....just another gon bop resto.

[Jerry Bembe]

I find this posting inspiring and I am greatful for those who share constructive information like this with the rest of us. I have restored congas and this posting will help me avoid some mistakes.

Dangler- can you share any additional information about your tuneup of the bearing edge? I have observed may variations with bearing edges and this make a huge impact on the overall tone.

Your use of the jigs with the threaded rod is great! I think there are a few other postings that also demonstrate this principal but it is still great work. I personally believe that Gon Bops made some of the best American congas ever. Unfortunately, there are some issues with the glue but this too can be overcome. The Bops sometimes require a special owner with handyman skills and tolerence for repair work. This is not recomended for everyone.

I will take a Gon Bops set of congas any day over 90% of the commercial congas built today. Some hand builders have built upon the solid Gon Bops foundation and made improvements but these old "Bops" are worth saving.

Thanks again and keep it fun.

Jerry

[Dangler]

Hey Jerry,it was a fun project and I'm very happy with the end result even though a small crack has appearred,it still sounds great!

As far as the bearing edge is concerned,i chose to get the top of the edge nice and evenly flat,and then matched the existing edge crown where neccesary with a fine wood file and sandpaper.......hope that makes sense

Theres not much mahogany on the planet any more and i think these gon bops are a good option if you dont mind doing a repair/resto..

[burke]

I had to break the news the other day to another GB's owner - they ain't really mahogany.

Although there is some debate ... they are what is commonly known as luan.

Here is the post where I learned the grim truth

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3073&p=28803&hilit=gon+bop+mahogany

But I have 3 and still think they are great drums.

[Dangler]

luauan=philippine mahogany,while not considered "genuine" mahogany and definately not comparable to the Honduran or Cuban,it is still termed philipine mahogany most commonly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahogany

[burke]

Interesting how two people can read the same article and come to completely different conclusions.
What I read in your Wiki was:

"In addition, the US timber trade also markets various other FTC-defined species as "mahoganies" under a variety of different commercial names, most notably "Philippine mahogany", which in reality is actually a Shorea. This wood is also known as Luauan or Meranti."

Then followed the "Shorea"ink which said:

"The alluringly-named "Philippine Mahogany" sold in North America is not a mahogany at all, but actually a mixture of woods from the genus Shorea."

But bear in mind it is Wikipedia ... so maybe it really is mahogany.

[Mike]

I had to break the news the other day to another GB's owner - they ain't really mahogany.

Although there is some debate ... they are what is commonly known as luan.

Here is the post where I learned the grim truth

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3073&p=28803&hilit=gon+bop+mahogany

But I have 3 and still think they are great drums.

I absolutely agree to your last sentence!
Even if the luauan shells are really sensitive to dents and have the tendency to split over time,
those Gon Bops produce an awesome sound - and that is what matters, isn´t it?

[Jerry Bembe]

I agree Mike. The sound is most important and the "Teardrop" model Gon Bops are durable and have excellent tone (I almost think the "Teardrop" was the perfect conga). I have Oak and "Mahogony" Bops and I personally like the "Mahogony" but this is personal taste. The type of wood is a mute point if you like the tone. I have built drums out of plywood in the 90's and have recieved many complements about these crude drums.

On a seperate resto issue...

I am going to try "butchering" some REMO heads to fit some of my Gon Bops. It appears to me that possibly a 10" REMO head might fit a 9 3/4" IQ and a 11" REMO on a 10 3/4" IC Gon Bops. I will need to grind or file down the ring on the head but I am currently very pleased with my Resolution 12" tumba with a 12 1/2" REMO Fiberskyn head. I will post my results if I am sucessful.

Getting heads to fit these non standard sizes is a challenge and I personally love REMO heads. I like hide but it is tempermental in my climate.

[Ernesto Pediangco]

Hola congueros
just thought i'd share some photos of a rough gon bop conga I repaired

rough set of gon bops off of craigslist.jpg

many stave separations.jpg

many pieces.jpg

clamping jig take 1.jpg

Ernesto says : yet another example of old designs w/ design flaws that companies still copy. I repaied 12 GB, 7 Valjes, 3 Skin on Skins, 5 Lp's ( the hardest to refinish are Asian made w/ poly coatings ) 3 King Kongas, 3 Cuban made. All were so crudely designed. I give away GB mahogany drums to drum shops or schools after i repair them as bartering items. Old junk is old junk ! A raw drum shell w/o stain or hard wares from Asia ( Ash ) can be had for $75.oo ! Hard wares that are same factory made as major brand Asian makes are all available in generic versions or ordering a brand name for more $$. Now add your own stains & tung oil finishes and well selected heads and you can build a better drum than what is marketed new or of vintage make. Its a matter of ultility vs nostalgia. I love your template form for holding the drum as its glue sets. A rachet style banding tool on a webbing starp is helpful on the belly section too. But definately these old GB's need banding.