Drum Trading Valjes and Gon Bops

[bongosnotbombs]

I recently decided to make some room in the house, and I decided to do that by getting rid of a drum. I put up this vintage Gon Bop conga and the first person to reply was my friend Will, known here as theBreeze. Seems he had a match for it. So I sold it back to him for the same as I paid.

Here it is with Wil's matching drum. Looks like it found a good home

So then we started talking about drums. I knew Wil takes great care of his drums and had a pair of vintage Valjes. He also had an extra Valje conga from the 60's,
so I offered my very special vintage Valje bongo as a trade for the conga. I have a 60's Valje tumba, and since I got rid of the Gon Bop the tumba needed a match. So we traded.

Here is the bongo with Wil's Valje's. A great looking set of drums.

and here is my pair of 1960's Valje congas.

So I meant to get rid of a conga and a bongo, but instead got rid of just a bongo since I added the Valje.

.....but, some of you may remember a friend of mine passed recently, well she had a memorial where I had a chance to play her wonderful set of Gon Bops congas in the park.

her friend who was the executor of her belongings heard me play and decided that I should have the quinto. I had placed the skin on this very same quinto for my departed friend. So now I have this Gon Bops quinto.

[bongosnotbombs]

her friend who was the executor of her belongings heard me play and decided that I should have the quinto. I had placed the skin on this very same quinto for my departed friend. So now I have this Gon Bops quinto.

So in the end I didn't get rid of any drums, I traded a Valje for the Valje and sold the Gon Bops to inherit another Gon Bops. The Gon Bops quinto will of course never leave my hands.

[Thebreeze]

Geordie....I had a great time seeing you again after such a long time, although the sad news you shared about Lisa had me
thinking about life in general and how sometimes we don't see something coming like this. You were a good friend to her, and you are good man. I think our trade was good for both of us. I really like the picture you took of your Valje Tumba with the Conga from our trade. They look like a set that came together through destiny.
p.s.....I will not forget that if I ever decide to part with the Valje Bongos that you will be the very first to know. You have my word on that.
Take care, and GOD bless you.

[buckoh]

I'm with you Geordie, to inherit something as cherished as that drum is an honor. It is a way of keeping the departed one's spirit alive. The drum will always have a special meaning to you. Buck