Gon Bops Bongos - Old vs. New

[Omelenko]

How does the new compare with the old ? I have a 1972 walnut 5 lugs with 7 & 9 head sizes. In my opinion, this was Mariano Bobadilla's best instrument. I have not played the new one. Are the new Gon Bops up there in quality as the original ones ?

Enclosed: 1972 bongos.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... C_042F.JPG

[Omelenko]

Enclosed: New Gon Bops

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... _Bongo.jpg

[yambu321]

OMELENKO,

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT YOUR BONGOS ARE A MOST BEAUTIFUL SET!!! I'M ALSO SURE, THEY SOUND FANTASTIC AS WELL!!!

WELL, ONE THING FOR SURE, IS THAT MY "CA SERIES" BONGOS ARE VERY WELL MADE, AND SOUND SUPERB AS WELL!

BOTTOM LINE: THEY ARE BOTH TOP NOTCH SETS. YOUR HEMBRA MAY HAVE A DEEPER TONE BECAUSE OF IT'S LARGER SIZE. THERE IS ALSO A WOOD TYPE DIFFERENCE AS WELL. YOUR SET IS MADE OF WALNUT, WHILE MY SET IS MADE OF RED OAK. AS FOR CRISP ARTICULATE ATTACKS THE NEW MODELS HAVE THAT SPECIALLY DESIGNED BEVELED BEARING EDGE BY AKBAR OF THE FORMER COMPANY SOL PERCUSSION, WHICH CAN ALSO MAKE ANOTHER DIFFERENCE.

OMELENKO,
I'D BE PROUD TO OWN THEM BOTH!

CHARLIE "EL COQUI" VERDEJO



Edited By yambu321 on 1200280238

[No.2-1820]

How does that extra lug effect the way you hold them ? I have to rotate the hardware on bongos that I play regularly so the lugs fit comfortably behind the knees, is that possible with those extra lugs ?

Barrie

[bongosnotbombs]

That 5 lug walnut GB is a work of art!
It's too bad DW didn't decide to make these. The new Gon Bops are great, but the Sol's were in another league. Both made by Akbar.
I can't believe I didn't buy a set when I had the chance.



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1200256704

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ongoD1.jpg

[twinsbongo]

hi bongoceros:
i had about 3 years ago one of those sol percusion bongo, that i traded to ivan caceres for and old valje. it is a very respected bongo around the california area. but for some reason it was not very popular in puerto rico florida and even new york.very very very nice piece.(roberto roena used one for a very short time 6 or 7 years ago).keep thta nice art piece.

[umannyt]

I have a 1972 walnut 5 lugs with 7 & 9 head sizes. In my opinion, this was Mariano Bobadilla's best instrument.

Omelenko,

Visually, there's no doubt that your 5-lug Gon Bops bongos look very nice!

I'm just curious as to whether having 5 lugs for each drum is really necessary and whether 1 lug each side touches your inner thighs/legs (during seated playing) and makes playing these bongos more uncomfortable compared to the more common 4-lug models.

Also, I'm wondering whether having 5 lugs for each drum was a "just" novel experimentation by Mariano Bobadilla that was rather short-lived.

I have the new Gon Bops CA bongos and love the way the 4 lugs of each drum are spaced from each other. The part of the bongos that directly touches your inner thighs/legs is the shell and not really any of the lugs, thus making for comfortable playing--not to mention the relative lightness of the Gon Bops CA.

Again, there's no doubt that your 5-lug Gon Bops are truly a rare collector's item!

Respects,



Edited By umannyt on 1200260273

[Omelenko]

I do have to rotate the lugs to a confortable position to play them, I do play traditional, no stand. What the extra lug does is that it provides for exceptional and very even tunning. It was Yeyito (Rogelio Iglesias) in Cuba,late 50's who first came up with the 5 lug bongos. Yeyito played with Cachao and Tata Guines and it was my favorite bongocero of all.

Saludos, Dario

Enclosed: A photo of Yeyito with A Vergara quinto



Edited By Omelenko on 1200265843

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... Yeyito.jpg

[Omelenko]

Vergara was the first to ever make a 5 lug bongo'. Others that have ventured into the 5 lug bongo' to name a few, have been Ismael in P. Rico, Pan Con Queso in Venezuela and Cali Rivera (JCR)in NYC.

Enclosed: find a photo of my 5 lug Ismael from P. Rico, is true they are somewhat unconfortable to play, but you'll get use to it. This Ismael is the best sounding bongo'of all the ones I have, even Mongo's Vergara.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... C_033F.JPG

[Omelenko]

Enclosed: Pan Con Queso (Venezuela) 5 lugs bongo. I got this one from Julito in our forum

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 5_lugs.jpg

[twinsbongo]

hola dario:
that ismael timba bongo looks real nice.i have something good for trade. que hay con el bongo de venezuela. te doy el osiris por el bongo de venezuela y el ismael. dejame saber.
julio

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... CF0575.jpg

[Timba Pa Ti]

Hi, I will like to share some old JCR Bongos ,made by MR. Cali Rivera , at the begining of his journey as a Bongocero with Yomo Toro's group an as a drum maker.He told me that he made them for more comfort. 4 lugs at the Hembra because it didnt need as much pressure as the macho that he put 5 lugs Measurements 6 3/4 and hembra 8 3/4 mahogany from Dominican Republic and no remaches all rims welded.Later on he started using (remaches)instead of welding the rims . I will enclose some pic's Greetings,from Puerto Rico

Timba pa'ti"

[yambu321]

TIMBA PA" TI",

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE YOUR PICS. I KNOW THEY SHOULD BE GREAT!

QUE VIVA "CALI RIVERA", "QUE VIVA PUERTO RICO" Y LAS TRADICIONES!!!!!


CHARLIE "EL COQUI" VERDEJO

[Timba Pa Ti]

Hi Charlie , Im trying to post the pic's but dont know how to ? I'm new at this .I apologyze can you help me out? Thanks, I appreciate it.

[yambu321]

TIMBA PA" TI",

PLEASE READ, THE INFO THAT CABALLOBALLO GAVE ME ON HOW TO POST IMAGES, IT SHOULD HELP. GO TO THE BONGO SECTION AND CLICK ON "GON BOPS" BONGOS, A WOODEN BEAUTY.

GOOD LUCK



Edited By yambu321 on 1201358467