LP Gionvanni Palladiums vs Gon Bops California's - sell or keep or buy

Manufacturers, brands, skins, maintenance, stands, sticks, michrophones and other accessories for congueros can be discussed into this forum ...... leave your experience or express your doubts!

Postby CongaKing » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:30 pm

Conguero's - my first post

I have the LP Giovanni Palladiums (32" tall) and am considering selling them to buy the Gon Bops California Series (30" tall) ... anyone have a recomendation/suggestion on this?

The LP's are nice (looks, sound) but are heavy and the 2" height difference is noticable the longer you sit and play ...

Gracias por todo,

Michael
Best regards,

Michael

Michael Nathan
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Postby windhorse » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:37 am

The weight difference should be almost unnoticeable.

Akbar uses really heavy metal for the rims,, at least in the past, and he uses good ol' dense Virginia heavy oak. So, though they may be slightly shorter, I'll bet that pound for inch the're heavier.

As for the tallness of the congas, just get an adjustable stool, or taller shoes.

However,, you might prefer the sound of the "Akbar" conga. Can't blame you there.. His congas are awesome!
:D
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Postby onile » Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:22 am

Alafia Abure CongaKing!
I hope that you are well and in an abundance of blessings!

First of all let me say to you.............................SELL! SELL! SELL! :D :D
I have four LP Palladiums (two 14" and two 12 1/2"), and I'm unloading them as soon as possible!
I have recently received two of three GonBops California Model Congas (two 13 1/4" and one 12 1/4"). I currently have one SuperTumba and a Tumba, candyapple red, and I must say that they sound incredible!

I originally purchased the LPs because of the historic value (the first 14" Supertumba LP ever made), but also for the 'bottom' a 14" drum can offer. I will say this much though, after changing the skins on the GonBops, the 'bottom' sound on them is far better than the Palladiums! This coming from a guy who loves playing the fat drums for the realestate it offers. GonBops, like Abure Windhorse stated is a quality drum, Akbar does great work.

Many blessings!
Onile!
Que Nsambi les acutare pa' siempre!
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Postby CongaKing » Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:58 pm

Gracias WindHorse & Onile for your responses ... I've been playing the Gon Bops California Series at Guitar Center everyday and I must say ... they are BANGIN'!! If the buyer buys my Palladiums, I will sell and get the Gon Bops ... thanks again!

Miguelito "Conga King" Nathan
http://www.CongaKing.com
Best regards,

Michael

Michael Nathan
mrnathan@mac.com
408-623-3723 - C
510-490-3208 - O
510-490-3207 - F
Mail To:
47000 Warm Springs Blvd. Ste. 1 #447
Fremont, California 94539
On-Line:
http://www.CongaKing.com
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Postby OLSONGO » Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:05 am

Conga king ,I have a set of Gon Bops since 84' Mahogony very sweet sounding,13 1/2 , 12, 11 1/2 no quinto has come close, from the others I had , LP, Toca, meinl, And you will not believe what I bought all three for ...$200
Take a look at the pics, the quinto still has the same head, but I take care of my heads... tune , untune and some oil at times.
The Tumba fell some stairs, and suffered a mayor gauge, so I had it painted to match my classics. It was red mahogony same as the quinto, the conga just took the hardware to have it rechromed.
but it looks like the set in the pic.


Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... n_bops.jpg
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Postby CongaKing » Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:03 am

Conguero's,

I sold my Palladiums for $1,500! (quinto, conga, super tumba, triple conga stand and 2 conga bags) ... what's the best price that you've seen for Gon Bops California Series? I'm looking at quinto, conga & tumba ... gracias por todo, mi amigos de conga!
Best regards,

Michael

Michael Nathan
mrnathan@mac.com
408-623-3723 - C
510-490-3208 - O
510-490-3207 - F
Mail To:
47000 Warm Springs Blvd. Ste. 1 #447
Fremont, California 94539
On-Line:
http://www.CongaKing.com
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Postby onile » Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:14 pm

Alafia Abure CongaKing!
I hope that you are well my brother!

I actually purchased my set at West Coast Drums, ($759.00 was the highest price I paid for each Supertumba). I just checked their website our and it appears that they've increased their prices, the Supertumba is selling for $829. There are two types of finishes, check them both out, I actually got the Laquer finish.

http://www.westcoastdrums.com/gonbopsbydw.html

here is another website which I found roughly the same prices, but I'm not too sure about the satin finishes.
http://www.instrumentpro.com/P-GONGBCAAOLC.html

Suerte mi pana!

Onile!




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Postby JohnnyConga » Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:26 pm

$800.oo DOLLARS A DRUM???? You got to be kidding me!....."JC" Johnny Conga....
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Postby bongoron » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:11 pm

I can only dream of drums like that...but I don't bother. It just depresses me...then I play in my band and the music makes it all better. From the heart, I'll play a plastic bucket (and I have)...same result. Either that means I'm not very good, or the music matters more. :p Blessings on those who can afford those glorious instruments, though. Make great music with them! Make recordings so we can hear, too!

God bless!

-Ron
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Postby onile » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:14 pm

Alafia Abures del Tambor!
I hope that you are all well and in an abundance of blessings!

I know that not everyone is as careless with their money as I might appear to be, but I look at it this way....I work to pay everyone else (electric company, gas company, mortgage company, etc. etc), you get the point, that when I get my "tax returns" I make sure to "pay myself"! I have only two vices in this life, black coffee, and drummin'.

My beloved brothers, we all deserve to treat ourselves when possible, a drum here and there is perfectly acceptable. Now I understand, those of us who have families, and bills, both of which we will always have! These things help to keep us alive and kickin'!

Please understand my point here Abures, I'm merely advocating loving yourselves enough to not feel guilty for buying a drum from time-to-time!

Many blessings and much respect!
Onile!




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Postby CongaKing » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:33 pm

Simone'!

It's like haircuts ... if you add up the cost of haircuts over 5 years and then tell someone that you're going to spend $x.xx on your haircut, people will be shocked ... look at the $$ spend on a conga in a similar way ... how long do you think you'll have it, divide that $$ over a few years ... no flames back on my haircut analogy please!

ciao,

Miguelito!
Best regards,

Michael

Michael Nathan
mrnathan@mac.com
408-623-3723 - C
510-490-3208 - O
510-490-3207 - F
Mail To:
47000 Warm Springs Blvd. Ste. 1 #447
Fremont, California 94539
On-Line:
http://www.CongaKing.com
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Postby OLSONGO » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:54 pm

To some of us, those are the tools of the trade... and for the amount of giging I have done in the past. They moe than well paid for themselves, I was fortunate enough to get 1/2 the endorsement so I did't have to pay as much for the gear,( set of LP classics, TP timbales, craddle stands and some other toys.
But a good set of congas is well worth the invesment.
Personally I want those Del Cielos. $ a grand + a piece.

Lets not forget we don't take none of it, only the beautiful experinces.
Amor, paz y rumba
OLSONGO.
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Postby onile » Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:11 pm

¡Vaya Papa!
¡Así que se goza!

You are absolutley right Abure OLSONGO, the drums pay for themselves with the giggin we do throughout the year. I understand that not everyone is quite there yet (the operative term being "yet"). You will be if you practice and fine tune your craft! I've worked my entire adult life in Social Work, all the while working as a percussionist during the evenings and weekends.

I've cornered a "nitch" out here in that, I get the last minute calls! I learned the majority of rythms that are used out here (bossa nova, samba, cha cha cha, basico, calypso, soca, bolero) in the corporate circuit, and tumbao, merengue, guaguanco, etc. for the latin circuit, so when I get the last minute calls they know that they have to fork out good $ for my skills, afterall I'm rescuing them.

If you learn, and perfect your craft, they see this in you and then your name gets shared with other groups, especially if you can walk in cold and play with any group! The point here is to perfect your craft my brothelitos, so that your name can be shared in the playing circuit in your area of the music arena!

La bendicion mis hermanos!

Onile!
Que Nsambi les acutare pa' siempre!
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Postby GuruPimpi » Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:36 pm

Guys hello and especialy to you, Onile!

I am admiring how calm and vibrant at same time your soul through your words can be.

I couldn't agree more with you. 7 years ago when I started to gig around more as a vocal percussionist (at first just with Djembe and tambourine), just when my slaps started to sound great :D I was like... Geeez , these Martin Cohen's signature series Quinto :D is pretty high on prices, I can't get that amount of money on a pile and bring it to the shop. Even less when I earned my music money to pay my expences of social work student-living away from home.
But, I was bleeding my hands to make it through, a local music products dealer saw me playing with more and more bands, I set the grooves good. Time came, and it was good, cause destiny send me a treat, just when I was asking myself what to do with my life.
Today I have a job where I can share my musical knowledge, I play just with one band, and this one rocks, I practice more and with a smile and joy of a child, I own many tumbadoras, djembe, bongos, doumbek, my own hand made Udu...
Funny, but just today I was wondering how happy I am, my life got the rhythm that is dancing with my soul, stay humble I'm saying to myself, just stay humble and childly happy.

Brothers, a big hug to you all, everything comes... when the time is right...

Groove On!

Primozz

ps Del Cielos and Volcanos, that's what I would like to get my hands on, and know even on those Gon Bops. Hey guys, let's get together and jam universally... :D
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Postby onile » Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:43 pm

Alafia Abure GuruPimpi!
My brother from another mother!
Much love to you and your enthusiasm, it's beautiful to hear those great things happening with you Primozz! You deserve, as we all do, to be happy as a child and playing till we fall asleep!

Many blessings to you my brother!

p.s. how are the kids doing? I'm sure that you're doing a great job with them!

Onile!
Que Nsambi les acutare pa' siempre!
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