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bongo model

PostPosted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:01 am
by georgesbarbar
hello, i want to buy this bongo from a guy told me that this bongo is a lp vintage made in 1970 any idea about this bongo (year of made - model - and price). thanks for any suggestion.

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:12 am
by Mike
Yes, that is a very nice vintage LP bongó indeed.
Mahogany.

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 2:49 pm
by caballoballo
Saludos, in accordance with an old post reply by Omelenko garfield era bongos are from the 80s. The 70s were made in palisades park N. J.
This is the one I have from the same garfield area although the bottom hoops and crowns have been replaced.

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 3:10 pm
by Mike
So in conclusion, the OP´s bongó is from the 1970s, Palisades Park time
with an 1980s Garfield sticker?

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 5:43 pm
by maelopr
Generation IIs in that style started coming in the 80s if I recall and the wood should be that white Siam Oak...that you can confirm if it has a scratch and the wood under is light-colored

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 6:14 pm
by RitmoBoricua
Those are Gen II's from the 1980's and mahogany. To my
knowledge those were the last run of LP mahogany bongos
until this year's LP Original 1964 Mahogany Bongos. I would
not be surprised if the first run of LP Gen II's were mahogany
bongos. Them bongos are super light. Also, as you can see
Caballo's bongos is the classic LP style bongo but in what is
called siam oak and a 1980's bongo as well; and then again
I would not be surprised if the first run of siam oak bongos
were inroduced in the classic LP style bongo like Caballo's.

But anyway that's a nice looking bongo there.

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 8:52 pm
by maelopr
RitmoBoricua wrote:Those are Gen II's from the 1980's and mahogany. To my
knowledge those were the last run of LP mahogany bongos
until this year's LP Original 1964 Mahogany Bongos. I would
not be surprised if the first run of LP Gen II's were mahogany
bongos. Them bongos are super light.


Now that I look closer at the wood it does seem to be made from mahogany which would make this bongo much more desirable. It also seems to be less conical in form which would be another plus IMO...either way those older model Gen IIs were much better made than today's version...good luck!!

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:45 pm
by RitmoBoricua
maelopr wrote:Now that I look closer at the wood it does seem to be made from mahogany which would make this bongo much more desirable. It also seems to be less conical in form which would be another plus IMO...either way those older model Gen IIs were much better made than today's version...good luck!!


Sometimes you have to look close because Siam oak grain
is kind of similar to mahogany specially if the Siam oak bongos
are tinted/toned in a wine color like many LP Gen II and Matador
bongos you see today. You do not see too many of those mahogany
Gen II's in the market, and I have seen only one Gen II in zebrawood
in the market over the years and those are even more rare.

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 4:15 am
by Omelenko1
The bongo in question is a Garfield, NJ Gen II made between 1978 and 1984. That one is mahogany and looks to be from the late 70's (78/80). They made them mahogany at first, then they went to Siam oak. That looks like a good bongo that has been kept well. I seen mahogany Gen II like those with LP Cuban bottoms. Those are very desirable, I seen 1 Gen II zebrawood in SF, very rare. Superior to anything LP makes presently.

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 2:29 pm
by georgesbarbar
Thank you all for the reply.
I sent an e-mail to Mr. Martin Cohen about that and the answer it was that this bongos is mahogany, the label is not the original one, and its made in the late 60's or near to that time. I'm feel lucky to get those bongos for 200$ and they are in good condition.

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 3:59 pm
by RitmoBoricua
georgesbarbar wrote:Thank you all for the reply.
I sent an e-mail to Mr. Martin Cohen about that and the answer it was that this bongos is mahogany, the label is not the original one, and its made in the late 60's or near to that time. I'm feel lucky to get those bongos for 200$ and they are in good condition.


With all due respect to Mr. Cohen but in my opinion those bongos
are from the 80's, the labels are correct. I owned the same set with
the same labels and when I get a chance I will take a picture of my set
and post it here. I think Mr. Cohen may be thinking they are from the
60's because the LP stamp on the heads. I think the heads pre-date
the bongos but anyway nice score.

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 4:05 pm
by Omelenko1
Those bongos are from the late 70's early 80's. Mr. Cohen missed the dates on this one. I've been in this for 45 yrs., seen every type of bongo and conga.

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 6:27 pm
by RitmoBoricua
Omelenko1 wrote:Those bongos are from the late 70's early 80's. Mr. Cohen missed the dates on this one. I've been in this for 45 yrs., seen every type of bongo and conga.


I hear you Dario. Yes them mahogany Gen IIs in my opinion are
from around the time that LP first transition from Palisades Park
to Garfield New Jersey. Definitely not 1960's.

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 8:04 pm
by RitmoBoricua
Here is photo of two LP bongos from the Garfield New Jersey
era. Notice how the label/stickers are different. Since LP
is celebrating 50 years in the business I included a Palisades
Park era original fiberglass conga with the mother of pearl
embedded in the resin. According to Mr. Cohen LP did not
make too many of them due to the difficulty of embedding
the mother of pearl in the resin. This one is in super nice
shape with original head on it.

Re: bongo model

PostPosted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 1:42 am
by caballoballo
Si, the 1 I have came exactly as in the picture. By the way I have been thinking of changing that beige color to a more exotic one. Nunca me a gustado ese color crema pálido en mis instrumentos, tengo por ahi una pinturita guardada q le irá bien.