ebay Gon Bops - huge diameters!!??

[bongo]

There are 7 special order red oak California Gon Bops on ebay, one 12", two 14", and four 16" diameter drums!

I've never heard of 16 inch Gon Bops, but know Akbar made 16" Titanic Sols.

The photos aren't good, but you can see that the hardware looks sort of like the old GB tear drop comfort curves. That is not standard California series hardware.

Why would someone special order those sizes and then turn around and try to sell them as a grouped set? He might have better luck breaking them up.

[Thebreeze]

Bongo....I think the guy said California series, but these look to be Gon Bops made just before they went out of business. I remember having a set of Oak Gon Bops with the same type of rims and they were made in 1998. But who would really want these drums anyway. I mean, maybe as a collectable? I can't imagine that you would get much of a decent sound out of a 16" tumba. The only drum I think I would really want would be the 12" one. I think the biggest tumba that would be practical would be a 13". These drums are just too big. They should be called something else other than Congas.

[pcastag]

Yeah, I'd break them up and sel them individually, there would definitely be a market for the 16's someone looking for that unique sound, or just unique drum!
PC

[Omelenko]

I think "La Familia Cepeda" in Loisa Aldea, P. Rico, would put these babes to good use, as they are in my book, bomba drums (barriles de bomba). Gon Bops made 121/4" but not 12". A set of 121/4" and two 13" would have been ideal. A 16" conga is a bomba drum, you're not going to get a tight "afinque" with a 16" conga, even a 14" is too big. They certanly look nice and well taken care of.
Saludos,
Dario

[Whopbamboom]

I doubt anyone will buy at that price, it's a whole lot of cash to drop on stuff that includes duplicates that would probably be sold off.
But... just in case it did sell and someone here knows the winner, I'd be interested buying in a 14 and a 16.

[congalero]

the person who is selling these is not a player or collector, but rather a friend of the owner. will (thebreeze) is right on the money as to the age - 1998 or so. as far as being signed; that is not verified - and by who??? the reason for not breaking them up is that the intermediary is not interested in going through the trouble of piecing them out; he wants a quick clean deal - but is open to breaking them up if there is no interest. these drums are also quite a bit of trouble to skin, as has been made clear by members here. on the upside, these old oak gon bops are sturdy and have a very good sound (not so sure on the large ones). they are heavy, so i am sure the bomba sizes could cause one to pull a groin muscle or worse.