina al suplidor otra vez. Espero que todo te vaya bien en tu reclamacion.
Posted:
Mon Mar 06, 2006 6:50 pmby onile
Alafia Abure Caballoballo y MCO!
¡Chacho! ¡Mil gracias por el buen deseó mi pana! Seguiré apresurándoles y espero que me entregan otra supertumba. ¡Que cosa!
Lo interesante es que nunca fui dado la oportunidad de escoger que al entregarme el cargo que no lo hicieran sin firme. Ellos lo dejaron en el patio de mi casa y cuando llegue solo encontré una caja! Vamaos haber si tendre que buscar un licenciado!
Abure MCO,
Great advice! I agree with you, Gonbops needs to get their stuff together. I, like yourself, continued to hassle them about my order, and now look where it’s gotten me! I will keep your advice (1/2 up front, the rest upon completion)!
Suerte Papa!
Onile!
Posted:
Tue Mar 07, 2006 11:06 amby caballoballo
Onile,mi pana
Ese es el detalle,como ellos pudieron simplemente dejar los paquetes en tu puerta en vez de entregarlos a ti personalmente ? Aqui si no estás,simplemente se las llevan y dejan una nota para que vayas a recojerlos. Ellos cometieron el error y ahora tendran que responderte. Pero nada,si la vida fuera muy facil no sería divertida.
Este Viernes tengo un gig con la guerrilla,he tenido que utilizar a dos musicos profesionales para subtituir al bajista y al pianista en ésta actividad por problemas entre ellos. No es facil bregar con ciertos individuos.
Aqui estoy oyendo Radio Voz, no se si tu te acuerdas de esa estacion radial. Ellos suenan un monton de Salsa Clasica que te remonta bien atras. Ahora estuvieron sonando un numero de Barreto con un solo de Johnny Rodriguez en el Bongó y de verdad que Johnny le mete bien duro. Bueno Hermano espero que puedas recuperar lo perdido.
Posted:
Tue Mar 07, 2006 3:45 pmby onile
¡Vaya mi pana Caballoballo!
Me gusta tu filosofía de la vida “la vida tiene sus rosas y tiene sus espinas”
¡Que cosa! Si yo tuve un problema con los músicos míos antes. El problema mío fue entregarle al bajista el puesto de director musical, pues se volvió loco con poder! Lo tuve que botar a la calle.
Espero que pases buen tiempo en tu gig este Viernes mi pana!
Reviviendo aquéllos tiempos si solamente con un numerito que se tocaba en ese entonces, que bien! Ya la radio no nos brinda los mismos números, si todo es de la moderna.
¡Con respeto!
Onile!
Posted:
Wed Mar 15, 2006 9:33 pmby onile
Alafia Abure Caballoballo!
Llevatela suave mi pana!
I received a phone call last night from West Coast Drums, they got the investigation report from UPS, and were convinced that the drum was indeed stolen. I will get a replacement drum, only this time, they will insist on a signature before delivering it.
Maferefun Olodumare!
Suave!
Onile!
Edited By onile on 1142458432
Posted:
Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:28 amby SkinDeep
SALUDOS FAMILIA!!!
I HAD STOPPED BY THE GUITAR CENTER IN ATLANTA THIS PAST WEEKEND AND THEY HAD SOME CALIFORNIAS THEM BAD BOYS SOUND NICE!!! I'M HAPPY FOR YOU HERMANO. I FEEL THE SAME WAY, THE LAST PACKAGE I RECEIVED FROM UPS WAS SOME CD'S FROM DESCARGA AND THEY JUST LEFT IT ON THE FRONT OF THE DOOR, WHAT'S BAD IS THAT THE SHIT WAS BIG ENOUGH TO GO IN THE MAILBOX.
